The student’s rights in the academic, human and legal arenas are important in ensuring a smooth path to his or her success. The student must not let anyone diminish the value of his or her achievements by taking unfair advantage. The student should not accept any academic dishonesty or actions that diminish the dignity of students or staff, however they occur.

Any attempt to deceive may destroy the relationship between the student and the instructor and the student and the College. Hiding, omitting or misrepresenting information does not constitute the truth and, in situations where the student is a witness, may make the student an accessory who is subject to the same penalty as the culprit.

Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that brings credit to themselves and the College community. The responsibilities can be summed up in the following attendance statements and eight cardinal rules, paraphrased and taken from Rutgers University website.

Instructors determine the requirements for success in the student’s courses. Students are responsible for attending classes, not only for course content, but also for information related to the progress of the course.

Tests, examinations and assignments must be written/submitted at the time specified. Requests for absence must be made prior to the test/examination/assignment date. Reasons for absence in medical, or bereavement situations, if documented, will allow instructors to make alternate arrangements for assignments and tests or allow consideration of an incomplete contract if necessary. See also section 3.4.4, Incomplete Grade Designation.

Accommodations may also be made to allow for religious observance. In all cases, arrangements must be made with the instructor prior to the test, examination or assignment due date. Other reasons for absence are not sufficient to receive any special consideration and will result in a mark of 0. For more information, see also sections 1.6, Accommodation of Religious Observances and 10, Test and Examination Regulations.

The classroom environment and activities are controlled by the instructors, and guided by mutual respect, common sense, propriety, courtesy and etiquette. The instructor has the right to require any student to cease and desist in actions that are disruptive or that impede positive progress in the class. The instructor has the right to require anyone to leave the class or lab if positive progress is impeded by his or her actions or comments. Further actions may be taken under law, or the College’s Student Conduct or Human Rights policies. For further information on this policy, please see Human Resources, Code of Conduct Procedure.

The instructor may ban any device deemed to impede positive progress of the class or deemed to compromise the integrity of tests or examinations. The instructor has the right to cancel a class if safety or health of any individual is at risk. Further actions may be taken under law, or the College’s Student Conduct or Human Rights policies. For more information, see  section 1.7, Information Technology Acceptable Use.

Whenever students use words or ideas that are not their own when writing papers, they must cite their sources with an in-text citation, use quotation marks where appropriate, and include a list of references for the sources cited in their papers. Instructors have the right to submit a student’s work for electronic detection of plagiarism or to require that the student submits his or her own work for detection of same.

APA (American Psychological Association) is Georgian College’s standard documentation style for written papers, essays, reports and other evaluated work. Cites and Sources is Georgian College’s guide to APA style and is available in the College Bookstore. Papers must be formatted in APA style, as outlined in Cites and Sources.

The student must not allow anyone access to the work he or she has prepared for evaluation, whether in a test, examination or assignment, etc. The student is the only one who should receive credit for what he or she knows, unless prior agreement has been reached with the instructor that group work (and group credit) will be allowed.

The student should not put him or herself in a position where he or she could be suspected of having made their work accessible to others, or having copied another’s work, or having used unauthorized aids. Even the appearance of dishonesty may undermine an instructor’s confidence in a student’s ability.

The purpose of assignments is to develop skill and measure progress. Letting someone else do the work for which another student takes credit defeats the purpose of education and may lead to serious charges.

Students must never falsify a record of any kind, nor permit another person to do so. Academic records are regularly audited and students whose grades have been altered put their entire grade history at risk. Students should keep copies of work they hand in to protect themselves from loss.

Any attempt to deceive may destroy the relationship between the student and the instructor and the student and the College. Hiding, omitting or misrepresenting information does not constitute the truth and, in situations where the student is a witness, may make the student an accessory who is subject to the same penalty as the culprit.