Conflict of Interest

Each member of the University community is responsible for acting in an ethical and professional manner. This responsibility includes avoiding conflict of interest, conducting instruction in an ethical manner and protecting the rights of all individuals. All members of the University community- including members of the University’s faculty, administration, student body and staff should conduct themselves with the greatest professional objectivity. Academic integrity is a central importance in the University community and involves committed allegiance to the values, the principles and the code of behavior held to be central in that community The core of a University’s integrity is scholastic honesty. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that can diminish the quality of scholarship, the academic environment, the academic reputation and the quality of the American Trinity University. All forms of academic dishonesty at American Trinity University are a violation of University policy and will be considered a serious offense.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

For faculty: Plagiarism and Falsifying University Documents Plagiarism are presenting words, ideas or the work of others as one’s own work, falsifying any University document- includes falsifying signatures on University forms, documents or papers; forging another person’s signature or the modification of University documents which are presented as originals. Breaches of academic integrity are handled by the program director, department chairperson, school dean or the vice president. It is the responsibility of all faculty and staff to be informed as to what constitutes academic dishonesty and to follow the policy.

For Students: Plagiarism is intentionally or presenting words, ideas or the work of others as one’s own work. Plagiarism includes copying homework, copying lab reports, copying computer programs, using a work or portion of a work written or created by another but not crediting the source, using one’s own work completed in a previous class for credit in another class without permission, paraphrasing another’s work without giving credit and borrowing or using ideas without giving credit. Cheating during exams includes unauthorized crib sheets, copying from another, looking at another student’s exam, opening books when not authorized, obtaining advance copies of exams, using unapproved or compromising computer technology to share exam information or an exam given by or on computers and having an exam re-graded after making changes. Exam cheating includes exams given during classes, final exams and standardized tests.

Use of unauthorized study aids: includes utilization of other’s computer programs or solutions, copying a copyright computer program without permission, using old lab reports, having others perform one’s share of lab work and using any material prohibited by the instructor. Falsifying any University document- includes falsifying signatures on University forms, such as add/drop and withdrawal forms, forging another student’s signature and falsifying prerequisite requirements. It is the responsibility of all students to be informed of what constitutes academic dishonesty and to follow the policy. A student who is aware of another student’s academic dishonesty is encouraged to report the instance to the instructor of the class, the test administrator, or the school dean, department chairperson, program director or other appropriate supervisor or administrator for appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken.