Academic Integrity

Roanoke College is committed to the maintenance of the highest possible standards of academic integrity among all of its constituents. To promote an atmosphere conducive to a free quest for intellectual fulfillment, the administration, staff, students, and the faculty have the responsibility and the obligation to adhere to and to enforce the standards of the academic integrity policy as defined and outlined in the brochure Academic Integrity at Roanoke College. Students are required to make a written commitment to support this policy and to work fully with the campus community in sustaining the academic integrity of Roanoke College.

It must be recognized that there will be those individuals who willfully choose to violate the governing principles which this institution has adopted for the independent search for knowledge. When such violations are suspected, it is the duty of the institution’s members to report those who are suspected of such acts. While striving to sustain a consistently high level of academic integrity, Roanoke College also strives to ensure due process to all who have been charged with academic integrity violations. No one person has the right to assume the enforcement of this policy; thus, each charged with a violation, as well as each bringing the charges, has the right to a full hearing.

The Academic Integrity Council consists of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, members of the faculty and professional staff appointed by the President, and student members elected annually by the student body. Members of the Council are chosen for Academic Integrity Panels and Academic Integrity Boards, which hear all cases involving charges of violations of academic integrity. Violations include cheating in any form; plagiarizing; lying in direct association with academic matters or during the process of an academic integrity hearing or investigation; impeding an investigation; denying access to academic materials; or other actions that violate student regulations or public statutes for the purpose of committing or supporting an academic integrity violation.

All violations of academic integrity are viewed with gravity by the College community. Possible penalties include “F” in the course, dropping a student from a course with a grade of XF (which is treated as an “F” in the computation of the grade point average), Academic Integrity Probation, Academic Integrity Suspension, and permanent expulsion from the College. The Academic Integrity at Roanoke College brochure should be consulted for complete details concerning the College’s academic integrity system.

It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with the regulations and procedures of the system immediately upon enrollment. To assist students in meeting this responsibility, an orientation session is provided and the brochure, Academic Integrity at Roanoke College, is made available to all entering students. Questions concerning the Academic Integrity System should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.