Overview

The Lawrence Memorial/Regis College Medical Radiography Program is dedicated to the development of the individual as a beginning, entry-level practitioner.  Inherent in that goal is the education of the student in the ethical standards of the profession.  An important aspect of ethical standards is the individual making a conscious dedication to adhere to academic and clinical integrity.  To keep these standards ever present in the educational environment, policies and procedures have been developed to communicate to the student and faculty their respective roles in promoting these standards. The Academic Integrity Policy is published in the Student Handbook.  Additionally, each semester enrolled students sign a form acknowledging they have received, read, and will comply with the Program’s policy and practices regarding ethical behaviors.

Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy will be evaluated individually.  The Program Director and faculty, and/or the Discipline Committee will determine consequences.

Policy

Enrolled students are expected to maintain integrity in all academic pursuits including the writing of papers, examinations, assignments, records and other details relating to the assessment of student performance.  In addition, enrolled students are expected to uphold the ethical standards of the profession by demonstrating responsibility, accountability for safe clinical practice, and protection of the rights of the client.  Any dishonesty is subject to disciplinary action, which may extend from a failing grade in the work in question to dismissal from the Program.

Academic dishonesty includes:

• Inventing data, quotes, or citations for reports
• Lying about reasons for absences or requests for extensions or rescheduling of exams
• Copying or sharing answers on exams or concealing unauthorized materials to assist in exams
• Discussing what is/was on a specific examination with someone who has not yet taken it
• Copying or sharing answers on homework (on assignments where group work is encouraged or allowed, you may be called upon to individually justify your answer to the instructor.)
• Falsifying records, transcripts, recommendations, or other documents indicative of student qualifications
• Submitting the same paper in more than one class without prior permission
• Presenting someone else’s ideas or words (including internet sources) as your own in written work, PowerPoint presentations, or other assignments
• Deception in the provision of client care including the preparation and submission of clinical records
• Fraudulently obtaining and/or falsifying any medical records within the clinical environment

In proportion to the seriousness of the action, discipline may extend from a failing grade in the work in question to dismissal from the Program.  Ordinarily, the responsibility for resolving the issues lies with the faculty member and student.  Should there be a need, the matter is referred to the Program Directorimmediate supervisor and/or the Discipline Committee.

12/98, 10/03
GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETATION OF THE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Definitions:

The following terms and definitions of violations in academic integrity have been developed as examples only, to assist in the identification of behaviors that are in conflict with the Academic Integrity Policy.  These examples include, but are not limited to the following:

A.   CHEATING  - to violate rules of honesty and ethical behavior

• Copying the answers of another person(s) during a test
• Providing test-related information (or answers) to another student
• Consulting unauthorized materials during a test (notes, calculators)
• Assisting a student to copy or use unauthorized material
• Taking an examination for another student or having another take an exam for a student (i.e., false representation)
• Facilitating cheating or failure to report cheating to faculty
• Altering examination results
• Consulting with another student to complete an assignment and representing the work as one’s own without the knowledge of the faculty
• Deception in compliance with course requirements
• Violating standard(s) of the American Nurses Association (A.N.A.) Code of Ethics for Nurses (attached)
• Deception in the provision of client care

B.   FABRICATION - to create information to deceive

• Falsifying any information, e.g. citation, transcript, clinical assignment, any materials used for qualification/evaluation
• Inventing a source or reference
• Including non-related sources in the bibliography

C.   PLAGIARISM - to present as one’s own the ideas or words of another

• Failure to cite the source of the information on course assignments
• Failure to use quotes
• Failure to identify the use of paraphrasing

D.   LIMITING ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND LEARNING RESOURCES

• Destroying or removing materials for use of all students e.g. library books, journals, media hardware and/or software, laboratory supplies
• Stealing materials belonging to another person e.g. clinical evaluation tool and related papers, classroom or study notes

Sources: Adapted from Rutgers University. New Jersey, Policy on Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and Graduate Students, 1997.

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