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Policy Statement on Academic Standards of the Molecular Biology Program:

The Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Programs maintain the highest academic standards and abide by the general Standards of Behavior (Section III) and expectations of Professional and Ethical Conduct (Section VI) outlined in the University’s Student Code. The Programs also take measures to ensure that the Standards of Academic Performance (Section IV) and Academic Conduct (Section V) are met.  The attached document, Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Programs' Policies and Procedures, describes these measures.

Informal Resolution

The Programs and University encourage informal resolution of minor problems involving academic standards.  Students are urged to discuss problems with the involved instructor(s), their academic advisor, the Program Director, and/or the dean.  However, with serious violations or cases of multiple instances, a more formal resolution is required.

Unacceptable Academic Performance

Unacceptable or incomplete academic performance include, but are not limited to: 1) failure to pass all core and elective courses with a grade of B- or better; 2) a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0; and 3) unsatisfactory completion of laboratory rotations.  Unacceptable academic performance could lead to a maximal sanction of dismissal from the Program and the University.

Academic Misconduct

The Programs take cases of academic misconduct very seriously.  Cases of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to: 1) plagiarism, 2) cheating, 3) misrepresenting one’s work, 4) fabrication or falsification of information, 5) disobeying any rule specified by the Program Rules for Exams and Homework Assignments (see below), and 6) intentionally helping, or attempting to help, another person commit an act of misconduct. The program faculty reserve the right to use electronic software to scan reports and proposals for evidence of plagarism.

Students committing misconduct can expect varying levels of sanction, imposed by the instructor(s), the Program, and the University.  An instructor and/or the Program can impose a maximum sanction of failing the student in the course.  The Program can also make recommendations to the appropriate College AAC that the Program’s financial support be rescinded, and/or that the student be suspended, and/or dismissed from the Program and/or from the University.  All cases of misconduct will be documented in the student’s file.

Program Rules for Exams and Homework Assignments

The following rules apply for all exams and written assignments unless specifically contradicted by the course instructor.

1. a student must work entirely alone. 
2. a student may not share information about any aspect of the exam with anyone
3. a student must direct all questions concerning the exam or homework assignment to the course instructor or teaching assistant.
4. it is the student’s responsibility to obtain clarification from the instructor if there are questions concerning these requirements.
5. a student may not plagiarize.

Definitions

Since many graduate students are funded by training and research grants and must abide by federal standards, it is important to know the definition of scientific misconduct as the government defines it.

National Academy of Sciences Definition of Misconduct in Science - Misconduct in science is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism, in proposing, performing, or reporting research. Misconduct in science does not include errors in the recording, selection, or analysis of data; differences in opinions involving the interpretation of data; or misconduct unrelated to the research process.

The following definitions are taken from the University Student Code (Policy 6-400 Rev: 8)

2. “Academic misconduct” includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one's work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information, as defined further below. It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic misconduct

a. “Cheating” involves the unauthorized possession or use of information, materials, notes, study aids, or other devices in any academic exercise, or the unauthorized communication with another person during such an exercise. Common examples of cheating include, but are not limited to, copying from another student's examination, submitting work for an in-class exam that has been prepared in advance, violating rules governing the administration of exams, having another person take an exam, altering one's work after the work has been returned and before resubmitting it, or violating any rules relating to academic conduct of a course or program.

b. Misrepresenting one's work includes, but is not limited to, representing material prepared by another as one's own work, or submitting the same work in more than one course without prior permission of both faculty members.

c. “Plagiarism” means the intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person's work in, or as a basis for, one's own work offered for academic consideration or credit or for public presentation. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, representing as one's own, without attribution, any other individual's words, phrasing, ideas, sequence of ideas, information or any other mode or content of expression.

d. “Fabrication" or "falsification” includes reporting experiments or measurements or statistical analyses never performed; manipulating or altering data or other manifestations of research to achieve a desired result; falsifying or misrepresenting background information, credentials or other academically relevant information; or selective reporting, including the deliberate suppression of conflicting or unwanted data. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data and/or results.

3. “Academic sanction” means a sanction imposed on a student for engaging in academic or professional misconduct. It may include, but is not limited to, requiring a student to retake an exam(s) or rewrite a paper(s), a grade reduction, a failing grade, probation, suspension or dismissal from a program or the University, or revocation of a student's degree or certificate. It may also include community service, a written reprimand, and/or a written statement of misconduct that can be put into an appropriate record maintained for purposes of the profession or discipline for which the student is preparing.

 

Student Pledge

I pledge to follow and promote these standards while a student in the Programs.  I will strive to achieve academic excellence through diligent work, seeking help and guidance from Program faculty, and by conscientiously attending to any remedial work required.  I will not commit acts of misconduct and will promote the Programs' position by maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct.
I have read and understand the Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Programs' Position on Academic Standards.  I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Programs' Policies and Procedures and that it is my responsibility to read, understand and follow the rules described therein.  I further agree that it is my responsibility to ask questions about anything I do not understand.

Student Signature: ______________________

Date: ______________________

 

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Honor Code

I pledge to follow the Honor Code and to obey all rules for taking exams and performing homework assignments as specified by the course instructor.
I understand that when asked to follow the Honor Code on exams or homework assignments I must follow the rules below.

1. When following the Honor Code a student must work entirely alone on exams.
2. When following the Honor Code a student may not share information about any aspect of the exam with other members of the class, other faculty members, or other scientists.
3. When following the Honor Code a student must direct all questions concerning the exam or homework assignment to the course instructor or teaching assistant.
4. When following the Honor Code it is the student’s responsibility to obtain clarification from the instructor if there are questions concerning the requirements of the Honor Code.

 

Student Signature: ______________________

Date: ______________________

 

Updated 1/3/2012