Academic Integrity Policy

The Academic Integrity Policy defines the University’s expectations for academic honesty and our procedures for addressing academic misconduct. When we, as a members of the university community, maintain the highest standards of academic integrity, we ensure the value of our educational process and the credibility of a Franklin Pierce University education.

Academic integrity is built upon the values of honesty, fairness, social responsibility, and ethical behavior. These principles are at the core of a Franklin Pierce education. Academic misconduct is an action or attempted action that violates those values and creates an unfair advantage for a student; such an action strikes at the heart of the academic enterprise. The Academic Integrity Policy, the full text of which is available here, defines academic misconduct and the procedures for responding to such misconduct. This includes when and how an instructor should report a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, penalties that will be applied when a student is found responsible for academic misconduct, and the appeal process if a student wishes to contest a report or a sanction for alleged academic misconduct.

Consequences for Academic Misconduct: 

1. The penalty for a student’s first incident of academic misconduct will be decided by the instructor, with mandatory reporting to the University Provost.
2. After a second incident of academic misconduct, a student will be suspended for one semester or one term. The suspension begins at the start of the semester or term following the conclusion of the process resulting in the finding of academic misconduct.
3. After a third incident of academic misconduct, a student will be dismissed (permanently separated) from the university.