Academic and Creative Integrity Policy

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Academic and creative integrity is essential to the personal and educational growth of students and is a shared responsibility upheld by all members of the ArtCenter community. It is demonstrated through honest and ethical scholarship and creative practice, appropriate acknowledgment of the work and contributions of others, and accurate representation of one's own work. Upholding these principles maintains the College's standards of excellence and fosters a meaningful learning environment.

This Policy is intended to assist students in understanding the academic and creative expectations of the ArtCenter community, including the expectations outlined in individual course syllabi. By enrolling in a course, students agree to uphold these expectations of academic and creative integrity.

Academic misconduct is a violation of the Policy that creates an unfair or unearned academic advantage to a student. The following conduct constitutes academic misconduct and may also constitute a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

Matters Constituting Academic Misconduct

The following constitutes academic misconduct:

Plagiarism and Creative Dishonesty

Plagiarism and creative dishonesty involve presenting another person’s work, ideas, concepts, or creative expression as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgment, permission, or attribution. This may include, but is not limited to, using another person’s language, images, designs, concepts, research, creative materials, or other forms of work without appropriate acknowledgment or authorization.

In written work, using the exact words of another person requires proper attribution and citation of the original work. Paraphrasing or using another person’s ideas or words also requires appropriate acknowledgment.

In creative work, plagiarism may include copying, reproducing, or incorporating another student’s or creator’s work, designs, concepts, or creative materials without permission or appropriate acknowledgment. Artistic and design work often involves engagement with existing works; artists and designers commonly draw on others’ works for reference, inspiration, or as a conceptual use of an appropriated image. This type of exploration is encouraged and expected; however, there is an important distinction between drawing inspiration from a piece and copying it, which may vary by discipline.

While students are ultimately responsible for the integrity of their work, chairs and faculty will communicate discipline and course-specific expectations regarding what constitutes plagiarism or creative dishonesty.

Submission of the same work

Submission of the same work in multiple courses without explicit permission. Presenting all or part of work done from one course or independent study to another course requires permission from the instructor in the current course. Refining or building upon previous work may be appropriate in creative disciplines; however, students should consult with their instructor regarding whether the use of previous work is permitted and how it should be properly cited.

Unauthorized collaboration

Student works with others on assignments, examinations, projects, or other academic work that will be submitted for a grade without specific permission from the instructor. This may include, but is not limited to, receiving, providing, or using unauthorized assistance, materials, ideas, designs, or files from another person in a manner that affects the integrity of the submitted work.

Collaboration is an important part of the creative process and is often permitted and encouraged within the ArtCenter community. Course syllabi and in-class instructions will identify situations where collaboration on assignments is allowed. Students are responsible for understanding when collaboration is permitted and should seek further clarification from the instructor if expectations are unclear.

Cheating

Involves the unauthorized use of information, materials, devices, sources, or practices in completing academic activities. Cheating may include, but is not limited to, using unauthorized resources during examinations or assignments, submitting work that does not accurately represent a student’s own efforts or process, or misrepresenting information. Students are responsible for understanding and following course-specific expectations regarding permitted resources and forms of assistance.

Complicity

Knowingly assisting, facilitating, encouraging, or attempting to assist another person in violating the Academic & Creative Integrity Policy. Any student who engages in such conduct is considered responsible for violating the Policy. Any act that assists academic or creative dishonesty is itself a violation of this Policy.

Members of the ArtCenter community are encouraged to bring suspected violations of the Academic and Creative Integrity Policy to the attention of the appropriate faculty member or the Associate/Assistant Chair of the department.

Use of AI

Students are expected to adhere to the ArtCenter Position and Policy on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as any course-specific guidance on AI use provided in the course syllabus and by the instructor.

When AI use is permitted, students are responsible for appropriately acknowledging or citing its use as required and remain accountable for the veracity and fidelity of the content generated.

A. Procedures for Addressing a Policy Violation

The procedures for processing a violation of the Policy shall be as follows:

Raising a Concern Regarding Academic & Creative Integrity
1. Members of the ArtCenter community, including faculty, staff, and students, are encouraged to bring concerns regarding potential violations of the Academic & Creative Integrity Policy to the attention of the appropriate faculty member(s) teaching the course in which the concern arose or the Associate/Assistant Chair of the department offering the course.
Faculty Review
1. If a faculty member is uncertain whether a violation has occurred, they may consult with their academic Chair, Dean, Associate Director of Student Conduct, or the Dean of Students before discussing the suspected violation with the student.
2. The faculty member will notify the student of the alleged Policy violation and discuss the basis for the allegation. When applicable, the faculty should provide the student with the relevant evidence supporting the alleged violation.
3. Students who have been notified of an alleged Academic & Creative Integrity Policy violation are not permitted to withdraw from the course in which the alleged violation occurred until the matter has been resolved.
4. The faculty member will review the available evidence and determine whether the violation occurred.
Formal Documentation of the Violation
1. Following notification to the student and a determination that a violation occurred, the faculty member will submit an Academic and Creative Integrity Violation Form (“Report”). Any supporting materials should also be submitted.
2. The faculty member should identify any academic sanctions imposed, which may include resubmission of an assignment, a reduced grade, no credit for an assignment, a failing grade for the course, or other sanctions.
3. Following its submission, the Report and supporting materials are routed to the Student Conduct Office for review and processing.
Student Conduct Process
1. The Associate Director of Student Conduct (“Conduct Officer”) will review the submitted Report and supporting materials and hold an administrative conduct meeting with the student (see Student Conduct Meetings in the Student Code of Conduct).
  1. During the meeting, the Officer will review the alleged violation, discuss the faculty member’s determination and any academic sanctions imposed by the faculty member, if applicable.
  2. The student will be provided an opportunity to respond to the matter.
2. The Conduct Officer will review the matter to determine whether additional sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct are appropriate. Based on the circumstances of the matter, the case may be resolved through the administrative conduct meeting process or referred to a Hearing Board for further review.
  1. Matters involving potential sanction outcomes of suspension or expulsion will proceed through the Hearing Board process (see Cases Brought Before the Hearing Board in the Student Code of Conduct).
  2. If the matter does not proceed to a Hearing Board, the student will receive written notification of the outcome, including any sanctions imposed under the Student Code of Conduct, if applicable. The written notification will include information regarding any applicable appeal rights and procedures.
Hearing Board Outcomes
1. The Hearing Board’s decision for academic sanctions and disciplinary actions will be communicated to the reporting faculty and Chair of the department in which the student is enrolled.
2. The student will receive written notification of the Hearing Board’s determination following the hearing, including any applicable appeal rights and procedures.
3. The academic and disciplinary sanctions will be recorded in the student’s conduct record (see Disciplinary Files and Records in Student Code of Conduct.

B. Academic Sanctions

Academic sanctions are academic outcomes assigned to a student following a determination that the student violated the Academic & Creative Integrity Policy. These outcomes are intended to address the impact of the violation on the student’s academic and creative work while maintaining the integrity of the educational process.

Types of Academic Sanctions

Academic sanctions may include one or more of the following:

Resubmit assignment
Reduced grade on assignment
No credit for assignment
Failing grade for course
No sanctions

Faculty Academic Sanctions

As part of the Academic & Creative Integrity Violation Report, the faculty member will identify any academic sanction(s) imposed. When determining an appropriate sanction, the faculty member may consider the severity and nature of the violation, the present demeanor and past disciplinary record of the offender, the impact of the violation on the academic and creative work, and other relevant circumstances.

A faculty member may impose academic sanctions beyond those listed above in consultation with the Associate Director of Student Conduct and the Dean of Students.

Additional Academic Sanctions

The Associate Director of Student Conduct may impose additional academic sanctions in accordance with this Policy, along with any conduct sanctions authorized under the Student Code of Conduct.

The Hearing Board may impose additional academic sanctions in accordance with this Policy, along with any conduct sanctions authorized under the Student Code of Conduct.

C. Appeals

A student may appeal a determination issued by the faculty member, Conduct Officer, or Hearing Board under the Academic & Creative Integrity Policy. A determination may include a finding regarding responsibility and/or the assignment of academic sanctions or other outcomes.

Appeals must be based upon one or more of the following criteria:

The sanction is grossly disproportionate to the nature and circumstances of the violation.
The procedures outlined in this Code were not followed, and the error significantly affected the outcome of the conduct process.
New relevant evidence is available that could not have been reasonably obtained or presented during the original conduct process.
The decision is not supported by the evidence available during the conduct process.

Appeals of Decisions Made by Faculty

All requests for appeals must be in writing and must clearly identify the basis for the appeal and explain how one or more of the above criteria apply.

Appeals must be delivered via email to the faculty member’s Dean within five business days of the date that the student received the written determination of the sanction.

The faculty member’s Dean will review the summary of the testimony, findings of fact, decision, the academic sanctions imposed by the faculty member, the student’s disciplinary history, and the student’s written statement.

The faculty member’s Dean may request the student provide additional information in writing as part of the appeal review.

Following the review of the appeal, the faculty member’s Dean may affirm, reduce, or increase the sanction(s) and will provide the student with written notification of the decision.

Appeals of Decisions Made by the Associate Director of Student Conduct

All requests for appeals must be in writing and must clearly identify the basis for the appeal and explain how one or more of the above criteria apply.

Appeals must be delivered via email to the Dean of Students within five business days of the date that the student received the written determination of the sanction.

The Dean of Students will review the summary of the testimony, findings of fact, decision, the academic and/or conduct sanctions imposed by the Conduct Officer, the student’s disciplinary history, and the student’s written statement.

The Dean of Students may request the student provide additional information in writing as part of the appeal review.

Following the review of the appeal, the Dean of Students may affirm, reduce, or increase the sanction(s) and will provide the student with written notification of the decision.

Appeals of Decisions Made by the Hearing Board

All requests for appeals must be in writing and must clearly identify the basis for the appeal and explain how one or more of the above criteria apply.

Appeals must be delivered to the Dean of Students and the Provost within 5 business days of the date that the student received the written determination of the sanction.

The Dean of Students and Provost will review the summary of the testimony, findings of fact, decision, the academic and/or conduct sanctions imposed by the Hearing Board, the student’s disciplinary history, and the student’s written statement.

The Dean of Students and Provost may request the student submit, in writing, additional information.

Following the review of the appeal, the Dean of Students and Provost may affirm, reduce, or increase the sanction(s) and will provide the student with written notification of the decision.