STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Retaliation

Retaliation is defined as taking a material adverse action against a person participating in a protected activity because of the person’s participation in that protected activity. Retaliation against an individual for alleging harassment, supporting a reporting party, or for assisting in providing information relevant to a claim of harassment is a violation of SCI-Arc policy and will be treated as such. Acts of alleged retaliation should be reported immediately to the Title IX Coordinator or to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator and will be promptly investigated. SCI-Arc will take appropriate steps to protect individuals who fear that they may be subjected to retaliation.

For a complete description of the process, rights, and remedies when reporting harassment at SCI-Arc—see full policy located at sciarc.edu and at my.sciarc.edu.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

All students are expected to comply with all laws and to respect the rights and privileges of other members of the SCI-Arc community and its neighbors. Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to, those described herein.

Academic Integrity and Infractions

SCI-Arc takes issues of academic integrity seriously, including plagiarism, which can occur in design classes as well as core and elective classes. Some examples of plagiarism include:

· Copying words, images, or other material without using quotation marks or other indications of the original source. · Paraphrasing another person’s ideas in your own words without crediting the original source. · Taking sole credit for assignments without giving credit to those who worked with you. · Submitting work for a course that has already/also been submitted for another course. · Internet plagiarism, such as submitting work either found or paid for online, failing to cite any internet sources used, or cutting and pasting sentences from various websites to create a collage of uncited words.

SCI-Arc subscribes to turnitin.com, and all papers submitted for SCI-Arc courses will automatically be checked for the improper use of outside sources. Please note that whether or not a given assignment is plagiarized is determined by the instructor; turnitn.com only provides your instructor with data that facilitates individual assessment. Issues related to plagiarism will be covered in student orientation in order to help minimize any possible misunderstandings.

The policy contains several tiers, depending on the nature and extent of academic dishonesty involved and on whether the student has committed an academic offense before. All cases must be reported to the Academic Advisor and the

report is added to the student’s academic record.

Tier 1: Minimal Plagiarism

In cases where the amount of plagiarism is found to be minimal, the instructor has the discretion to offer either a penalty or simply a warning.

Tier 2: Significant Plagiarism or Cheating (first offense)

In such cases, the instructor has the discretion to give a failing grade either for the plagiarized assignment or for the course as a whole. Here the offense must be reported both to the Academic Advisor and to the Program Chair, who will inform the instructor if this is the student’s first offense at SCI-Arc. If this is a repeat offense, then the case will increase in severity to Tier 3 or Tier 4 below. Important note: if plagiarism or cheating is especially severe, it could potentially lead to probation or suspension even on the first offense. (Examples: purchasing papers from an online service, hiring someone else to write a paper for you, or copying another student’s answers on an exam.)

Tier 3: Significant Plagiarism or Cheating(second offense)

On a second offense –either in the same course or in the student’s career at SCIArc– the instructor must give a failing grade for the course as a whole. Suspension from SCI-Arc is the likely result.

Tier 4: Significant Plagiarism or Cheating (third offense)

If this is the student’s third significant violation of academic integrity principles while at SCI-Arc, the instructor must give a failing grade for the semester as a whole. Expulsion from SCI-Arc is the likely result.

Right of Appeal

Students have the right to appeal any penalties under this policy. Students must submit a written appeal and include any material evidence that no plagiarism occurred to the Academic Advisor for review. Appeals must be submitted within one week of the penalty being assessed. The written appeal will be reviewed by an Academic Appeals Committee that reports its findings to the Vice-Director of SCI-Arc.

Procedure for Suspension and Expulsion

With respect to Tiers 3 & 4, decisions on suspension and expulsion will first be made jointly by the Academic Advisor and Department Coordinator, with the final decision to be approved by the Program Chair.

Common Sense, Integrity, and Personal Responsibility

Although it is not possible to provide a complete list of all types of impermissible conduct, the following are some examples of conduct that may result in disciplinary action, including expulsion:

· Cheating, plagiarism, commissioning academic work by others or performing academic work on behalf of another student, and misrepresenting facts

· Dishonesty, including, but not limited to falsification or making a material misrepresentation or omission on forms, records, or reports or any other school record

· Misusing, mutilating, vandalizing, defacing, destroying, damaging of or unauthorized possession of school information, materials, equipment, or property

· Excessive absence

· Hazing, sexual and gender harassment, and actual or threatened physical violence toward another (See below for a full harassment information.)

· Unlawful possession, distribution, sale, use or being under the influence of unauthorized, illegal drugs or alcohol while on school property, while acting on behalf of the school, or while operating a vehicle or potentially dangerous equipment leased or owned by the school (See the SCI-Arc

Drug and Alcohol Policy.)

· Unauthorized possession of school property or the property of a SCI-Arc student or staff member, or visitor

· Violation of SCI-Arc’s IT policy, including infringement of patents, trademarks, trade secrets, or intellectual property rights, software piracy, unauthorized network/computer access, illegal export, spamming, email/news bombing, email/message forging, virus distribution, Ponzi schemes, chain letters, pyramid schemes, access to pornography, and the inappropriate use of software or hardware

· Conducting oneself in a manner that endangers the health or safety of oneself, other members or visitors within the SCI-Arc community or at

SCI-Arc sponsored or related events

· Tampering with or damaging fire and life safety equipment

· Bringing or possessing dangerous or unauthorized materials, such as weapons, explosives, firearms or other similar items to SCI-Arc or to SCI-

Arc sponsored or related events · Disruption of educational process · Failure to comply with a lawful directive of a SCI-Arc official