Academic Rights and Responsibilities (traditional-age undergraduates)

Academic Honesty

Each student is responsible for performing academic tasks in ways that honesty is not in question.  Unless an instructor specifically defines what is permissible in academic conduct, students are otherwise expected to maintain academic integrity in all tests, term papers, oral and written examinations, recitations, and all other academic work that is presented by a student as his/her own work.  Students are expected to follow proper citations when using sources that are not their own on all academic work.  Persons who deliberately provide materials to students for purposes of plagiarism are also culpable.

When academic honestry is in question, faculty members may take appropriate disciplinary action that include, but not limited to rewriting a paper or retaking an exam, giving a student a letter grade of F on the assignment, or F on the course, and/or recommending expulsion.  If the actions include a fail grade and/or expulsion, this recommendation must be reported to the Department Chair and/or Academic Dean.

The Provost may review cases of academic dishonesty if the student denies the allegations, and/or the faculty member has reason to suspect academic dishonesty (even after the student has submitted a revised work or additional information).  Due process may include the formation of an Academic Judicial Board to investigate the matter and make a recommendation to the Provost.  The Provost may take appropriate action that may include, but is not limited to academic probation, suspension, or expulsion.

Classroom Conduct

Instructors are responsible for presenting appropriate materials in courses, and students are responsible for learning this material.  Although it is a student's academic performance that is evaluated in determining grades, student conduct is important to the academic setting.  Enrollment in a class may be determined due to unsatisfactory student conduct, undue disrespect toward an instructor or administrator, or academic dishonesty.  Each student is responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance for each course in which he or she is enrolled.

Only students registered in the course, University staff, and guests invited by the instructor may attend class sessions.  All others, including children of registered students, will be asked to leave.  If a minor child is present, both the parent and the child will be asked to leave.

Judicial Procedures

University of La Verne's academic and social judicial procedures permit students to register complaints against individuals or groups to Academic Deans, the Dean of Regional Campus Administration, or the Dean of Student Affairs, as appropriate.

University Catalog

Students are responsible for policies and regulations that are found in the University Catalog in effect at the time he or she is admitted.  Students are expected to understand all the regulations and requirements for the degree she/he is pursuing.  Pleading ignorance to policies and procedurs is insufficient to make exceptions or waive requirements.  Although advisors will make every effort to assist students, the responsibility to meet all degree requirements and deadlines rests on the student.  The student may elect to graduate under a later catalog.  New catalogs take effect on September 1 of the year published.  The official catalog is online and is updated each year: http://www.laverne.edu/catalog/