Honor Code Responsibilities: Students and Faculty
Both students and faculty are responsible for understanding the Honor Code and its implementation. The policies of each instructor may vary slightly. It is the responsibility of faculty members to specify their policies in writing at the beginning of each semester. The instructor is to make clear how much, if any, collaboration is permissible for each type of assignment. Students are responsible for understanding these policies and should consult with the instructor if the policies are unclear.
If a student believes that a faculty member is not following the tenets of the Honor Code, the student should contact that particular faculty member or report to the appropriate administrator. These issues will be handled according to University policies.
Engineering students of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences taking courses offered by another college are subject to the University's policy on academic dishonesty as outlined in the Student Handbook (undergraduate) or Graduate Student Announcements (graduate). Nonetheless, engineering students are expected to follow the Honor Code and sign the Honor Pledge on a self-imposed voluntary basis when taking non-CECAS courses.
Cases involving suspected violations on the part of students registered in another college, but taking an engineering course, or involved with engineering facilities, will be dealt with according to the University's policy on academic dishonesty.
Taking Exams (or Tests)
- The Honor Code is based on the principle that students can be trusted to take examinations without cheating.
- The instructor will announce the time and place of the exam and whether or not aids such as calculators, notes or textbooks are to be allowed during the examination.
- It is a violation of the Honor Code to use a calculator or other aid to store or record text or equations for an exam unless the instructor gives permission to do so.
- If an instructor decides not to monitor the exam, the instructor's whereabouts must be communicated to the class in case a question arises.
- All questions concerning an exam must be directed to the instructor; no other discussion is allowed. At the end of every examination, students must write the Engineering Honor Pledge in their test books, and sign their names under it. This applies to all exams, even those taken in courses in other colleges. Engineering instructors are not required to grade exams in which the signed Honor Pledge does not appear.
The Engineering Honor Pledge is as follows:
"I have neither given nor received aid on this examination."
On Homework, Laboratory Assignments, Papers and Reports
The instructor may prohibit collaboration on homework and laboratory assignments and must make these policies clear. The instructor may also require that students write and sign the Honor Pledge on their assignments. It is a violation of the Honor Code for students to submit as their own work which is not the result of their own labor and thought. Work which includes material derived in any way from the efforts of another author, either by direct quotation or paraphrasing, should be fully documented. Any attempt to use fraudulent data for a report or presentation is a violation of the Honor Code.
When Using Computers and Other Facilities
The Clemson University Student Handbook contains university wide regulations concerning the use of computers. The College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences has developed an extensive Computer Misuse Policy governing the use of all college-owned computer facilities. In addition, each department of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences establishes its own general policies on the use of computers, laboratories and other facilities. Students should observe instructions posted in computer rooms, laboratories and libraries.
The following policies also apply:
Students may not submit as their own work a computer program, or part thereof, which is not the result of their own thought and effort unless they are working on a group assignment. Any attempt to present as one's work any- code copied from another student, done jointly with another student, or copied from an unacknowledged source is violation of the Honor Code.
Students may not attempt to access or tamper with the class account of another student, without his/her permission.
Computers and software available to students for use are the property of or are licensed to Clemson University. Any unauthorized attempt to copy software or tamper with computers or software is a violation of federal law.
All laboratories, classrooms, office equipment and libraries are facilities available for instruction and learning. Use of these facilities for any purpose not approved by the University is a violation of the Honor Code.
Concerning Academic Records
Official academic forms and records are the property of Clemson University. Tampering with, alteration or other misuse of these documents is a violation of the Honor Code. Submitting falsified or altered documents is also a violation. Alteration or misuse of documents and other records is also a violation of Clemson University regulations as outlined in the Student Handbook and will be dealt with at the University level.
Reporting Honor Code Violations
When a student, faculty member or administrator observes a student violation of the code, this person has the duty and responsibility to:
- obtain the names of the people involved;
- inform the instructor in whose class the alleged incident took place.
Such charges of violations should be made within 14 calendar days following the discovery of an alleged incident. If a student believes that a faculty member or administrator is not following the tenets of the Honor Code, the student should contact that particular member of the faculty or make a report to the appropriate administrator. Such charges will be dealt with according to University policies.
In accordance with the Faculty Manual, the Student Handbook and the Graduate School Announcements, the following procedure applies once a College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences student is accused of academic dishonesty as defined in the Student Handbook and in this document. All other violations of University policies will be dealt with at the University level.
The instructor will inform the student in private of the charge and its nature, and will request in writing that the department head verify any prior offenses with the registrar. Upon receipt of that information and in the case where a violation has occurred, the faculty member will send the student written notification of the charge and the disciplinary action determined with consent of the department head. In the case where no violation is found, the student will receive notification of the fact and the matter is closed. If the student finds the charge or penalty unfair, the student can either request a peer-review Honor Council hearing or appeal directly to the appropriate Academic Grievance Committee by written letter to the Dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. Grievances must be filed within 14 calendar days for undergraduates and seven calendar days for graduates from the receipt of written notification. If no grievance or hearing request is filed, the faculty member and department head will forward copies of the written notification to the Dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences and the Registrar.