Academic Integrity

GRADUATION HONORS

Graduating students in bachelor programs who have completed no less than 45 credits in residence at North Central University will be awarded graduation honors based on cumulative grade point average as follows: 3.80-4.0, Summa Cum Laude; 3.65-3.79, Magna Cum Laude; 3.50-3.64, Cum Laude. Honors are based on the cumulative GPA after the semester preceding graduation. However, the final cumulative GPA will be used in the calculation of honors indicated on the diploma and permanent transcript. Full-time enrollment is required for consideration of graduation honors.

Students graduating with an Associates or Master’s degree are not eligible for graduation honors.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR FINAL 33 CREDITS In order for a student to receive a degree or certificate, 27 of the final 33 credits of the program must be taken in residence at North Central University. This applies to both the Associate and Bachelor degrees.

TRANSCRIPTS

Official transcripts are issued only upon the written authorization by the student, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students can request their transcripts by following the step-by-step process found on the National Student Clearing House website listed below. The time frame for processing official transcript requests is five to seven business days.

National Student Clearinghouse website: www.GetMyTranscript.com

Official transcripts will not be issued to or on behalf of any individual who has a past-due financial obligation to the university exceeding $250 (including federal loan programs), although some exceptions apply. Please contact the Student Financial Services Office directly in order to resolve transcript holds.

Requests for duplicate diplomas will fall under the same guidelines as official transcripts. The cost for a duplicate transcript is $30, including postage. These can be requested online at Duplicate Diploma Requests.

Unofficial transcripts can be printed directly from Self Service by the student at any time. Access will not be restricted due to financial holds on the student’s account.

General Principles

As Christians we must pursue holiness in all areas of our lives and thus consider academic honesty and ethical intellectual pursuit of primary importance in our walk with the Lord and consistent with the core values of the University.

Definitions Dishonesty in academic pursuits includes intentional plagiarism, cheating, or fabrication which includes, but is not limited to roster fraud and attendance deception. Academic dishonesty includes intentionally helping or soliciting another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.

Plagiarism is commonly defined as intentionally using the words, phrases, or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Direct quotations must be properly identified and cited. Standard protocols for acknowledgement of sources is required when material from another source is copied directly, paraphrased, or summarized in an academic assignment.

North Central University views plagiarism as a serious offense. It is against the broader rules of scholarship within the North American scholarly community to use the ideas or words of another person without giving that person credit. Whether the other source is a textbook, another book, an article, a friend, a blog, or a website, students should indicate clearly that another source has been used and precisely what elements of the work being submitted are drawn from that source.

Inventing information or citations would be classified as fabrication, and may not be used in any laboratory experiment, assignment, or classroom exercise.

Roster Fraud and Attendance Deception is intentionally or knowingly signing or otherwise indicating another student’s presence in a class when he or she is not present. This is a form of “fabrication” or lying and constitutes academic dishonesty.

Multiple Submissions Students are prohibited from submitting parts or all of a paper in multiple classes. Students must not change and resubmit previous academic work without prior permission from the instructors over the course in which the work was previously submitted and the course in which the work, in whole or in part, will be submitted.

Violations and Response Any verified violation of the academic integrity policy will result in action fitting the gravity of the offense and may range from grade reduction to failure on an individual assignment to failure for an entire course. Compounding the situation with multiple occurrences, further dishonesty, or other violations may result in more serious consequences. In extreme cases, violations of academic integrity may result in dismissal from the University. All documented violations of academic integrity will be kept on record in the Office of the Provost and in the student’s conduct file.

First Offense Procedures