Academic Ethics Policy

Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Academic Ethics Policy

Through our academic ethics policy, Carey Business School aims to reduce incidences of academic dishonesty and promote a community that acts ethically, honestly, and responsibly. In addition to Carey Business School’s ethics policy, the Johns Hopkins conduct code provides additional details about university guidelines.

PREAMBLE

The Johns Hopkins University and Carey Business School maintain a reputation for academic excellence and integrity. As members of this community, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical behavior in our endeavor to create knowledge for the world. All members of our community have a personal and professional responsibility to uphold an environment of excellence, respect, integrity, and leadership in our community and in their academic endeavors at Carey and the University.

STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

Carey Business School expects graduates to be innovative business leaders and exemplary global citizens. Carey believes that honesty, integrity, and community responsibility are qualities inherent in an exemplary citizen. The objective of the Academic Ethics Policy is to create an environment of trust and respect among all members of the Carey Business School academic community and hold students accountable to the highest standards of academic integrity and excellence.

It is the responsibility of every Carey Business School student, faculty member, and staff member to familiarize themselves with the AEP and its procedures. Failure to become acquainted with this information will not excuse any student, faculty, or staff from the responsibility to abide by this policy.

The AEP requires that each student in any course taken at Carey Business School act with honesty and integrity in all academic activities and that each student endeavor to hold his or her peers to the same standard. The AEP exists to: (1) ensure the highest level of personal and professional conduct by our students, and (2) provide a fair, deliberative, impartial, timely, and efficient process for resolving allegations of academic misconduct.

Upon witnessing an alleged violation of the AEP, a student, faculty member, or staff member must inform the responsible faculty member (if known) and the Executive Director of Student Affairs of both the alleged violation and the name of the student accused of committing the alleged violation. The report should be in writing and sent to carey.student@jhu.edu), unless circumstances are such that an immediate oral report should be made (e.g., during a quiz or final examination). If an oral report is made, it should be followed as promptly as possible with a written report. Each member of the Carey Business School community, as a person of integrity, has a personal obligation to adhere to this requirement. It is only by upholding the AEP that members of Carey Business School can contribute to the School's ability to maintain its high standards and its reputation. Students aware of a violation who fail to report it may also be found in violation of this policy. Filing of complaints of academic misconduct that the individual knows to be false is prohibited.

Violations of this AEP are viewed as a serious matter and may result in sanctions and corrective measures as described below.

Carey Business School, in collaboration with students and faculty, offers training and educational opportunities for students to learn about the AEP. Some examples include a virtual tutorial, student and faculty videos, sessions at new student orientations or during the semester, and the student AEP pledge. All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the AEP and are required to take the AEP pledge in the Student Information System. Failure to complete any training will not excuse any student from responsibility to abide by this policy.

The Academic Ethics Board and the Office of Student Affairs are available to answer any inquiries about this Policy at carey.student@jhu.edu or 410-234-9240.

SCOPE

The AEP applies to all Carey Business School students.

CROSS-DIVISIONAL ENROLLMENTS

Carey Business School students may enroll in courses in one or more other University divisions or schools. Carey students are subject to this policy not only when enrolled in Carey courses, but also when enrolled in courses in other University divisions or schools. Academic misconduct in the context of those "outside" courses will be subject to and resolved under this policy.

NON-ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

All issues of non-academic student misconduct will be subject to the University-wide Student Conduct Code (for more on this code, please refer to http://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies/student-code/).

AUTHORITY

Carey Academic Ethics Board

The Carey Academic Ethics Board adjudicates alleged violations of the AEP as described below.

The Academic Ethics Board comprises Carey students and faculty, and the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee). The faculty representatives are appointed by the Vice Dean for faculty and research. Student representatives are selected by the Office of Student Affairs through a nomination and interview process. Those students interested in serving as student co-chairs may inform the Office of Student Affairs through this process. Students in good academic standing with no previous academic ethics violations are qualified to serve on the Academic Ethics Board. Based on a review of the pool of interested students, the Office of Student Affairs will appoint the student representatives and co-chairs for one-year terms. Student representatives may be reappointed for additional terms. The Academic Ethics Board is comprised of at least ten faculty representatives, ten student representatives, and the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee).

Faculty have the authority to resolve certain first-time offenses, as described below.

Carey Academic Ethics Board Panel

The Academic Ethics Board Panel is charged with determining, based on a preponderance of the evidence, whether a student’s actions constitute a violation of AEP and, if so, determining (an) appropriate sanction(s) as described below. The AEB Panel is comprised of one student co-chair, two additional students, three faculty representatives, and the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee). A majority vote is required for panel decisions, except that unanimity is required for a sanction of expulsion. The Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) does not have voting rights.

Jurisdiction

The AEB has jurisdiction over the following, without limitation:

Violations of the Academic Ethics Policy
Violations may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cheating, plagiarism, unpermitted collaboration, forgery of academic documents, facilitating academic dishonesty, unfair competition, failure to report a violation, or adhere to policies
- Improper use of intellectual property

Removal and vacancies

A faculty or student representative may be removed from the AEB or a particular panel if they have not met the expectations required of a board member. This decision will be made by the Executive Director of Student Affairs with regard to student representatives and by the Vice Dean for Faculty and Research with regard to faculty representatives. Any vacancies in student representatives, including student co-chairs, will be filled by the Executive Director of Student Affairs and any vacancies in faculty representatives will be filled by the Vice Dean for faculty and research.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Academic misconduct is prohibited by AEP. Academic misconduct is defined as any action or attempted action that may result in creating an unfair academic advantage for oneself or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other member or members of the academic community. This includes a wide variety of behaviors such as cheating, plagiarism, altering academic documents or transcripts, gaining access to materials before they are meant to be available, and helping other individual(s) to gain an unfair academic advantage. Nonexclusive examples of academic misconduct are listed below.

Cheating

Fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in an academic assignment, text, or examination
Use or consultation of unauthorized or inappropriate materials (e.g., notes, books, etc.) on assignments, tests, or examinations
Unauthorized discussion of a test or examination during its administration
Copying content on an assignment, test, or examination from another individual
Obtaining a test or examination or the answers to a test or examination before administration of the test or examination (e.g., either an electronic copy or hard copy)
studying from an old test or examination whose circulation is prohibited by the faculty member
Use or consultation of unauthorized electronic devices or software (e.g., calculators, cellular phones, computers, tablets, etc.) in connection with assignments, tests, or examinations
Use of paper writing services or paper databases
Unauthorized collaboration with another individual on assignments, tests, or examinations
Submission of an assignment, test, or examination for a re-grade after modifying the original content submitted
Permitting another individual to contribute to or complete an assignment, or to contribute to or take a test or examination on the student's behalf
Unauthorized submission of the same or substantially similar work, assignment, test, or examination (e.g., a paper, etc.) to fulfill the requirements of more than one course or different requirements within the same course
Tampering with, disabling, or damaging equipment for testing or evaluation

Plagiarism

Use of material produced by another person without acknowledging its source
Submission of the same or substantially similar work of another person (e.g., an author, a classmate, etc.) without proper attribution and citation
Dual submission of an assignment
Use of the results of another individual's work (e.g., another individual's paper, examination, homework, computer code, lab report, etc.) while representing it as your own
Improper documentation/acknowledgement of quotations, words, ideas, views, or paraphrased passages taken from published or unpublished sources
Wholesale copying of passages from works of others into your homework, essay, term paper, or dissertation without acknowledgment
Paraphrasing of another person’s characteristic or original phraseology, metaphor, or other literary devices without acknowledgment

Forgery/falsification/lying

Falsification or fabrication of data/information for an assignment, text, or examination, or in an experiment
Citation of nonexistent sources or creation of false information in an assignment
Attributing to a source ideas or information that is not included in the source
Forgery of University or other official documents (e.g., letters, transcripts, etc.)
Impersonating a faculty or staff member
Request for special consideration from faculty members or university officials based upon false information or deception
Fabrication of a reason (e.g., medical emergency, etc.) for needing an extension on or for missing an assignment, test, or examination
Claiming falsely to have completed and/or turned in an assignment, test, or examination
Falsely reporting an academic ethics violation by another student
Failing to identify yourself honestly in the context of an academic obligation
Providing false or misleading information to a faculty member or any other University official

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty

intentionally or knowingly aiding another student to commit an academic ethics violation
allowing another student to copy from one's own assignment, test, or examination
making available copies of course materials whose circulation is prohibited (e.g., old assignments, case studies, or examinations, etc.)
completing an assignment or taking a test or examination for another student
sharing paper mill/answer bank websites or information with other students
any improper use of intellectual property (including unauthorized class recordings)

Unfair competition

Intentionally damaging the academic efforts of another student(s)
Stealing another student's academic materials (e.g., books, notes, assignments, etc.)
Denying another student needed University resources (e.g., hiding library materials, stealing lab equipment, etc.)

Failing to report alleged violation

Failing to report any known or suspected violation of the AEP

Failing to follow applicable policies, procedures, and rules

Failing to follow applicable Johns Hopkins, divisional or school, program, course, and/or faculty policies, procedures, and rules regarding academic ethics

FACULTY-STUDENT RESOLUTION OF FIRST-TIME OFFENSES

If a student is suspected of academic misconduct, the faculty member responsible for the course in which the misconduct allegedly occurred must, if feasible, promptly review the facts of the case with the student. If the faculty member believes that academic misconduct has occurred, the faculty member must first contact the Executive Director of Student Affairs (carey.student@jhu.edu) to determine whether the offense is a first or subsequent offense. If a first offense, the faculty member may choose to resolve the case directly with the student in accordance with this section (i.e., the faculty member and student may reach an agreement on the resolution of the alleged misconduct; note that neither the faculty member nor the student is obligated to resolve a complaint under this section). A faculty member may not resolve a second or subsequent offense directly with the student. The maximum sanction that can be imposed by a faculty member in a resolution of a first offense is a zero on the assignment. The faculty member must submit all relevant information regarding any agreement reached with the student to the Executive Director of Student Affairs. If such an agreement is reached, the Office of Student Affairs will promptly provide the student with a letter outlining the resolution that includes the charges, a summary of all the evidence, the findings, and the sanctions agreed upon.

In addition, the faculty member shall notify the Executive Director of Student Affairs when:

The faculty member cannot reach an agreement with the student (e.g., the student denies cheating or does not agree with the proposed sanction, etc.).
The reported violation is a second or subsequent offense for the same student.
The faculty member prefers to refer the case to the Executive Director of Student Affairs for resolution.
In the case of a first offense, the faculty member believes that the sanction warranted is greater than zero on the assignment.

In such instances, the case will proceed to the next phase of resolution as outlined below.

HEARING

The Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) may dismiss a case for a lack of sufficient information or if the alleged conduct does not fall within conduct prohibited by this policy. Absent these circumstances, the case will be resolved per the proceedings described below.

First-time offenses not informally resolved between a faculty member and student – administrative hearing or academic ethics board panel hearing

In the case of a first offense that is not resolved between the faculty member and student, the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) shall investigate and recommend one of two options: Administrative Hearing or Academic Ethics Board Panel Hearing. The gathering of case information may include meetings with or requests for statements from the student and witnesses and review of any related information. In making this recommendation, the Executive Director of Student Affairs shall also consider the nature of the alleged misconduct and potential sanctions, prior academic misconduct history of the student (if any), and other relevant information and factors.

Second and subsequent offenses

Second and subsequent offenses must be heard by the Academic Ethics Board. For a second or subsequent violation, as a general matter, the only sanctions that may be imposed are suspension or expulsion, provided that the AEB has the discretion to impose a lesser sanction in the rare instances when warranted by the facts and circumstances of a particular case.

Administrative hearing (for first-time offenses only)

An Administrative Hearing involves a meeting between the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee who serves as a hearing administrator) and the student. The Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) may also meet with witnesses and others involved and obtain and review relevant evidence. The Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) will review the allegations and evidence with the student and give the respondent an opportunity to respond. The Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) will determine based on a preponderance of the evidence whether the student is responsible for the alleged Policy violation(s), and, if so, issue (an) appropriate sanction(s).

Academic Ethics Board Panel Hearing

The Academic Ethics Board Panel hearing is a closed proceeding, meaning that no one other than the panel members and necessary faculty and staff members may be present (along with, if applicable, the student or witnesses). The student and witnesses called to the hearing will be present in the hearing room only when making a statement or being questioned by the Panel. The student is strongly advised to be present and present his/her case. If the student does not appear for a hearing, the hearing will be conducted in his/her absence and a determination made that may result in dismissal or other sanctions.

In general, hearings will proceed as follows, although the AEB Panel has the discretion to alter the order or manner in which it hears or receives evidence, and to impose time limits on any stage of the process:

Introductions
Summary of reported charges
Opening statement from the panel indicating the context, charge(s), and evidence
Opening statement from the student
Questioning of the student by the panel
Questioning of the witnesses, if any, by the panel
Closing statement from the student

Witnesses

The Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) or the Academic Ethics Board Panel may request the presence of any witness with relevant information about a case. The student may also request the Panel to hear from witnesses with relevant information. Absent exceptional circumstances, the student should inform the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) in writing at least three business days in advance of any meeting or hearing of the names of the witnesses and to what they will attest. The Executive Director of Student Affairs(or designee) or Panel may determine whether and if and the extent to which witnesses will be permitted to participate or questioned in any meeting or hearing, including whether their testimony is relevant.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

In connection with the resolution of alleged Policy violations, a student shall:

Be notified in writing of the allegations in advance of any meeting or hearing;
Be notified in writing of the charges, and the date, time, and location of the hearing, and the identity of the hearing administrator and members of the Academic Ethics Board who may sit on the hearing committee in advance of the hearing;
Have the opportunity to review in advance of any meeting or hearing any relevant information to be considered by any faculty member, hearing administrator, or Panel consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, and to protect other confidential information;
Be notified in writing of the outcome of any hearing, namely the findings, determination of responsibility, and any sanctions; and be notified in writing of the outcome of any appeal.

The student has the right to a fair and timely hearing in accordance with the AEP. A student may raise the potential conflict of interest about any University personnel or student participating in the resolution process. A student may also decline to participate in the resolution process. The School may, however, continue the process without the student's participation.

Communications under this Policy will be conducted with students primarily through their official University email address, and students are expected to check their official University email on a regular basis.

EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS

A "preponderance of the evidence" standard will be used to determine responsibility for alleged violations of this Policy. A "preponderance of the evidence" standard is an evidentiary standard that means "more likely than not." This standard is met if the proposition is more likely to be true than not true.

APPEALS

Except in the case of a resolution for first-time offenses with a faculty member, the student may appeal the hearing administrator’s or Academic Ethics Board Panel’s finding of responsibility and/or sanction(s). A student may file any appeal within five business days of the date of the notice of outcome solely on one or more of the following grounds

Procedural error that could have materially affected the determination of responsibility or sanction(s);
New information that was not available at the time of the hearing and that could; reasonably have affected the determination of responsibility or sanction(s); or
Excessiveness of the sanction(s).

Any appeal must be filed in writing to the Dean through the Vice Dean for education (email or hard copy). An appeal will involve a review of the file; the appeal does not involve another hearing. The Dean may consult with appropriate University personnel and the Academic Ethics Board Panel in reviewing an appeal. On review of the appeal, the Dean may:

Affirm the decision of the Panel;
Enter a revised determination of responsibility and/or revise the sanction(s); or
Remand the matter to the hearing administrator or Panel to reconsider the determination of responsibility and/or sanction(s); or
Convene a new Panel to consider the case.

The Dean will simultaneously send the appeal determination, with the reasons therefore, to the Vice Dean for education and to the student. The decision of the Dean is final. No further appeals are permitted.

SANCTIONS

The Academic Ethics Board Panel may impose one or more sanctions (which may include one or more corrective and educational measures that the Panel deems appropriate and commensurate with the Policy violation). In doing so, the Panel may consider:

The specific academic misconduct at issue;
The student’s academic misconduct history; and
Other appropriate factors.

This section lists some of the sanctions that may be imposed upon students for violations of the AEP. Carey reserves the right, in its discretion, to impose more stringent or different sanctions than those listed below depending on the facts and circumstances of a particular case. Sanctions for academic misconduct under this Policy are generally cumulative in nature.

A student found in violation of the AEP in a course may not avoid the Policy and any potential sanctions by withdrawing from a course.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of possible sanctions and what these sanctions typically mean. The specific conditions imposed under each sanction (e.g., the terms of a suspension, etc.) will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of each case:

Formal warning

The student is notified in writing that his or her actions constitute a violation of the AEP, and may be subject to other actions (e.g., re-taking an examination or failure in a course).

Academic

These sanctions may include but are not limited to grade adjustments, including failure on any work within the course or failure in the course itself, requiring extra credit to be completed, or re-submission of an assignment, or re-taking a test or examination. This may include a notation on the student’s official Carey Business School academic transcript. For example, if the sanction is an “F” for the course, “F due to Academic Dishonesty” may be permanently noted on the student’s official Carey Business School transcript.

Transcript notations

Academic misconduct may be noted on a student's academic transcript.

Corrective or educational measures

The student may, for example, be required to write and submit a reflection paper as an opportunity to learn and reflect and/or be required to engage in other corrective or educational measures.

Probation

The student is notified that further violations of the AEP within the stated period of time will result in the student being considered for immediate suspension or other appropriate disciplinary action. If at the end of the specified time period no further violations have occurred, the student is removed from probationary status.

Suspension

The student is suspended from the University for a specified period of time. The conferring of an academic degree may be deferred for the duration of the suspension. A student must request in writing and then receive written permission from the Executive Director of Student Affairs (or designee) prior to re-enrollment or re-application. Academic work completed at another institution while on suspension will not be recognized for credit transfer.

Expulsion

The student is expelled from the University. Expulsion means the permanent removal of the student from the University. Expulsion includes a forfeiture of all rights and degrees not actually conferred at the time of the expulsion, permanent notation of the expulsion on the student’s University records and academic transcript, withdrawal from all courses according to divisional policies, and the forfeiture of tuition and fees. Any student expelled from the University is prohibited future re-application to the University.

RECORDS

A case file concerning a student will be retained for the duration of the student's enrollment at Carey Business School plus seven years from the date that the student graduates or otherwise leaves the University.

Significant amendments to the AEP must be approved by the Vice Dean for faculty and research, the Vice Dean for education, the Dean, and a faculty vote (vote passing with a simple majority). Minor amendments to the AEP may be made by the vice dean for faculty and research or the Vice Dean for education with notification to the Dean.

Office of Student Affairs