Academic Integrity Policy
What is Academic Integrity?
Academic integrity is demonstrated by behavior that honors the learning environment — regardless of setting, context, location or modality.
Academic dishonesty, or failure to practice academic integrity, negatively affects the learning environment and other members of the ACU community.
Academic dishonesty includes — but is not limited to — plagiarism, collusion, cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, failure to contribute to a collaborative project, and sabotage.
Academic dishonesty detracts from a student’s personal learning, which will affect her or his academic grade, standing in a course or program, and/or standing in the university.
Academic dishonesty also has a chilling effect on the ACU community creating an air of suspicion in the learning environment.
Additional Resources
Expanded Definitions and Advice
The explanation and examples at the button below can be helpful for educating the ACU community about academic integrity or in deciding appropriate consequences for a violation.
Process for Addressing Violations
A guide for faculty and administrators when someone suspects a violation of the policy.
Addressing Violations
Rights and Responsibilities
A guide for the behavior of faculty, students, department chairs, deans, and Student Life representatives in creating and protecting a culture of academic integrity and in addressing violations of it.
Rights & Responsibilities
Other Academic Policies
Student Complaint Policy
The university has established formal policies and processes to handle written student complaints and appeals. Generally the policies encourage students to resolve concerns at the initial level of concern when possible, e.g., working with the faculty member or department chair to resolve an academic issue.
Intellectual Property Policy
Abilene Christian University (ACU) recognizes and encourages development of new and useful devices and processes, publication of scholarly works, and development of computer software as an integral part of the processes of learning, service, and research. To download the full Intellectual Property Policy, click on the button below:
Credit Hour Policy
The credit hour is the basic unit of measuring the work represented by academic engagement. Learn more about how credits are assigned.
Significant Disruption Policy
A significant disruption may affect the university’s ability to conduct its courses and academic procedures in usual and customary ways. Learn more about about the Significant Disruption Policy.