Understanding Expectations and Student Responsibility
Southern Oregon University is an inclusive campus community dedicated to student success, intellectual growth, and responsible global citizenship. In support of that mission it is every person’s obligation to contribute honestly to scholarship and research in an effort that is jointly maintained by students and faculty at Southern Oregon University.
For Students
Each student’s education is the product of their own intellectual effort and engagement in a process of critical exchange. Breaches of academic integrity compromise the overall quality of scholarship and detract from the value of the SOU degree. The university must respond to any act of academic misconduct to honor and protect responsible citizenship, both globally and within the university community. Prohibited academic conduct is as follows:
Academic Integrity at Southern Oregon University
Academic Misconduct:
Acts of academic misconduct involve the use or attempted use of any method that is prohibited and/or enables a student to misrepresent the quality or integrity of their academic work.
Academic misconduct with respect to examinations includes, but is not limited to, copying from the work of another, allowing another student to copy from one’s own work, unauthorized use of crib notes during exam time, arranging for another person to substitute in taking an examination, or giving or receiving unauthorized information prior to or during the examination.
Academic misconduct with respect to written or other types of assignments includes, but is not limited to:
- Failure to acknowledge the ideas or words of another that have been intentionally taken from any published or unpublished source;
- Placing one’s name on papers, reports, or other documents that are the work of another individual;
- Flagrant misuse of the assistance provided by another in the process of completing academic work, or the submission of unacceptably similar work resulting from inappropriate collaboration or assistance;
- Submission of the same paper or project for separate courses without prior authorization by faculty members;
- Fabrication, alteration, or other manipulation of data;
- Knowingly aiding in or inciting the academic dishonesty of another; or
- Inappropriate collaboration on papers, exams, or other work.
Academic misconduct with respect to intellectual property includes, but is not limited to, theft, alteration or destruction of the academic work of other members of the community, or of the educational resources, materials, or official documents of the university.
If you are a student who has been contacted by your professor regarding an alleged incident of academic misconduct
The Dean of Students office encourages all students to be open and honest when speaking to their professor. SOU’s Community Standards include academic and personal integrity, and responsible decision making. All students are expected to make responsible choices which do not compromise their academic work or personal integrity. Any student who takes responsibility for their choices and is willing to accept accountability shows personal growth and a commitment to change their behavior and/or choices.
Students are encouraged to report any instance of academic misconduct when they observe it by submitting a Cares Note and reporting it to their professor.
Students who wish to submit a grade grievance related to any academic outcomes for their course(s) or assignment(s) may follow the Grading Grievance Policy.
SOU Student Code of Conduct
Virtual Academic Classroom Expectations
View the student’s Virtual Academic Classroom Expectations.
For Faculty
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are dependent upon individual and collective conduct to permit the pursuit and exchange of knowledge and opinion. Faculty have the responsibility to create an atmosphere in which students may display their knowledge. This atmosphere includes an orderly testing room and sufficient safeguards to inhibit dishonesty. Students have the responsibility to rely on their own knowledge and resources in the evaluation process.
Academic Integrity Seminar
Do you want to enroll your class in an Academic Integrity Seminar? You can use it as an added assignment, extra credit, or to verify students have read the Academic Integrity policies. To enroll your student each term, please submit this form. Please note that this seminar is used proactively to educate students and is not meant to be used reactively to address academic misconduct concerns.
For Parents/Support Systems
Will you be notified if your student is charged any academic misconduct violations of the Code of Student Conduct?
Most likely not. A fundamental goal of the university is to support students’ independence and maturity, in part by encouraging them to assume responsibility for their own educational and personal matters.
However, under laws and policies that govern the privacy rights of students, SOU has the authority and reserves the right to contact parents or guardians of dependent students about a variety of serious matters and the parents or guardians of all students in certain emergencies regarding imminent serious injury or life or death situations.
Parental, familial, or guardian notification may occur under the following circumstances:
- Hospital visits for alcohol poisoning or drug overdose;
- Behavior or circumstances which put the student at an imminent safety risk, including repeated or alarming levels of prohibited substance abuse; and/or
- Serious mental health concerns.
You can be their support person through the conduct process if your student consents. Students can request that their hearing be conducted over Zoom, and it is their responsibility to forward you the link. Please know that support persons can not ask the hearing officer questions directly, but can confer with their student during the conduct process.
How can you obtain more information related to your student’s conduct process?
If you are a parent, family member, or guardian who wishes to obtain information related to your student’s conduct process, your student must have an “all access” signed FERPA on file. Only students can sign or authorize someone else to receive confidential information through the official signed FERPA release form. Once the form has been signed and sent into SOU, only then can the Dean of Students office speak with you regarding any of your student information. For more information about SOU’s FERPA release form, please visit the Raider Student Services FERPA page.