The Illinois College
Academic Honor Code
Est. 2005

Introduction and Purpose

Article I
Section 1

1. Illinois College is a community founded upon trust. It acknowledges its students’ diligence and assumes a general adherence to honesty. Cheating and plagiarism violate trust, honor and integrity. To maintain the cohesion of the Illinois College community, all students shall adhere to an academic Honor Code.
2. The academic community of Illinois College strives to create a learning environment conducive to educational growth and integrity. The Honor Code promotes individual respect and responsibility necessary for a liberal arts education.
3. The purpose of the Honor Code is to unify the campus community by ensuring equality, promoting a positive academic attitude, and keeping appropriate records.
4. Upon entering the institution, all students shall sign a contract of academic honesty that will last for the duration of their career at Illinois College. Every member of the college community shall have access to the Illinois College Honor Code. Every syllabus shall incorporate or make reference to the Academic Integrity Oath. Each incoming student is obligated to learn about the Honor Code policy and what constitutes cheating as defined by each department or program.
1. By enrolling in the college every student had agreed to follow the academic integrity oath.
2. Students are expected to abide by and understand the Illinois College Honor Code and its purpose.



Honor Code Judicial Board

Article I
Section 1

The Judicial Board will perform two functions:

1. To determine whether or not a transgression was intentional when a professor is unable to do so, and
2. To act as an appellate body for students.

Section 2

The Board will consist of 11 voting members:

1. Three students from each class (with the exclusion of first-year students)
1. Nominated students must be in good academic standing and have no previous disciplinary offenses.
2. Interested students must obtain two faculty nominations and supply resumes to the Student Forum, which will select the students to become members of the Board for the term of one (1) academic year (May-May) by a 2/3 vote of the Student Forum.
3. Students will be selected during the Spring semester of their first year, sophomore, or junior year for service during their sophomore, junior, or senior year, respectively.
4. Sophomore, junior, and senior class officers will serve as alternate when necessary in the following order: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasure, Representatives.
2. Two faculty or administration members
1. The faculty selection will be open to all faculty members.
2. The Student Forum will select two (2) faculty members to the Board by 2/3 votes.
3. Faculty shall serve for a term of two years, staggering their terms so that one experienced faculty member remains on the committee.
4. The Chair and Vice Chair, in that order, will serve asalternates when necessary.
3. The Dean of the College will act as a non-voting advisor and will have final say on all sanctions.

Section 3

The entire Judicial Board will elect a Student Chair by 2/3 vote to conduct the meetings and hearings and to oversee all documentation (minutes, grievances, hearings, reference documents, etc.). The Chair will have all the voting privileges of a Board member. The Chair may also delegate certain responsibilities to other Board members. Managing the ichonor@ic.edu email account and correspondence with the Dean of the College will be the responsibility of the Student Chair alone.

Section 4

1. If a student or faculty member does not fulfill the duties of his or her position, he or she may be removed and replaced at any time. This would include, but is not limited to, the failure to attend meetings, the disclosure of confidential information, or failing to uphold and defend the Honor Code.
2. Removal of a student or faculty member is done through the submission of a resignation or by action of the Student Forum and requires a 2/3 vote. For replacement, see the Composition section above.
3. If a conflict of interest were to arise for a member of the Judicial Board, he or she must inform the Judicial Board Chair, who will ask the Student Forum to appoint a temporary replacement for the duration of the case in question.

Official Action and Procedure

Article III
Section 1

The institution has no tolerance for breach of academic honor and integrity. Blatant, flagrant offences of the Honor Code may be handled as the Judicial Board deems appropriate. In responding to other breaches of misconduct, the Judicial Board recommends that all circumstances surrounding the violation be taken into consideration and that punishments be administered in a manner that helps one learn from his or her violations. (Examples of blatant, flagrant offences might include, but are not limited to such acts as plagiarizing all or most of a written assignment, taking cheat notes into class and using them for an exam, or clearly planning/scheming to violate the Honor Code.)

Therefore, it shall be the practice of the institution to respond to any breach of the “Rules of Academic Integrity” listed in the Honor Code by administering one or more punishments from the following list of consequences that are graduated in severity:

Student’s First* Violation

-The professor determines the consequence, which may come from those listed below that are available to the Judicial Board. (Offense and consequence must be reported in writing to the Judicial Board within 5 “class days”** of the offense.)

-Student will have points deducted from his or her grade for that assignment.

-Student will fail that assignment.

-Student will receive a zero for that assignment.

-Student will receive a failing grade in and be withdrawn from the course.

-Student will receive one of the consequences listed above, and report to the Dean, who may assign a research paper on some aspect of plagiarism.

Student’s Second* Violation

-Student will receive a failing grade in and be withdrawn from the course.

-Student will receive a failing grade in, and be withdrawn from the course and become ineligible for participation in any extra curricular activities, including athletics.

-Student will be suspended from the College for a specified period of time.

-Student will fail the course and be expelled permanently from the college.

(* These numbers are meant to refer to the total number of violations during the time the student is enrolled at the institution.) **Class days refers to days on which classes meet.

Section 2

When a professor encounters a student in violation of the Honor Code and is able to determine that the transgression is intentional, he or she will contact the Dean’s office to determine whether this is the student’s first offence. The instructor will then execute, from those listed under the section entitled Student Violation, at least one of the punishments that seems most appropriate. Then the professor shall, within five “class days,” advise the Chairman of the Judicial Board and the Dean of the College, in writing, of the offense and his or her dispensation of a punishment.

Section 3

1. If a professor suspects that a transgression has been made but is unable to determine exactly whether or not this is the case, or if a professor is unable to decide upon an appropriate punishment, he or she will inform the Judicial Board Chair in writing within 5 “class days” of discovering the violation. The Judicial Board Chair will contact the Judicial Board, the professor(s), and the student(s) to establish a hearing date and time when all parties involved are able to attend.

2. If a student wishes to appeal a finding that has been administered by a professor as a result of a student’s first violation, he or she must inform the Judicial Board Chair in writing within 5 “class days” of the dispensation of the consequence. The Judicial Board Chair will contact the Judicial Board members, the professor(s) and any other relevant parties to establish a hearing date and time when all parties involved are able to attend.
3. Once a hearing date, time, and place have been established, the Judicial Board Chair will notify all parties involved regarding when and where the hearing will take place.
4. Each party will present his/her case before the Judicial Board without the presence of the opposing party. Each party shall be allowed to have at least one other member from the campus community with him or her during the presentation, but only the party who is directly involved in the alleged violation may speak to the members of the Board. Legal counsel will be allowed when prior consent has been given by the Dean of the College.
5. Both the student(s) and the professor(s) have the right to present relevant evidence, including but not limited to providing appropriate documents and witnesses, and to respond to evidence against him/her.
6. The Judicial board must make a ruling within 15 “class days,” meaning days on which classes meet. An extension of the 15 days will be allowed only by mutual consent of both parties and the Judicial Board

Section 4

1. All appeals pertaining to a professor’s decision shall be submitted in writing to the Judicial Board Chair within ten (10) days of receiving notification of the accusation against him/her. Once the appeal is made to the Judicial Board Chair, the student(s) will resume attendance in class, completing all work assigned at that time.
2. The Judicial Board Chair then contacts the Judicial Board members, the professor(s), and the student(s) to establish a hearing date and time when all parties involved are able to attend.
3. Once a hearing date, time, and place have been established, the Judicial Board Chair will notify all parties involved regarding when and where the hearing will take place.
4. Both the student(s) and the professor(s) have the right to present relevant evidence, including but not limited to providing appropriate documents and witnesses, and to confront and cross-examine witnesses against him/her.

   The Board will reach closure on each case through consensus building or by conducting a vote using a prepared secret ballot. When such a vote is conducted, all members must vote and a 3/5 (or 7 votes) majority of those Board members who are present for the entire hearing will be necessary to impose sanctions against a student.

5. The Judicial Board must make a ruling within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the appeal.
6. The Dean of the College has the final say on all sanctions, but may not make a decision until after the decision of the Honor Code Judicial Board has been taken into consideration.
7. The Dean of the College will be notified of all sanctions and will not make any related decisions until after the afore-mentioned fifteen (15) day time limit. Students or faculty may appeal any ruling made by the Judicial Board if they feel that the process as outlined in this document was not followed accurately. The respective party should submit such appeals by submitting within ten (10) class days a written statement that outlines which parts of the process were not followed appropriately. The Dean of the College will investigate and respond in a timely manner.

Section 5

1. The Judicial Board must keep accurate documentation of all proceedings and written reports of actions taken by professors. The Board Chair is responsible for the collection and distribution of all documentation to the student, faculty member, Dean, and members of the Board.
2. Documentation of all transgressions will be kept on file in the Dean of the College’s office for five years, after which the files will be destroyed.
3. To protect confidentiality and guard against bias, a student’s file will be viewed only after the Judicial Board has ruled on the intent of an alleged transgression. Files may be consulted afterward to determine more severe punishment for repeat offenders, if the Judicial Board deems necessary.

Education

Article IV
Section 1

The Honor Judicial Board is responsible for educating the campus community about general definitions of cheating and the necessary sanctions for violating the Honor Code. However, what specifically constitutes cheating in a given discipline is left to the discretion of that particular department or program. Each department or program is required to educate its students by providing literature concerning cheating and academic dishonesty in that given discipline. For further elaboration on cheating, please contact that specific discipline. All sanctions shall be administered by the Judicial Board in consultation with the Dean of the College.

General Rules for Academic Integrity

Article V
Section 1

1. All members of the Illinois College community shall give appropriate acknowledgement of sources, as set forth below, and shall refrain from acts of cheating as described by each department or program.
2. In papers, each student must acknowledge sources when using:
• Direct quotations
• Paraphrases
• Summaries
• Specific ideas or concepts
3. Cheating is:
• “[O]btaining of property from another by…distortion of the truth” (Webster’s 7 th New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 141), and includes, but is not limited to the following:
• *Lying about your work in any way,
• *Looking at another student’s exam,
• *Using prohibited notes on a test,
• *Collaborating with another student on a project when instructed not to do so,
• *Using another person’s work or ideas without proper citation (plagiarism),
• *Using a previously written work without the instructor’s permission, and
• *Submitting a work in more than one course without the permission of both instructors.

Amendment Procedure

Article VI
Section 1

Amendments shall be drafted by the Judicial Board and are passed with the Honor Code by the following stipulations in the following order:

1. 2/3 vote by Judicial Board
2. Simple majority (50% plus one) of the Faculty
3. Simple majority of 10% of the student body

Academic Integrity Oath

As a member of the Illinois College academic community, I promise to preserve and enforce the Honor Code and everything for which it stands. I will present my work in compliance with the Rules of Academic Integrity listed in the Honor Code. I will report any transgressions that I witness to the professor of the class in question. I will never break the honor of this institution, and if I do so, I will accept the consequences of my offenses, as outlined in the Honor Code.

__________________________________________
Printed Name

_________________ 
Date

__________________________________________
Signature

 

   

 

Illinois College
1101 West College Avenue
Jacksonville, IL 62650
217.245.3030

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