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Cox School of Business Graduate Programs

Section 1: Preamble

Academic integrity is the foundation of the educational process at the Cox School of Business and the source of value associated with earning a degree from Cox.

By becoming members of the Cox School of Business, students agree to hold themselves to the highest standard of academic integrity and to uphold this Honor Code ("Code").

Section 2: Honor Statement

A Cox School of Business student will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.

Section 3: Jurisdiction

The Code governs all Cox professional programs, and the Cox Honor Council has jurisdiction over all graduate students participating in courses or activities offered by the Cox School of Business.

Section 4: Violations of the Honor Code

A. Students will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Any unauthorized conduct that evidences fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or intent to obtain unfair advantage over other students is an Honor Violation (HV).

B. In order to ensure academic integrity, faculty members shall define and explain what resources and participatory activities are, or are not, permitted in their respective courses, keeping in mind the provisions of this Code. The faculty members' definitions and explanations should address, but not be limited to, examination security, use of past materials and exams, and group assignments. Accessing prior class materials produced by faculty or students is prohibited unless authorized by faculty.

C. A faculty member who suspects that a student has violated the Code may take either or both of the following courses of action:

1. Determine to handle the situation privately with the student, in which case these procedures should be followed:

a) The faculty member shall inform the student of the alleged misconduct and, after discussing it with him or her, determine whether or not the student is responsible for a violation of the Honor Code. The faculty member has the option of having the Associate Dean of Master Programs or his or her designee present at this session.

b) The faculty member shall inform the student of the sanctions taken, which may be as severe as a failing grade in the course.

c) The faculty member shall notify the Associate Dean for Masters Programs of the action taken using the form designated for this purpose and available from the Honor Council or the Associate Dean of

Masters Programs. Faculty members should use this reporting mechanism, as it serves two purposes: first, it enables the Cox School of Business to track the number and severity of honor code violations; second, it preserves a record of a particular student's violation of the Honor Code in the event the student is charged with other alleged violations in the future.

2. Upon determination that the matter should be referred to the Cox Honor Council, a charge must be filed and received by the Associate Dean for Masters Programs, his or her designee, or the Chair of the Honor Council as soon as possible and within three weeks from the date of discovery of the alleged violation.

D. The following is a nonexclusive list of violations of this Code:

1. Cheating. Cheating encompasses, but is not limited to, the following:

a) Aiding or receiving unauthorized assistance of any kind on exams, homework or projects, including the use of unauthorized aids, copying from another student's work, soliciting and/or receiving unauthorized aid in any form, giving unauthorized aid to another student, or similar actions contrary to the principles of academic integrity.

b) Unauthorized use of texts or papers prepared by professional, commercial or noncommercial agents and submitted by a student as his or her own.

c) Unauthorized submission of work prepared for another course, project, or endeavor.

d) Falsification of results of a study or research.

e) Having another person take or prepare an exam in the place of the actual student.

f) Unauthorized discussion of any part of an examination with another student who will later be taking that examination, or with anyone else when such discussion is likely to endanger the security of the examination questions.

g) Unauthorized communication with another student during an examination. Examples of unauthorized communication include but are not limited to communication verbally, in writing, through a computer or through the use of any electronic device, or by any unauthorized means.

h) Unauthorized use of previous examinations, homework or projects.

2. Plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a) Incorporating into one's own work the work of another without properly indicating that source.

b) Using another's patterns of thought, arrangement of material, or sequencing of ideas without properly indicating that source.

c) Paraphrasing, changing wording, or a phrase from another person's work without indicating the root source.

d) Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional.

3. Stealing. Stealing encompasses, but is not limited to, the following:

a) Unauthorized taking or appropriating the property of another person or entity while one is on the university campus or at another site while participating in a sanctioned school function.

4. Lying. Lying includes, but is not limited to:

a) Knowing and intentional telling of an untruth, and any form of deceit or fraud in an oral or written statement relating to academic work.

b) Providing false information at an Honor Council hearing or to an Honor Council Investigator in any form. This may result in levying a charge to be reviewed in another hearing.

5. Tolerating a violation, including a student's failure to properly report a known or suspected violation of the Code. A student's failure to report a suspected Code violation about which he or she has actual knowledge is a violation of the Code.

6. Intentionally making a false allegation of a violation of this Code.

7. Failure to cooperate as a witness or interfering with the investigation of an alleged violation of this Code.

E. Excuses such as: pressure from school or outside work, family obligation, or to help a friend, or other similar circumstances are no defense for a violation of the Code.

F. A student may not claim as a defense for violating this Code that he or she has not received, read, or understood this Code, or is otherwise ignorant of its provisions. A student is held to have notice of this Code and agrees to abide by its rules by enrolling in the Cox School of Business.

Section 5: The Honor Council

A. Enforcement of the Code is vested in the Honor Council, all of whose members shall undergo training through the Cox School's Graduate Student Services Office. No one may serve on the Honor Council until he or she has been trained. In addition, the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services or his or her designee shall be present at all hearings as a neutral observer, and shall serve as a procedural guide when required. The Honor Council shall be selected as follows:

B. Selection

The Honor Code Selection Committee will choose members of the Honor Council. The Committee shall consist of the following: Associate Dean of Masters Programs or his or her designee, the incumbent Chairs of the Honor Council, and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Services or his or her designee. The Committee will review student applicants wishing to serve on the Honor Council and have the sole discretion for determining who will serve on the Honor Council.

The Committee shall seek applicants from the various graduate programs which represent the Cox School of Business. Students appointed to the Honor Council must have successfully completed at least one semester and remain in good academic standing to be eligible.

For the purpose of ensuring a quorum at all times, the selection committee may train at their discretion a designated number of Full-Time, Professional and Executive MBAs, as well as members of the M.S. programs. Those selected shall represent a cross section of academic programs and class sections.

Two Honor Council Co-Chairs are selected annually (each spring) from the Full-Time MBA class by the outgoing Co-Chairs and the Associate Dean for Graduate Masters Programs or his or her designee. Students must remain in good academic standing in order to be eligible. Selection and training typically takes place in the spring semester of each academic calendar year. Members serve one-year terms or until they graduate from the Cox school.

The Dean of the Cox School of Business or his or her designee shall appoint one to three faculty members annually to serve on the Honor Council. The Dean or designee may reappoint the same faculty or choose different members each year.

C. From the Honor Council's members, the Chairs will select seven members to serve voting roles on a Hearing Board to decide Honor Code violations. A quorum of seven is required to form a Hearing Board. Of the seven voting members, a majority of five must determine a verdict of "responsibility" for a Hearing Board to determine there is an Honor Code violation.

D. The Honor Council Chairs shall call and preside over all meetings and proceedings of the Honor Council and Hearing Boards, arrange for hearings of an accused student, and perform other such duties as are common to this office. The Chairs, guided by the Associate Dean of Masters Programs or other University persons responsible for guiding the process and interpreting

University policy, will also be responsible for answering questions posed by students or faculty regarding the Code. In addition, the Chairs have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Promoting the values of the Code.

2. Appointing Investigators from the Honor Council to investigate an alleged violation of the Code.

3. With Investigators, voting to decide if a formal charge should be brought against an accused.

4. Upon notification of an alleged HV, requesting that the registrar place a hold on the accused's transcript until the case has reached final disposition through a ruling of a Hearing Board.

5. Convening a Hearing Board comprised of seven members of the Honor Council selected by the Chair. Hearing Boards will decide if violations of the Honor Code have occurred after formal charges have been filed.

6. Notifying an accused student who has withdrawn from the Cox School of Business or who chooses to be absentee that an ex parte hearing will occur.

7. Posting a public summary of the Honor Council's proceedings for the prior semester. Confidentiality of those involved will be maintained in such posting.

8. Voting with the other members of a Hearing Board when expulsion is the sanction proposed for a student found responsible for violating the Code.

E. The Council Members shall meet when called upon by the Council Chairs. Council members serving on a Hearing Board will decide whether or not a student is responsible for violating the Honor Code, after reviewing and considering all evidence presented during a formal hearing. A five out of seven vote is necessary to determine that an Honor Code violation exists. Two Council members shall serve in the capacity of Investigators for each alleged honor violation when appointed by the Council Chair. Members serving as Investigators may not deliberate or vote during the formal hearing or serve on the Hearing Board for which they are the Investigators. In addition, the Council members serving on a Hearing Board have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Promoting the values of the Code.

2. Interpreting the Code, in consultation with the Associate Dean of Masters Programs and/or other university persons responsible for guiding the process and interpreting university policy.

3. Determining whether the action of a student is a possible violation of the Code.

4. Determining sanctions for violations of the Code.

The members of the Honor Council shall maintain confidentiality at all times in regard to matters reported to it.

Section 6: Sanctions

A. Sanctions for violations of this Code include but are not limited to one or more of the following:

1. Admonition, warning, reprimand or censure.

2. Counseling.

3. Additional academic work in the course in which the violation of the Code occurred.

4. A requirement that the student take extra credit hours.

5. Recommendation of a lower grade.

6. Suspension or loss of Cox School of Business student status, privileges, memberships, or honors, including academic scholarships.

7. Suspension from the Cox School of Business for a period not longer than two years.

8. Expulsion.

9. Recommendation to the Board of Trustees that an awarded degree be withdrawn.

B. A Hearing Board will determine in its sole discretion whether an Honor Violation shall appear on the student's academic record. If it is decided that an HV shall appear on the student's academic record, it shall be erased three years after a student graduates or would have graduated, if the student does not graduate.

Section 7: Reporting an Alleged Violation

Students or staff who suspect an Honor Code violation shall notify the Chairs of the Honor Council or the Associate Dean of Masters Programs of the alleged act in writing as described below. Based upon the aforementioned referral, the Honor Council may decide a formal hearing is required.

Section 8: Investigating an Alleged Violation

A. After receipt of a report of an alleged HV, the Associate Dean for Masters Programs or the Chairs of the Honor Council shall notify the accused student(s) and the person(s) making the report of its receipt as soon as reasonably possible. This notice must be in writing, sent to the official address listed in the Registrar's Office, if a student, or to a faculty/staff member's address, as listed in the Cox School of Business directory. The notice to the accused student(s) must contain a charge that clearly specifies the alleged Code violation and the time and place of its alleged occurrence. This notice will include a brief description of the actions the Honor Council will take to determine if making a formal charge is appropriate.

B. The Chairs of the Honor Council shall appoint two Investigators, a Chief Investigator and an Assistant Investigator, from the Honor Council to investigate an alleged Code violation. The Investigators shall interview potential witnesses, gather relevant evidence concerning the alleged violation, and submit a summary report no later than three days prior to the hearing. Investigations should be completed within a reasonable period of time but no earlier than ten days after accused has received notice.

Section 9: Charging the Accused

A. The Investigators shall present to the Chair written results of the interviews and the relevant evidence gathered during the investigation. Based on this evidence, the Chair and the two Investigators shall determine if a formal charge should be made against the accused student(s). Two of the three must agree that the alleged Code violation occurred for it to become a formal charge sent to a formal hearing of the Honor Council. The Investigators do not have a vote in the formal hearing.

B. If an alleged violation becomes a formal charge, the Chair shall instruct the Chief Investigator to draft the charge. The Chief Investigator shall then prepare and sign the formal charge and deliver it, along with the following, to the accused student(s) within a reasonable period of time:

1. A copy of the Honor Code.

2. A written notice that the accused student(s) have the following rights:

a) The right to remain silent at the time of charging.

b) The right to have an advisor selected from the Cox student body, faculty or staff present during the formal hearing. During the hearing, the accused may confer with his/her advisor, but only the accused may address the Hearing Board and question witnesses. Since the proceedings of the Honor Council and Hearing Boards are administrative and educational rather than legal in nature, the accused may not have legal counsel present at the hearing.

c) In addition to material witnesses, the accused has the right to have two character witnesses testify at the hearing.

3. A statement to be signed by the accused acknowledging that he or she has received a copy of the charge, and that the signing of the statement does not constitute an admission of having violated the Code.

C. After the formal charge has been served, the Chief Investigator will notify the Chair in writing. The Chair, after consulting with the parties and the members of the Honor Council, shall set the date for the formal hearing. The Chair will convene a Hearing Board within a reasonable time period but no sooner than within ten class days after notifying the accused. The Chair shall notify in writing the Chief Investigator, the Honor Council and the accused of the hearing date. Class days do not include: weekend days, exam days, holidays, and summer vacation days.

Section 10: Formal Hearing

A. A Hearing Board shall be composed of seven voting members and the Chair. The Chair of the Honor Council will vote only when expulsion is the sanction proposed for a student found responsible for violating the Code. A member may exclude himself/herself from serving on a Hearing Board for personal reasons. For the hearing to proceed, seven voting members and the Chair or the Vice-Chair must be present and operate under the same procedures outlined herein. Only one witness at a time will be allowed in the hearing room to testify, and all witnesses will be subject to questioning by the accused and the Hearing Board.

B. The Chair will open the formal hearing by reading the charge to the accused. Following the reading of the charge, the accused will be required to plead guilty or not guilty.

C. The hearing will continue as follows:

1. The Chair will ask the Investigators to present the results of their investigation. The Investigators will present any findings and call witnesses with knowledge of the suspected violation. Witnesses may include any person with knowledge, including any student, faculty or staff member at ÃÛÌÒ½´Methodist University. At the end of each witness' presentation, the members of the Hearing Board may question the witnesses. The accused has the right to be present during the presentation of evidence and witness testimony. The accused also has the right to question any witnesses.

2. Following the Investigators' presentation, the accused may present his/her defense and call witnesses, including as many material witnesses as he or she wishes and two character witnesses. During the hearing, the accused may consult with his/her advisor, but only the accused may address the Hearing Board and question witnesses. The Honor Council Chair may, at his or her discretion, grant extensions of time and/or adjourn the hearing temporarily as may be reasonably necessary to gather or clarify evidence.

3. Following the conclusion of the accused's defense, the hearing room will be cleared except for the Hearing Board, whose members will deliberate and decide by majority vote whether the accused student is responsible for having violated the Honor Code. A finding of responsibility requires a majority vote of five of the seven voting members of the Hearing Board and must be based on the belief that there is clear and convincing evidence to support a finding of responsibility. If the accused is found responsible, the Hearing Board will determine the appropriate sanction(s), as provided in Section 6. The sanction(s) shall be decided by a simple majority of the voting members of the Hearing Board. In the case of expulsion or the recommendation of withdrawal of a degree, a unanimous vote, including the Chair's, will be required of the Hearing Board. After the sanction is decided upon and has been reduced to writing, the accused will be recalled and the Chair will announce the verdict and sanction(s), if applicable, and will present the findings to the accused.

Section 11: Special Hearings

A student may request that a special hearing be held during the summer time or on an accelerated schedule that is sooner than the allotted time of ten class days from time of notification. It is the sole discretion of the Honor Council, by simple majority vote, to decide to grant a special hearing for a student. In deciding to grant a special hearing, the Honor Council will consider the needs of the accused and the logistical capabilities of convening a Hearing Board during an irregular time. Special hearings will follow the same procedures outlined herein.

Section 12: Appeals

Any student found responsible for violating the Code shall have the right to appeal a finding of responsibility and/or the sanction(s) if substantial new evidence has been uncovered or if the accused believes that the Hearing Board has failed to abide by these procedures. Appeals must be in writing, directed to the Appeals Committee, and delivered within ten class days after the decision has been conveyed to the accused student. The Honor Council Appeals Committee shall consist of the Associate Dean of the Master Programs or his or her designee, the student President

of the full-time MBA Student Advisory Board, and the student President of the Professional MBA Student Advisory Board. The Honor Council Appeals Committee shall have sole discretion in deciding whether to accept an appeal. If an appeal is accepted, the Appeals Committee may reverse a finding of responsibility, lessen a sanction, or remand the case for a new hearing. The Appeals Committee must respond to an appeal in writing within as soon as reasonably possible after the date on which the appeal has been received. A simple majority is sufficient for a binding decision, and all three members must vote.

Section 13: Absence of the Accused

In the case where an accused student withdraws from the Cox School of Business before a formal hearing has been conducted, the accusation prior to withdrawal shall be recorded by the Honor Council and maintained by the Cox School of Business. The Chair of the Honor Council shall send a letter to the accused stating that he or she has been charged with a violation of the Code, that an investigation has been or will be conducted, and that a hearing will be held so that the matter may be resolved. The charge must conform to the requirements set forth in this Code. The accused may respond in one of three ways:

1. The accused may return to the campus for a hearing.

2. The accused may waive the right to give testimony personally and the hearing may be conducted in his or her absence.

3. The accused may waive the right to appear and send a written, signed statement to be presented on his or her behalf at the hearing.

Section 14: Public Notification

Once each semester, the Chair of the Honor Council shall post to the Cox School of Business community, via Intranet, a summary of the Honor Council proceedings, including all the salient facts pertaining to any charges, the findings of the Honor Council, and any sanction(s) imposed. The name(s) of the accused and any other personally identifiable information must be withheld in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable state and/or federal statutes.