To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of the AURAK community and with the desire for greater academic and personal achievement, we, the student members of the university community, have set forth this honor code:

“As a member of the AURAK family, I pledge to be reliable, responsible, honorable, and embrace only the success and recognition I earn and deserve. I will act with integrity and honesty and will strive daily to become the best version of myself – a decent human being, a conscientious student, a good citizen, and a successful professional.”

The role of the Honor Code and associated Student Academic Integrity Policy is to protect the academic integrity of the university, encourage consistent ethical behavior among students, and foster a climate of honorable academic achievement. The Honor Code is an integral part of university life and students are responsible, therefore, for understanding and abiding by the code‘s provisions.

While a student’s commitment to honesty and personal integrity is assumed and expected, this Code and associated policy and procedures provide clarity of expectations. To maintain an academic community according to these standards, students and faculty follow the reporting policy and procedures herein.

At the beginning of each semester, faculty members have the responsibility to explain the Honor Code and their expectations for students in each class with special focus on plagiarism as well as specifics related to anticipated coursework and assignments. They must also explain the extent to which aid from others, if any, is permitted on academic work. Students should request an explanation of any aspect of an instructor‘s expectations regarding the Honor Code that they do not fully understand. Students have an obligation not only to follow the code themselves, but to encourage respect for and compliance with provisions of the code by other students. This includes the student obligation to report potential violations by fellow students and to understand that not doing so may also violate the Honor Code.

Faculty members are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the learning and evaluation process. Faculty members are expected to actively proctor exams, and should enforce the prohibition on possession of mobile phones during exams. Faculty may also take any additional action they believe is warranted to assure academic integrity.

While the internet and easy access to information and knowledge is commonplace, the University is committed to students understanding and demonstrating the ethical foundational values of scholarship. For all academic assignments, project work, and presentations, students need to ensure that due acknowledgement is given to the source of any information which they incorporate in their work.

Expectations

Cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of academic fraud are unacceptable; they are serious violations of university policy. AURAK expects all students to be familiar with university policies on academic integrity. The university will not accept a claim of ignorance—either of the policy itself or of what constitutes academic fraud—as a valid defense against such a charge.

Violations of Academic Integrity

Violations of academic integrity constitute academic fraud. Academic fraud consists of any action that serves to undermine the integrity of the academic process or that gives the student an unfair advantage, including:

❖ Inspecting, duplicating or distributing test materials without authorization.

❖ Cheating, attempting to cheat, or assisting others to cheat – relevant here is the prohibition on being in possession of a mobile telephone or similar electronic device during a test or examination. In case such devices are found with a student, the student will be deemed to have attempted to cheat and will be subject to disciplinary action under this policy.

❖ Altering work after it has been submitted for a grade.

❖ Plagiarizing.

❖ Using or attempting to use anything that constitutes unauthorized assistance.

❖ Fabricating, falsifying, distorting, or inventing any information, documentation, or citation.

Each student’s program may have on record additional specific acts particular to a discipline that constitutes academic fraud. These specific acts are specified in relevant handbooks or course syllabi.