Academic Integrity Policy

The Art of Education University believes academic integrity is essential to maintain the validity of all grades earned and to protect the integrity of the university, students, and graduates. Therefore, AOEU adheres to the highest standards in assessing student scholarly work. Academic integrity is a complex and university-wide commitment, especially for students and faculty. AOEU is committed to enrollment policies that support student success and maintain academic integrity. 

AOEU’s responsibilities in upholding academic integrity include ensuring students understand the importance of the principles of academic integrity and ensuring students make adequate progress toward degree completion. Students are required to complete the master’s degree within five years. Repeated withdrawals, transfers, and retakes of courses are prohibited. This pattern, in essence, elongates the time period for a student to be successful over multiple terms. 

Student responsibilities in upholding academic integrity include abiding by a commitment to submitting original work and giving appropriate credit to others’ work when credit is due. Cheating and plagiarism in any form are unacceptable academic behaviors and will not be tolerated.

Academic Dishonesty

All work submitted and/or presented by students must be original and properly credit all outside inspiration. Original, cited work includes, but is not limited to, individual and group assignments in written, oral, and electronic forms and any artistic creations. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Purchasing and/or deliberately taking someone else’s work (written, artistic, or otherwise) and submitting it as one’s own.
  • Incorrectly citing resources or creating fictitious resources.
  • Using a direct quote without including quotation marks and appropriate citation.
  • Submitting direct quotes as paraphrased text.
  • Paraphrasing text without using appropriate citation.
  • Self-plagiarism: Submitting work completed for one course/program assignment and resubmitting it for another AOEU course/program assignment as original work for the new assignment. This includes work completed for a course from which a student has previously withdrawn, unless prior approval is granted by the instructor.
  • Style plagiarism: Using another source’s structure or style of reasoning as you progress through your writing. The words may be different, but the order of ideas or explanation of concepts is similar to the original source. (Also called organizational plagiarism.)
  • Mosaic plagiarism: Rearranging complex sentence clauses, synonyms, or other rearrangements to create a distinction from the original source. This also includes piecing together multiple citations with a lack of original thought. (Also called patchwork plagiarism.)

Originality Detection Software

The Art of Education University uses an online originality detection system, which allows faculty to scan submitted coursework against academic journals, sources across the internet, and assignments previously submitted to AOEU. Faculty may also use search engines to detect similarities. 

Graduate-Level Writing Requirements

Principles of academic integrity include ensuring that the quality of student work product is consistent with the degree level. Originality detection software not only detects plagiarism but also serves as a teaching tool to support academic writing. The Art of Education University may require additional modules or tutorials to complete a course if a student’s abilities are deficient in graduate-level writing.

Violations, Disciplinary Probation, and Dismissal

Violations of academic honesty are cumulative throughout the student’s tenure at the university. Violations detected in two courses will result in Disciplinary Probation. Students violating the terms of Disciplinary Probation may be dismissed from the program.

Guidelines for Disciplinary Action

Depending on the severity of academic dishonesty, the faculty of record will work in conjunction with the Dean and/or Chief Academic Officer to determine appropriate sanctions. Sanctions may include, but are not limited to:

  • An opportunity to resubmit the assignment
  • Reduction of points given for the original assignment 
  • Failing grade for the assignment involved
  • Failing grade for the course
  • Dismissal from the course*
  • Dismissal from the university

*Students dismissed from a course for Academic Integrity Policy violations are entitled to a tuition refund according to the Add/Drop, Withdrawal, and Tuition Reimbursement Policy.

Academic Dishonesty Investigation Process

Allegations of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the faculty of record and the appropriate academic administrator. 

If a student is found in violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, they will receive written communication to the email address on file informing them of their violation and dismissal from the program. 

A student’s course enrollment may require suspension during an investigation of a student’s violation of the Academic Integrity Policy. If the investigation concludes the student has not committed a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, they will be granted a course extension equal to the time of the suspension and investigation.

Students who are under investigation for academic dishonesty in one course are subject to having their entire academic record reviewed. If previous incidents of academic dishonesty are determined, whether or not they have been reported, the student is liable to have those assignment grades and course grades reviewed and amended, including the possibility of a failing grade issued for previously submitted assignments or courses. Past incidents can be considered when determining sanctions for the incident under review.

Academic Dishonesty: Multiple Course Violations

Students with one or more academic integrity violations on record from a previous course and incur additional course infraction(s) are subject to Disciplinary Probation and/or university dismissal.

Additional policy information may be found in the current edition of the Graduate Catalog.