Academic Integrity Policy

Approval Date: August 1st. 2022 
Implementation Date:  September 1st, 2022 
Review Date: April 1st, 2024 
Responsible Office: Executive Director 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this policy is to outline the principles and values underpinning Academic Integrity at Randolph College for the Performing Arts (“RCPA”). RCPA is committed to promoting and protecting Academic Integrity while providing due process through a restorative practice framework. 

SCOPE 

This policy applies to all members of the RCPA community.  

POLICY 

RCPA recognizes the importance of academic integrity as a key element in ethical education. RCPA also recognizes our responsibility to ensure that students are educated in academic honesty. This policy defines a fair set of standards by which academic misconduct will be judged.  

Academic Integrity is defined as “A commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage. From these values flow principles of behaviour that enable academic communities to translate ideals to action" - ICAI, Fundamental Values Project, 1999. 

Academic Misconduct is defined as the giving, taking, or presenting of information or material that unethically or dishonestly aids an individual or group in the determination of academic merit.  

Examples of Academic Misconduct include, but are not limited to: 

• Plagiarism, including, but not limited to, submitting a work of which the student is not the author, in whole or in part, whether written, oral or in any other form (except for duly cited quotations or references). Such work may include assignments, tests, examinations, or journals. 

• Submitting the same piece of work or a significant part of that work for more than one course, or a thesis or other work which has already been submitted elsewhere, without written authorization of the instructors concerned (also known as Self-Plagiarism); 

• Cheating on assignments, tests, exams or assessments.  

• Impersonating another person for the purposes of completing course assignments, tests or examinations; 

• Attributing a statement of fact or reference to a source that has been concocted;  

• Falsifying or misrepresenting an academic evaluation, using or facilitating the use of a forged or falsified academic record or supporting document; 

• Undertaking any other action for the purpose of falsifying an academic evaluation;  

• Interfering with the right of other students to pursue their studies. 

• Interfering with the way the instructor is teaching.  

PROCEDURE 

Any member of the RCPA community may report a violation of the Academic Integrity policy to the instructor of the course. 

If a violation of this policy is observed, suspected, or reported, the instructor will discuss the situation with the student in question. The student will be given an opportunity to provide an explanation or take accountability. If the student takes accountability or presents an unsatisfactory explanation, the instructor will refer the incident to the Department Head. In cases of serious Academic Misconduct, the Department Head may involve the Program Manager, Student Services, and/or the Executive Director.  

Restorative justice principles guide our decision-making in cases of Academic Misconduct. Where possible, RCPA seeks resolutions that can repair trust, and encourage students to develop a stronger sense of personal and academic integrity. Each resolution will depend on the harm done, who was harmed by it and what they need, the accountability that is taken for the misconduct, and what options are available to begin making amends.  

In the case of serious and/or repeated Academic Misconduct, or violations of the Student Code of Conduct, RCPA reserves the right to invoke the following disciplinary measures:  

• Warning (Verbal or Written)  

• Suspension  

• Expulsion 

For more information on Disciplinary Sanctions please see the Policy Relating to the Expulsion of Students.