Academic Advising

A faculty adviser is assigned to each entering student. This faculty member is also the instructor in one of the student’s first semester courses. The adviser is available to explain program options and planning, to discuss graduation requirements, and to assist with pre-registration. Every student is urged to consult an adviser during each semester to review the student’s program, progress and plans.

Although the student may request a change of adviser at any time, generally the student retains the adviser until declaring a major. At that time the student requests an adviser in the department in which the major is declared. Each department assists its junior and senior advisees in planning their programs of study.

The advice of the faculty adviser does not constitute a promise or a contract ensuring a student’s graduation on schedule or the completion of specific requirements. The responsibility for understanding and meeting degree requirements rests entirely with the student.

Declaration of Major

To ensure the student’s in-depth understanding of at least one area of knowledge, the requirements for a departmental or major concentration must be fulfilled.

To satisfy this requirement, the student must select not later than the end of the Spring semester of the sophomore year a department or program in which to concentrate. Early declaration is possible (and encouraged) for majors that require a carefully planned program of study. Registration for the junior year is not permitted until a major declaration has been filed with the Registrar’s Office. Declaration of the major is made through the Department Chair and by filing with the Registrar.

Amount of Work to Be Carried

A normal load is 16 hours per semester. A student must carry 12 semester hours to be full-time. Full-time tuition covers 12 though 19 semester hours. A student who wishes to carry more than 19 semester hours must request permission to overload by petitioning the Assistant Provost for Academic Services. The 20th credit triggers the first percredit overload charge, with each additional credit generating an additional fee.

Registration

A student is expected to register for the next semester during the designated registration period. The registration dates are published in the University Calender and the Master Schedule each semester. Under certain circumstances, approved by the Registrar, a student may register during the first week of classes. The university reserves the right to cancel classes having low enrollments at the end of the registration period.

Change of Registration

A student may add/drop normal 15-week courses according to the following schedule:

1. Adds are permitted only during the first week of the semester.
2. Drops without penalty are permitted through the fifth week of the semester.
3. Drops with a grade of “W” are permitted through the 10th week of the semester. All drops/withdrawals after this date appear on the student transcript with a grade of “F.” (However, first-year students in the first semester of their enrollment, not including transfer students, may withdraw late from one course and receive the mark of W for that course, through the last official day of classes. The petition for late withdrawal must be signed by the instructor for the course and the student’s faculty adviser. Students should submit the withdrawal to the Office of the Registrar, not later than the last official day of classes.)

Note: Courses that meet for fewer than 15 weeks have different deadlines. Please consult the Master Schedule for appropriate dates.

All changes must be filed with the Registrar’s Office on an Add/Drop form before the specified dates. Credit or grades may not be adjusted on the academic record unless the appropriate forms have been correctly filed before the deadline. Changes of registration that occur after the first day of the semester do not qualify a student for a refund of tuition or overload fees.

Auditing Courses

Auditing courses is permitted if a petition to audit is first approved by the professor whose course it is to be audited and then by the Registrar’s Office. The student must also agree in writing not to expect credit for the audited course at any future time. The student is not required to take examinations and is not given a grade (instead of a grade, the mark of "L" will appear on the student's transcript). Verification of auditor’s status must be confirmed by the instructor of the course prior to entry on the student’s permanent record. Permission to Audit forms are available in the Registrar’s Office. A traditional student who audits a course is billed for one credit of overload fee for the course.

Repeating Courses

If a student repeats a course, the credit value and grade received from the last registration is used to compute the grade point average. Only the credits earned from the last registration count toward the graduation requirement of 130 semester hours, major requirements, or other requirements. A student’s transcript shows both the original grade for the course and the grade earned when the course was repeated.  Only academic work that has been taken at Wittenberg is repeatable and it can be repeated only with a Wittenberg course.

Degree Audit

A degree audit is a computerized review of each student’s course transcript matched against the university’s requirements for a degree. Except for progress in some majors and residency requirements, it tells the student’s standing relative to graduation at a given moment. A degree audit is available online. Other than faculty advisers and university officials, third parties cannot receive copies. An audit is a planning aid only. Its accuracy is not guaranteed, and it cannot be considered a promise or a contract between the university and the student. The student is responsible for reporting printed audit errors to the Registrar. The responsibility for understanding and meeting degree requirements rests entirely with the student.

Transferring Courses

Credit for course work taken at any institution accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education, including distance-learning courses, may be applied toward the completion of a Wittenberg program, subject to review by the Registrar, the Director of General Education, and/or the Chair of the Department in which the credit is requested.

1. Transfer credit from semester system institutions is evaluated and placed onto the academic record on a 1:1 ratio, e.g., three semester hours are evaluated as three semester hours on the academic record.
2. Transfer credit from quarter system institutions is evaluated and converted to semester hours on .67:1 ratio, e.g. four quarter hours are evaluated as 2.68 semester hours on the academic record.
3. The Registrar, in consultation with the Director of General Education, determines how, or whether, transfer credits may satisfy general education requirements. The Department Chair determines how, or whether, transfer credits may satisfy requirements in the department’s major and minor programs. The student may be asked to present a portfolio of work, syllabi, or other materials to assist with this determination and to establish placement in a major or minor program. At least 50 percent of the credits required for a major program must be taken in residence.
4. In applying transfer credits to general education requirements, three semester hours are sufficient to fulfill a four -semester-hour requirement. This rule can apply to major requirements if prior approval has been granted by the Department Chair.

Although the grades granted for the transfer work appear on the transcript, they are not calculated into the GPA.

An enrolled student who completes a course at another institution in mathematics, computer science, or statistics (including Management 210 and Psychology 107) will receive transfer credit at Wittenberg only if the student has met the prerequisites for the course at Wittenberg.

Course work to be taken through international education programs sponsored either by Wittenberg University or by other accredited institutions must be approved by the Office of International Education at Wittenberg prior to enrollment in the program.

Grades are reported for all study abroad programs (including affiliated domestic programs) as they are transmitted to the Registrar. The grades are shown on the transcript but not calculated in the GPA.

Transfer credit is not accepted for courses in which the content has already been included in previous credit on the record. Transfer credit is also not accepted for a course taken at an institution affiliated with the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education if the course is available at Wittenberg.

Also, work taken at another institution does not count under the repeat rule; i.e., the grade earned at the other institution does not replace the grade earned at Wittenberg.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Superior students have the option of receiving advanced placement. Advanced placement is generally based on scores received on standardized examinations in such subjects as English, foreign languages and mathematics. Advanced placement and credit are granted for a grade of 4 or 5 on any Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Based on departmental recommendations, advanced placement and/or credit is granted for a grade of 3. Neither placement nor credit is granted for a grade of 2 or 1.

Notification of placement and/or credit is made soon after a student’s arrival on campus.

Internship and Independent Studies

A student may earn credits by participating in internship opportunities or independent studies supervised by a faculty member. In order to participate in either of these opportunities, the student must have completed the sophomore year and be in good academic standing with a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 or better. The student must fill out the appropriate form with the supervising faculty member, secure all necessary signatures and submit the form by the semester deadline for adding courses. Independent Study forms are taken to the office of the Assistant Provost for Academic Services for final approval. Internship agreement proposals are approved in the office of the Assistant Provost for Off-Campus Programs. A student must register for an internship experience during the period the internship is completed. Credit will not be granted for an internship completed in a prior semester. A total of 16 semester hours of credit through a combination of internships, independent study, and/or senior thesis is permitted. A maximum of eight hours of internship credit is possible.

Placing Out

A student may request to place out of any required course or any prerequisite course in the curriculum by taking and passing an examination. To gain permission to take the examination, the student should present reasonable evidence of preparation to the department responsible for the course.

Credit by Examination

A student may also acquire credit by examination. However, a student may not receive credit for any course that includes content for which a grade has already been received (including NC or F) or that was audited officially or unofficially.

The chair of the department and the instructor of the course in which credit is to be earned must approve the student’s petition to attempt credit by examination. The petition must also be approved by the Assistant Provost for Academic Services. After all approvals are granted, the student must then pay the appropriate fee (cost of one overload credit) before taking the exam. The grade for the examination appears on the student’s transcript.

Cross-Registration

A student registered for 12 or more credits may cross-register for a course offered by a member of the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE). The student may register only for courses that are not offered at Wittenberg. There is no additional billing as long as the student’s total credits for the semester remain below 20. Registration forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.

The Class Day

A typical four-semester-hour class meets three hours per week, normally in one of three patterns: three 1-hour (MWF), two 1.5-hour (TTh), or one three-hour period. A few classes may be held on a daily basis. Some schedule additional laboratory periods.

Attendance

Each Wittenberg student is expected to attend class except for reasons of ill health, of travel mishaps, or of illness or death in the family. From time to time legitimate educational activities or participation in university-sponsored co-curricular activities may result in student absences. In such cases, the faculty or staff members planning these activities should weigh carefully their educational benefits.

A student’s absence from class due to any of these circumstances is considered excused. Nonetheless, each student is expected to meet the academic responsibilities for each course, even though excused from class. Faculty members are expected to cooperate in helping the student to meet these responsibilities.

The Health and Counseling Center provides written verification of illness only when the university physician orders hospitalization or strict bed rest for a specific affliction.

The following procedures are to be followed for excused absences:

1. In each case, the student should tell the appropriate faculty members the circumstances of the absence and should request assistance in meeting academic responsibilities. This should be done before the absence, if possible.
2. Faculty or staff members sponsoring group activities should submit the names of the participating students to the Assistant Provost for Academic Services, who provides all faculty with a roster of the persons involved, explains the reason for the absence and identifies the date(s) on which the students are to be absent.
3. A student or faculty member may ask either the Dean of Students or the Assistant Provost for Academic Services to clarify the circumstances of an absence and to verify that the absence is excused.

Grading System

The letter grades A, B, C, D, NC (No Credit), S (Satisfactory), and F are awarded by instructors and describe the student’s performance relative to the expectations of completed course work. The first four grades may be further described by the use of a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign to indicate a greater or lower level of achievement for that letter grade. Marks of I (incomplete), L (audited course work), X (satisfactory, course in progress), NR (no report), W (withdrawal), and XF (failure due to academic dishonesty) may also be given under appropriate circumstances.

Grade- Point Average

For the letter grades A, B, C, D, including any related pluses or minuses, and for the grade F, the Registrar determines a grade-point average by dividing the total number of quality points earned (semester hours for each graded course times the quality-point factor for the grade awarded) by the number of graded semester hours attempted. The following chart gives the quality points for each grade. The semester and cumulative grade-point averages reflect only course work so graded and are the averages used to determine scholastic standing, certification for selected honors, qualifications for graduation and other actions based upon a grade-point average.

Description	Grade	Quality Points
Outstanding performance	A+	4.000
	A	4.000
	A-	3.667
Good performance	B+	3.333
	B	3.000
	B-	2.667
Adequate performance	C+	2.333
	C	2.000
	C-	1.667
Marginal performance	D+	1.333
	D	1.000
	D-	0.667
Failure	F	0.000
	XF	0.000

Mark	Descriptor
S	Satisfactory, Credit Earned
NC	No Credit
I	Incomplete
X	Satisfactory, Work in Progress
L	Audited Course
NR	No Report
W	Withdrawn
XF	Failure due to Academic Dishonesty

Significance of Grades and Marks

• Grades in the A range indicate outstanding performance characterized by distinguished achievement in all aspects of the course.
• Grades in the B range indicate good performance characterized by a high level of achievement in major aspects of the course.
• Grades in the C range indicate adequate performance demonstrating a basic understanding of the subject.
• Grades in the D range indicate marginal performance characterized by recognizable deficiencies but still deserving credit.
• A grade of F indicates failure to meet the minimum standards of the course. No academic credit is given for course work so graded, even though the grade is calculated into the grade-point average.
• A grade of XF is assigned as a sanction for academic dishonesty. It is recorded on the student’s transcript with the notation “failure due to academic dishonesty.” The grade of XF is treated in the same way as the grade of F for the purposes of grade point average, course repeatability, and the determination of academic standing.
• The marks S (Satisfactory) and NC (No Credit) are used in several circumstances:
  • An academic department or program may determine to use the S and NC marks for selected curricular offerings for all registered students in a course, subject to faculty approval.
• The Pass/Fail Option
  A student may elect one course a semester under the Pass/Fail Option, provided that the student is registered for a minimum of 15 semester hours in the case of traditional students, and 12 semester hours int he case of adult/non-traditional students. The election is to be made during the third week of the semester by completing the appropriate form available in the Registrar’s Office. That a student has exercised this option for a course is known to only the Registrar, who converts the regular grade awarded to an S or NC mark. The S mark replaces all grades from C- to A+ inclusive; the NC replaces all grades from D+ to F inclusive. Neither the S nor the NC mark has any impact on the semester or the cumulative grade-point averages. Once elected, the Pass/Fail Option cannot be changed, nor can there be a subsequent reconversion of the grade. Students should be aware that graduate and professional schools are increasingly counting an S mark as a C when evaluating transcripts. Restrictions regarding this option are:
  • If a student registers for a departmentally determined Pass/Fail course that is weighted at three or more semester hours, the student can make no other Pass/Fail course selection during that semester.
  • A student may not elect the Pass/Fail Option in course work of declared major programs.
  • This option may be used for courses related to the major program only at the discretion of the chair of the major department.
  • In case a student changes the declared major in which one or more courses have already been completed with a mark of S, such courses may be counted toward the requirements of the new major only with the written approval of the chair of the new department, a communication to be forwarded to the Registrar.
  • A Pass/Fail course with the mark of NC is not counted toward the minimum number of credits required for graduation.
• The mark I (Incomplete) is given only at the end of a semester in which course work has not been completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the control of the student. The mark of I must be removed no later than the end of the eighth week of the next semester or it automatically becomes an F or NC (No Credit).
• The mark X (Satisfactory, Course work in Progress) is given only at the end of a semester for certain kinds of course work that may properly carry over more than one semester. The X is replaced by a final grade at the end of the grading period in which the work involved is completed.
• The mark L (Audited Course) is given to those students who, by petitioning the instructor and the Registrar’s Office, have gained permission to audit a course.
• The mark NR (No Report) indicates that a grade report is missing or has been left blank. The mark is replaced by the appropriate grade when the Registrar has been officially notified of a change.
• The mark W (Withdrawal) indicates that a student, after filing a Change of Registration form with the Registrar’s Office, has officially withdrawn from a course after the fifth week of the semester and before the beginning of the 11th week of the semester. This mark is also used when a student is suspended during the course of a semester for other than academic reasons. First-year students in the first semester of their enrollment may withdraw late from one course and receive the mark of W for that course, through the last official day of classes. The petition for late withdrawal must be signed by the instructor for the course and the student’s faculty adviser. Students should submit the withdrawal to the Office of the Registrar, not later than the last official day of classes.

Notification of Grades

At the end of each semester, a grade report is available online or can be requested from the Registrar.

Transcripts

A permanent academic record is maintained by the Registrar’s Office for each student who registers at Wittenberg.

Wittenberg student records are administered in accordance with the Family Privacy Act of 1974.

An official transcript of the academic record is available only upon the signed, written request of the student. A telephone request cannot be accepted. The request must be accompanied by a payment of $3 per copy. Only official copies can be furnished. Normally, a transcript request is filled within three to five working days after receipt, though a longer time may be required at the end of each semester. An official transcript can be released only if the student’s account is clear of outstanding balances and university holds.

General Academic Standards

• The successful completion of 130 semester hours is a requirement for graduation.
• Cumulative grade-point averages of 2.000 for all work completed at Wittenberg University and of 2.000 for all course work used to meet the requirements of declared major and minor programs are requisites for graduation.
• At least 50 percent of the semester hours for all course work and 50 percent of the semester hours for course work in the major are to be completed while in residence at Wittenberg University. The student must be in residence for at least one of the last two semesters.
• The student is to maintain an acceptable rate of progress toward meeting both the cumulative grade average and the total semester hours required for graduation as defined in the standards for academic progress.

Student Classification

A student is classified according to the number of semester hours successfully completed: sophomore standing is achieved with the successful completion of 32 semester hours; junior standing, 64 semester hours; and senior standing, 96 semester hours.

Eligibility for the Dean’s List

At the end of each Fall and Spring semester, a Dean’s List announces the names of students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.500 for a minimum of 12 graded semester hours. A traditional student who completes 12 or more graded semester hours over the summer session, with a GPA of at least 3.500 is also eligible for the Dean’s List. Further, students so honored may not have received a grade of F or NC (No Credit) for the semester and may not have been under disciplinary probation or suspension any time during the semester. Parents receive copies of the letters of notification.  See below for criteria applying to adult / non-traditional students.

Eligibility for Academic Honors

As a result of distinguished academic performance throughout their undergraduate education, graduating students may receive their degrees with academic honors. Students are awarded academic honors as follows: when the final grade-point average is between 3.500 and 3.699, the degree is conferred cum laude; between 3.700 and 3.799, magna cum laude, and between 3.800 and 4.00 summa cum laude.

Standards of Academic Progress

Students are advised to complete 25 percent (32 to 33 semester hours) of the requirements in academic courses for the degree during each academic year. To meet acceptable academic standards, the student regularly enrolled as a degree candidate must accomplish the following:

• Achieve a minimum cumulative grade-point average of
  • 1.667 at the end of the first semester,
  • 1.750 at the end of the second semester,
  • 1.850 at the end of the third semester, and
  • 2.000 at the end of the fourth semester and thereafter.

  Note: The Board of Academic Standards may send informal letters of warning or concern to students when the grade-point average or status shows sings of falling below acceptable levels. Such situations might include communications to first-year students awarded the NC (No Credit) mark as a replacement of an F grade and to students whose cumulative grade-point averages need to be raised to meet the progressively scaled minimums listed here.

• At the end of the fourth semester and each semester thereafter, maintain a grade-point average of 2.000 or better.
• Earn at least:
  • 24 semester hours by the end of the second semester,
  • 52 semester hours by the end of the fourth semester, and
  • 80 semester hours by the end of the sixth semester.

  Note: This rate of accumulating successfully completed semester hours is a minimum standard and, if followed, requires nine to 10 semesters of acceptable academic work to meet the expectations for graduation.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on academic probation when judged to be making less than satisfactory progress toward graduation:

• When the semester grade-point average or the cumulative gradepoint average falls below stated minimums.
• When the rate of course completion falls below stated minimums.

A student is removed from academic probation when the semester and cumulative grade-point averages and the rate of course completion reach stated minimums. A student on academic probation may not receive a letter of good academic standing from the university.

Any student on academic probation must have the academic adviser’s approval prior to adding, changing, or withdrawing from a class. Further, the student is to meet at least twice (in addition to the pre-registration conference) with the academic adviser during the semester to discuss current academic work and related matters. The adviser reports the nature of the discussion and recommendations considered to the Board of Academic Standards using the appropriate form. The forms are initially sent to the student, who is to take them to the adviser.

Academic Suspension

Academic suspension occurs at the end of an academic year (except in the case of gross disregard of academic standards and responsibilities) and involves the involuntary and immediate withdrawal of the student from Wittenberg University for at least one full semester. A student is suspended as a result of any one of the following circumstances:

• A student fails to make sufficient progress toward meeting graduation requirements after being on probation for two or more consecutive semesters.
• Grave academic difficulty during the first year may not be known until the end of the second semester. In such cases, the Board of Academic Standards may decide to suspend a student when the extent of academic deficiency warrants this action.
• For gross disregard of academic standards and responsibilities, defined here as earning a grade-point average below 1.000 for any semester, the Board of Academic Standards determines the status of the student after a review of the student’s grades for the current semester and previous semesters and of the reports of the student’s instructors. A suspension for gross academic disregard my occur at the end of any semester.

Appeal of Academic Suspension

The Board of Academic Standards does consider a timely letter of appeal from the academically suspended student but reverses its decision only when presented with new evidence of significant mitigating circumstances. The letter of appeal is to be typewritten and no more than two pages in length; it may include additional supportive information or give a corrective devised by the student. The Assistant Provost for Academic Services provides information regarding the appeal process. Should the appeal of academic suspension be granted, the Board of Academic Standards often stipulates a course of action specific to the student for the successful completion of future academic work. Should it be denied, the student may appeal further, but only in writing, to the Provost.

The communication to the Provost must contain new evidence that has not been considered by the Board of Academic Standards or demonstrate that the appeal did not receive a fair and an impartial hearing.

Re-admission after Academic Suspension

A student suspended for academic reasons may be re-admitted on probationary status after being away for at least one full semester (excluding summer semester) by filing an application for re-admission with the Dean of Admission. A student on academic suspension may not receive a letter of good standing and may not receive credit for work taken at another institution during the period of suspension. It is the responsibility of the student to determine the readiness to return and accomplish academic work. The re-admitted student must strive toward being removed from the status of academic probation and must normally meet with minimal expectation of completing at least 12 semester hours with a semester grade-point average of 2.333.

Academic Dismissal

If an academically suspended student is readmitted, continues to remain on academic probation and subsequently becomes liable for suspension a second time, academic dismissal results. Academic dismissal is a permanent separation from the University.

Academic Standards and Policies for Adult/Non-Traditional Students

For adult/non-traditional students, the university uses academic standards, policies, and credit requirements for academic progress and eligibility for the Dean’s List which are keyed to the pace of enrollment typical of these students. The University publishes these policies in the Faculty Manual and the School of Community Education Handbook for Adult/Non-Traditional Students.

Withdrawal During Semester

A student who wishes to withdraw from the university during a semester must apply for permission to withdraw in good standing. A withdrawal during semester form is available at the Registrar’s Office. When the withdrawal form is completed, the student should have an exit interview with a member of the Student Development staff before leaving campus.

The date of withdrawal determines the grades to be received for the courses in which the student has been enrolled:

one-five weeks: — Without Grade or Credit
six-10 weeks: — W(Withdrawn)
11-15 weeks: — F

It is the student’s responsibility to petition the Assistant Provost for Academic Services if there are circumstances that would warrant a waiver of the above policy.

Pro-rated board refunds are available through the last day the student is in residence. This refund is contingent upon surrender of the meal ID card to the meal plan coordinator, a formal check-out with the residential hall coordinator, and an exit interview with a staff member in the Office of Student Development.

Tuition charges and charges for applied music lessons are refunded according to the following schedule:

one week or less — 90 percent refund
two weeks or less — 80 percent refund
three weeks or less — 60 percent refund
four weeks or less — 40 percent refund
five weeks or less — 20 percent refund
more than five weeks — no refund

A student suspended or dismissed from the university for infringement of university regulations is allowed no financial refund of any kind for that semester.

Policies and procedures are different for the School of Community Education.  Students withdrawing from SCE should contact the SCE Dean's Office for additional information.

End of Semester Withdrawal

A student who withdraws at the end of any semester is required to apply for permission to withdraw in good standing. The form is available at the Registrar’s Office. An exit interview with a member of the Student Development staff is required. The student who is interrupting attendance to study abroad or to participate in a special program may request a leave of absence.

Re-admission

Any person who has withdrawn from the college or has been asked to withdraw is eligible to apply for re-admission upon completion of a formal application for re-admission. An application form may be obtained from the Registrar's Office. The completed application must be received by at least four weeks before the beginning of the semester in which the person wishes to re-enter the college.

An adult/non-traditional student who is absent from Wittenberg for two calendar years or longer must apply for re-admission. The student is subject to the academic requirements in force at the time of return. In extraordinary cases a student may appeal to the Registrar for continuation according to older requirements.

Code of Academic Integrity

Preface

Wittenberg University is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and truth. At the heart of our search for knowledge is personal honesty, an honesty that makes possible an open and vibrant exchange of ideas. True community and academic excellence thrive at Wittenberg through honesty, trust, and mutual respect. It is the aim of this Code of Academic Integrity to foster an atmosphere in which all individuals can reach their fullest potential as students and teachers and, ultimately as human beings.

Honor Statement

All academic work submitted at Wittenberg will carry the honor statement. “I affirm that my work upholds the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity at Wittenberg, and that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance.”

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is a serious violation of community standards. It undermines the bonds between members of the community and defrauds those who may eventually depend upon our knowledge and integrity. Such dishonesty includes:

Cheating
Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, study aids, or assistance in any academic exercise.

Fabrication
Falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

Facilitating academic dishonesty
Helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of this code.

Plagiarism
Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise, either knowingly or through negligence.

Student and Faculty Responsibilities

To achieve the aims of this code of academic integrity, every student, faculty member, and administrator is responsible for upholding the highest standards of personal integrity. It is expected that every member of the Wittenberg community will honor the spirit of the code by refusing to tolerate academic dishonesty.

It is the responsibility of the instructor to provide students with clear guidelines for what constitutes “authorized” and “unauthorized” assistance, and the responsibility of every student to seek clarification if in doubt about those guidelines. In cases of collaborative work, the Honor Statement applies to the contributions of each individual student within the collaborative group.

Honor Council

The honor council is composed of six (6) faculty members, two (2) administrators and ten (10) students. Every year the faculty will elect two of its members to serve three-year terms. The Provost and the Dean of Students will each appoint an administrator to serve a three-year term. The students will be selected by a committee consisting of the chair and vice-chair of the Honor Council, two additional volunteer members of the Honor Council, and three students appointed by Student Senate.

This committee will strive to make the Honor Council representative of the diverse nature of the Wittenberg community.  At least one student from each class will be a member of the council, and, once selected, student members will serve until they graduate.  The Honor Council will elect a chair and vice-chair from its membership. The chair will be a student with at least one year’s service on the council. The vice chair will be a faculty member with at least one year’s service on the council.

The Honor Council has the following responsibilities and authority:

1. To maintain and enforce standards of academic integrity.
2. To create and conduct educational programming designed to promote academic integrity.
3. To advise and consult with the student body, faculty members, and administrative officers on matters pertaining to academic integrity.
4. To designate from among its members, students, administrators, and faculty to serve on Council Hearing Boards.
5. To consider petitions for removal of the grade of XF from university records.
6. To issue an annual report to students, faculty and staff, which would typically include a summary of cases, and a description of the Council’s activities.
7. To review policies and procedures of the Code of Academic Integrity and the Honor Council on at least a bi-annual basis and to recommend changes to the faculty and students.

The Honor Council will be advised by a faculty member appointed by the Provost, in consultation with the Faculty Executive Board, who will be known as the Honor Council Faculty Adviser. The adviser will be responsible for the oversight of the Honor Council and its processes.

Procedures for Honor Council

Allegations of Academic Dishonesty

If a faculty member suspects that a violation has occurred, the faculty member will make a reasonable effort to meet with the student(s) to inform him/her of the allegation. The faculty member and student will discuss the allegation, and agree to either pursue student/faculty resolution or refer the case to the Honor Council. If the student does not admit responsibility for the violation or tdisagrees with the sanction to be imposed by the faculty member, the student may request that the case be referred to the Honor Council. Faculty members are responsible for informing students of their option to refer the incident to the Honor Council for review at any time during the student/faculty resolution.

If a student is either unwilling or unable to meet with the faculty member within two weeks of notification, then the faculty member must refer the case to the Honor Council for review by a Hearing Board.

A student who suspects that a violation of the code of academic integrity has occurred should take some form of action. Ideally, the student will report that violation to the Honor Council using the form for student reports. In this report, the student should describe any action taken, such as talking with the person involved, or with a faculty or staff member. Every effort will be made to preserve the anonymity of the student reporting the incident; however, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Students might also report anonymously to the instructor, with or without naming individuals, or confront the individual(s) believed to be in violation of the code.

Student/Faculty Resolution

If the student and faculty member agree to student/faculty resolution, they will discuss the case and the sanction to be imposed by the faculty member. If both student and faculty agree to the student’s responsibility for the violation and to the sanction to be imposed by the faculty member, the faculty member writes a report to the Honor Council describing the incident giving rise to the allegations and informing them of

1. the date, time, location of meeting or meetings with student,
2. the nature of their conversations,
3. the student’s admission of responsibility for the violation,
4. evidence and relevant supporting information,
5. the sanction to be imposed,
6. whether or not a hearing has been requested.

The faculty member will send copies of the report to the student and the Office of the Assistant Provost for Academic Services as the office of record.

All reports of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Assistant Provost for Academic Services to verify whether reports have been received indicating that the student has been found responsible for any other act of academic dishonesty. If the Assistant Provost for Academic Services finds that the case is a repeat offense, the case is automatically referred to the Honor Council for review by an Honor Council Hearing Board.

Honor Council Resolution

Cases not resolved through student/faculty resolution will be referred for a hearing. A hearing is initiated when the Honor Council receives a report from the Assistant Provost for Academic Services of a request for a hearing by either the student or the faculty member.

Composition of Hearing Boards

A hearing is conducted by a Hearing Board. The panel will normally consists of seven persons, six of whom will be voting members. Hearing Boards are made up of three students, two faculty members, and one administrator selected by the Honor Council chair from the membership of the Honor Council. Determinations of the board will be by a majority vote (four votes or more). The chair or vice-chair of the Honor Council will serve as the Hearing Board chair and will vote only in the event of a tie. If the chair or vice-chair is unavailable or the caseload becomes unmanageable, the Faculty Adviser will appoint another member of the Honor Council to serve as chair of the Hearing Board.

Preliminary Procedures

The initial report of an allegation of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Honor Council Chair and the Faculty Adviser, who will then appoint a Hearing Board and designate a chair of the Hearing Board. Following this, the chair of the Hearing Board will inform the student of the allegation in writing, including the faculty member’s report. The chair of the Hearing Board will request a written statement from the student in response to the allegation, and, if the student so desires, he or she can submit a list of witnesses to appear at the hearing on the student’s behalf. Witnesses are limited to individuals who can present evidence that bears directly on the allegation. The student’s written statement will become part of the case and be reviewed by the Hearing Board in preparation for hearing the case, but it will not take the place of the student’s presence at or comments within the hearing.

The chair will select the date, time, and place for the hearing and notify both the referring faculty member and the student by personal delivery or campus mailbox a minimum of five (5) business days prior to the hearing. Either the chair or vice-chair (whichever one is not presiding at the hearing) or the faculty adviser will meet with the student to review hearing procedures and process. He/she will also meet with the student following the hearing to discuss the ramifications of the findings and the student's options for appeal.

Students have the right to object to any member of the Hearing Board they believe to be biased in the case.  In cases where the student objects to a member of the Hearing Board, the chair of the Honor Council and the Faculty Adviser will decide whether or not to act on that objection. Members of the Hearing Board have the responsibility to recuse themselves from cases in which there is a conflict of interest.

The Hearing Board Process

The purpose of a hearing is to explore and investigate the incident giving rise to the appearance of academic dishonesty and to reach an informed conclusion as to whether or not academic dishonesty occurred. All persons at a hearing are expected to assist in a thorough and honest exposition of all related facts. Honor Council Hearing Board proceedings are not a court of law, and attorneys are not permitted to be present at any hearings.

The sequence of a hearing is necessarily controlled by the nature of the incident to be investigated and the information to be examined. It lies within the judgment of the presiding officer to determine the most reasonable approach. The following steps are generally recommended:

1. The referring faculty member or the individual reporting an alleged violation, and then the student, will briefly summarize the matter before the honor board, including any relevant information or arguments. The faculty member may recommend a sanction.
2. Witnesses will be called who have knowledge of the incident and can offer documents or other materials bearing on the case.
3. Members of the Hearing Board may request additional material or the appearance of other persons, as needed.
4. The referring faculty member or individual reporting the allegation and the student may make brief closing statements.
5. The Hearing Board will meet privately to discuss the case and determine whether a violation has taken place based on a preponderance of the evidence.
6. If the student is found in violation, the Hearing Board will determine an appropriate sanction. When determining the sanction, the Hearing Board will be informed of any other violations of academic integrity on the part of the student.
7. The Hearing Board chair will provide the referring faculty member or reporting individual, the student and the Assistant Provost for Academic Services with a written report of the facts found, identifying the parts of the policy that have been violated and describing the sanction, if any, to be imposed.

The Hearing Board chair will ensure that the following rules and points of order are observed:

1. The student may be accompanied by a person of his or her choosing for emotional support only, provided that the support person is not a parent, an attorney, or a party to the case. This person will not actively participate in the hearing process in any way.
2. Hearings will be tape recorded for the purposes of the Hearing Board’s deliberations and/or any Student Appellate Board action.
3. Presence at a hearing lies within the judgment of the Hearing Board chair. A hearing requires a deliberative and candid atmosphere, free from distraction. Accordingly, it is not open to the public or other “interested” persons. The Hearing Board chair may cause to be removed from the hearing any person, including the student, who disrupts or impedes the investigation, or who fails to adhere to the rulings of the chair. The Hearing Board chair will direct that persons, other than the student, who are to be called upon to provide information be excluded from the hearing except for that purpose. The members of the Hearing Board may conduct private deliberations at such times and places as they deem proper.
4. Failure to appear before a Hearing Board will not preclude the Hearing Board from hearing evidence and determining outcomes.
5. It is the responsibility of the person desiring the presence of a witness before a Hearing Board to ensure that the witness appears. Because experience has demonstrated that the actual appearance of an individual is of greater value than a written statement, the latter is discouraged and should not be used unless the individual cannot reasonably be expected to appear. Any written statement must be dated, signed by the person making it, and witnessed by a University employee. The work of a Hearing Board will not, as a general practice, be delayed due to the unavailability of a witness.
6. A hearing is not a trial. The Hearing Board will consider all relevant, probative, and credible evidence. The Hearing Board chair will determine what evidence will be considered.

If the Honor Council Faculty Adviser determines that a Hearing Board cannot be convened within a reasonable period of time after an allegation is made, two students and one faculty member will be appointed as an ad hoc Hearing Board. Members of ad hoc Hearing Boards shall be current or former members of the Honor Council. A non-voting Hearing Board chair will also be appointed.

Hearing Board Outcomes

If the Hearing Board determines that the allegations of academic dishonesty are unfounded, then no record of the allegation and/or hearing appears on the student’s record and no sanctions are imposed.

Sanctions

Sanctions available to faculty members for informal resolution include:

• Warning (The violation is kept on file and no other sanction is imposed.)
• A reduction in grade for the assignment and/or an additional reduction in the grade for the course.
• A failing grade for the assignment and/or an additional reduction in the grade for the course.
• A failing grade in the course (XF).

Sanctions available to the Honor Council include:

• Formal warning (The violation is kept on file and no other sanction is imposed.)
• A reduction in grade for the assignment and/or an additional reduction in the grade for the course.
• A failing grade for the assignment and/or an additional reduction in the grade for the course.
• A failing grade in the course (XF).
• Community work assignment.
• Removal of the privilege of representing the university in extracurricular activities including athletics, as well as the privilege of running for or holding office in any student organization that is allowed to use university facilities or receives university funds.
• Suspension from the university for one to two semesters, excluding summer terms. Students suspended for academic dishonesty must apply for readmission according to the Board of Academic Standards guidelines.  However, students suspended for academic dishonesty cannot transfer into Wittenberg any credits earned during the suspension.  Readmission applications by students suspended for academic dishonesty must be approved by the Honor Council.
• Dismissal from the university.

The grade of XF

An XF will be recorded on the student’s transcript with the notation “failure due to academic dishonesty.” The grade of XF shall be treated in the same way as an F for the purposes of grade point average, course repeatability, and the determination of academic standing.

A student may file a written petition to the Honor Council to have the grade of XF removed and replaced with the grade of F. The decision to remove the grade of XF and replace it with a grade of F requires a majority of a quorum of the council (quorum for the Honor Council is five students and three faculty members), provided that:

1. at the time the petition is received, at least twelve months shall have elapsed since the grade of XF was imposed; and,
2. at the time the petition is received, the student shall have successfully completed a non-credit seminar on academic integrity; or, for the person no longer enrolled at the university, an equivalent educational activity to be determined by the Honor Council; and,
3. the Assistant Provost for Academic Services certifies that no reports have been received indicating that the student has been found responsible for any other act of academic dishonesty at the university, or at another institution.

Prior to deciding a petition, the Honor Council will review the record of the case and consult with the Honor Council adviser and, whenever possible, the faculty member who originally reported the violation. Both the Honor Council adviser and the faculty member serve in an advisory capacity only. If the Honor Council denies the petition, the student cannot submit another petition for four years, unless the Honor Council specifies an earlier date.

Subsequent Allegations of Academic Dishonesty

In the event of a subsequent allegation of academic dishonesty, the case is automatically referred to the Honor Council and reviewed by an Honor Council Hearing Board. Ordinarily, a second substantiated allegation of academic dishonesty results in either suspension for one or two full semesters, excluding summer terms, or permanent dismissal from the university. In the event of extraordinary or extenuating circumstances, the Hearing Board has the right to assign a lesser sanction.

Unless otherwise designated by the Honor Council, suspension for academic dishonesty will take place immediately.  In the case of an appeal, the suspension is held in abeyance until the appeal process is completed. 

Appeals

A student is allowed one opportunity to appeal a decision of the Hearing Board to the Student Appellate Board. Appeals must be received by the Student Appellate Board at the Student Development Office within five (5) business days of receipt of the Honor Council Hearing Board decision.  Appeals must be based on one or more of the following three conditions:

1. New and significant evidence is presented which may further clarify and support the defense of the student, at which point the case will be referred back to the original Hearing Board for reconsideration;
2. There is clear reason to believe that the sanction is not consistent with the seriousness of the violation. In cases where the Student Appellate Board determines that this is the case, it may issue a different sanction.
3. There is substantial, credible evidence that the initial hearing was not fair and impartial, or that the established process was not followed, in which case the Student Appellate Board will request that a new Hearing Board be selected from the Honor Council to rehear the case.

The Honor Council will review the policies and procedures described in the Code of Academic Integrity at least bi-annually and will recommend any revisions to students and faculty.

Campus Security

Wittenberg University is committed to providing a safe living and learning environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. As part of the university’s overall effort to provide important information about personal safety to the campus community, a campus security report is published annually. This publication is prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. The report is available electronically via the Police and Security link listed under the Services/Facilities heading on either the Fac/Staff or Current Students link on the university’s homepage. You may also request a paper copy of this report from the Campus Police and Security Department.

The following policy statements and information are included:

• Current campus policies regarding procedures and facilities for reporting crimes and emergencies and the university’s response to such reports;
• Current law-enforcement policies, including the authority of security personnel and policies encouraging the reporting of crimes;
• A description of the type and frequency of programs to inform the campus community about security procedures;
• A description of crime prevention programs;
• Statistics on the reports of certain crimes and arrests;
• The policy for monitoring and recording off-campus crime through local police agencies;
• The university’s policy on the possession, use, and sale of alcohol, as well as the policy regarding illegal drugs;
• A description of drug or alcohol abuse education programs; and
• The policy regarding programs to prevent sex offenses and procedures to follow when a sex offense occurs.