Academic Policies

Academic Integrity

Mercer County Community College is committed to Academic Integrity -- the honest, fair and continuing pursuit of knowledge, free from fraud or deception. This implies that students are expected to be responsible for their own work, and that faculty and Academic Student Resources staff members will take reasonable precautions to prevent the opportunity for academic dishonesty.

Violations

The college recognizes the following general categories of violations of academic integrity, with representative examples of each. Academic integrity is violated whenever a student:

Uses or obtains unauthorized assistance in any academic work.
- copying from another student's exam.
- using notes, books, electronic devices or other aids of any kind during an exam when prohibited.
- stealing an exam or possessing a stolen copy of an exam.
Gives fraudulent assistance to another student.
- completing a graded academic activity or taking an exam for someone else.
- giving answers to or sharing answers with another student before, during or after an exam or other graded academic activity.
- sharing answers during an exam by using a system of signals.
Knowingly represents the work of others as his/her own, or represents previously completed academic work as current.
- submitting a paper or other academic work for credit which includes words, ideas, data or creative work of others without acknowledging the source.
- using another author's words without enclosing them in quotation marks, without paraphrasing them or without citing the source appropriately.
- presenting another individual's work as one's own.
- submitting the same paper or academic assignment to another class without the permission of the instructor.
Fabricates data in support of an academic assignment.
- falsifying bibliographic entries.
- submitting any academic assignment which contains falsified or fabricated data or results.
Inappropriately or unethically uses technological means to gain academic advantage
- Inappropriately or unethically acquiring material via the Internet, including using artificial intelligence, or by any other means.
  - The unauthorized use of any artificial intelligence tools for cheating or academic dishonesty
- using any electronic or hidden devices for communication during an exam.

Each instructor and Academic Student Resources area is authorized to establish specific guidelines consistent with this policy.

Consequences for Violations of Academic Integrity

For a single violation, the faculty member will determine the course of action to be followed. This may include assigning a lower grade on the assignment, assigning a lower final course grade, failing the student in the course, or other penalty appropriate to the violation. In all cases, the instructor shall notify the chairperson of the Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) of the violation and the penalty imposed.

The Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) may impose disciplinary penalties beyond those initially imposed by the course instructor under the following circumstances:

During their time at MCCC, the student has been reported multiple times for violating the academic integrity of a class.
*The academic integrity violation is so severe it impacts another student or students’ standing at the college. In this instance, although this might be the student’s first violation, all disciplinary actions outlined in the chart below can be applied.
*The academic integrity violation is so severe it undermines the integrity of the course, program, or College. In this instance, although this might be the student’s first violation, all disciplinary actions outlined in the chart below can be applied.

Violation Amount	Minor Penalty	Major Penalty
*First Violation: Involves only the student and the instructor. The incident is reported to the AIC.	Instructor's disciplinary action is imposed. AIC will recommend best practices.	Instructor's disciplinary action is imposed. AIC will recommend best practices.
Second Violation: Involves the student, instructor, and the AIC.	Student will attend a 1-semester mandatory workshop and attend an AIC intervention during the committee's monthly meetings.	1/2 Load probation. Student will be restricted on the number of classes or credits they can enroll in.
Third Violation: Involves the student, instructor, and the AIC.	1/2 Load probation. Student will be restricted on the number of classes or credits they can enroll in.	1 semester suspension
Fourth: Involves the student, instructor, and the AIC.	1-semester suspension and a note is placed on the student's transcript.	1 year suspension and a note is placed on the student's transcript

Appeals

The student has a right to appeal the decision of the instructor or the Academic Integrity Committee. Procedures governing violations of Academic Integrity are contained in the Student Handbook.

Approved: Board of Trustees June 25, 2025