Academic Integrity Code

Mayland Community College expects every student, staff member, and instructor at Mayland Community College to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. The right to learn in a community free from academic dishonesty is crucial to the development of a college student. For this reason, the College will impose sanctions for instances of plagiarism or cheating, or any act which violates the academic integrity of the College. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Mayland’s statement regarding violations of the Academic Integrity Code located in the Student Handbook.

Faculty/Dean’s Responsibilities and Options

Faculty members are responsible for educating students about academic integrity by placing a statement about the Academic Integrity Code on class syllabi. Further, faculty members are encouraged to limit opportunities for dishonest behavior.

An instructor suspecting an incident of an academic-related violation shall present concerns to the student and provide an opportunity for the student to explain or refute the concerns within five business days. If the instructor is dissatisfied with the student’s response, the instructor shall report the matter to the appropriate Dean.

If a student violates the Academic Integrity Code on an assignment (including an exam or other academic exercise), the faculty member has the option of the following sanctions:

• Re-Complete the assignment
• A reduced grade on the assignment.
• A reduced grade for the course.
• A grade of F on the assignment.
• A grade of F for the course.

Additionally, the faculty member must complete an Incident Form and report the violation to his/her Academic Dean and the Dean of Students in all cases in which a sanction has been imposed. The Dean of Students will keep a record of the violation. Repeated instances of violations of the Academic Integrity Code will result in more severe sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Violations of the Academic Integrity Code

Violations of the Academic Integrity Code include, but are not limited to, the following acts:

• Academic cheating, including, but not limited to, unauthorized copying of academic work of another, collaboration or use of notes or books on examinations without prior permission of the instructor.
• Plagiarism or the intentional presentation of work of another without proper acknowledgment of the source.
• Fabrication and falsification or the intentional misrepresentation of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
• Submission of substantial portions of the same academic work for credit more than once without authorization.
• Abuse of academic materials in the form of destruction, theft, or concealment of library or other resource material or of another student’s notes or laboratory experiments.
• Complicity in academic dishonesty in helping or attempting to help another student to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
• Forgery, alteration, copyright violation, or misuse of college documents, records, computer software, Internet materials, or instruments of identification with intent to deceive or disrupt.
• Furnishing of false information to any MCC personnel including forgery, falsification, or fraudulent misuse of any documents, records, or identification cards.
• Having someone other than the student do work for that student.
  A student has the right to appeal any decision or sanction imposed by a College faculty member within five (5) working days after notification. A student must follow the Student Complaint/Grievance Procedure.

1. Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyrights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damage or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys’ fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504,505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov.