Academic Integrity Policy
Preamble
As a higher education institution dedicated to preparing future healthcare professionals, the MGH Institute of Health Professions upholds the highest standards of ethical behavior for all members of its community. The Institute expects all faculty, students, and staff to adhere to principles of academic integrity and intellectual honesty, as outlined in this policy. Any form of cheating, plagiarism, falsification of academic materials, submission of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content as one’s own work or collusion in dishonest behavior is a violation of academic integrity and is unacceptable.
The Institute upholds professional integrity through three core principles:
- Mutual Trust: Every member of the community should be able to rely on the honesty of others.
- Personal Integrity and Accountability: Each individual is responsible for maintaining intellectual honesty and upholding academic integrity.
- Community Responsibility: All members of the community share responsibility for reporting observed violations of academic integrity.
Article I: Governance of the Academic Integrity Policy
Section 1: Scope and Application
This policy applies to all members of the Institute, including faculty, staff, and students.
Academic integrity standards apply across all educational settings, including both in-person, online, and off-site environments. Each academic program may have additional professional and ethical conduct expectations aligned with its respective discipline’s code of ethics, which are detailed in the respective program manual/s.
Upon matriculation, students receive information on all academic policies, including professional and ethical conduct expectations, along with the potential consequences for violations. Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to this policy and must attest to having read and understood them prior to matriculation.
Section 2: Interpretation and Authority
Any conflicts or questions regarding this policy, including its interaction with other Institute policies, should be directed to the Office of the Provost (“Provost”). The Provost or designee serves as the final authority on policy interpretation. This policy and any future revisions will be interpreted in compliance with applicable state, federal, and legal requirements.
Article II: Academic Integrity Standards
Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for maintaining the honesty and integrity of their own academic work, including applications for admission, financial aid, and any collaborative or clinical work submitted for academic evaluation or credit.
Section 1: Academic Integrity Definitions and Violations
- Definition of Academic Exercise: An academic exercise includes any student activity, document, record, or similar media submitted for review by a faculty member, staff member, clinical site instructor, teaching assistant, or another evaluator as part of a course or program of study. This includes but is not limited to: Attempts to commit violations, even if unsuccessful, are subject to the same disciplinary action as completed violations.
- Types of Academic Integrity Violations
The following examples constitute academic integrity violations; this list is not exhaustive.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the unauthorized use, misrepresentation, or improper attribution of another person’s or AI-generated words, ideas, images, or results. To credit appropriately, a student must identify every direct quotation using quotation marks or appropriate indentation, cite sources, and paraphrase appropriately according to the accepted format for the discipline or as required by the instructor.
Examples:
- Copying text, images, or data from any source without proper attribution
- Submitting AI-generated content as one’s own work
- Incorporating media (graphs, tables, computer code) without proper attribution
Cheating
Cheating involves the unauthorized use or possession of materials, assistance, or information in an academic exercise.
Examples:
- Copying another student’s work during an exam
- Using unauthorized books, notes, calculators, cell phones, or AI tools during an assessment
- Submitting the same work for multiple courses without permission
- Purchasing or downloading work and submitting it as one’s own
- Having another person take an exam in one’s place
Fabrication
Fabrication is the falsification or invention of sources, citations, data, or results.
Examples:
- Citing non-existent sources
- Manipulating data to fit a hypothesis
- Falsifying patient or client records
- Submitting fraudulent excuses or documentation
Facilitation of Dishonesty
Deliberately or carelessly allowing one’s work to be used for or otherwise aiding others in committing violations of academic integrity.
Examples:
- Sharing test answers or assignments without authorization
- Taking an exam on behalf of another student
- Distributing copies of an exam without permission
Academic Sabotage
Deliberately interfering with another student’s academic progress.
Examples:
- Destroying or tampering with another student’s work
- Stealing or defacing academic materials
- Altering shared digital files without consent
Violation of Research or Professional Ethics
Failing to adhere to professional codes of conduct/IRB rules related to research, grant use, data collection, or patient interactions.
Examples:
- Using unethical research methods
- Misuse of grant or institutional funds.
- Violating HIPPA or confidentiality/consent policies
Violations Involving Potentially Criminal Activity:
Participation in activities that may also result in criminal prosecution.
Examples:
- Forging academic records or transcripts
- Bribing faculty or staff for academic gain
- Unauthorized access to health records
- Patient rights violations
Article III: Roles and Responsibilities
Section 1: Faculty Responsibilities
Faculty are responsible for promoting academic integrity, addressing dishonesty, and assisting in the development of moral reasoning to promote and uphold standards of ethical conduct. Faculty should:
- Provide a clear and complete syllabus that describes course expectations, guidelines, performance standards, and a link to this policy.
- Hold students accountable for understanding and demonstrating academic integrity standards.
- Foster an environment in which academic integrity is expected and respected.
- Detect and properly handle suspected breaches of academic integrity.
- Evaluate student work based on its academic merit.
- Offer timely and honest feedback.
- Be available to discuss appropriate academic matters, student questions, and concerns.
- Serve as role models for ethical academic and professional behavior.
Section 2: Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for understanding this policy and demonstrating behaviors that uphold academic integrity. This includes:
- Following course policies related to academic integrity, as detailed in the course syllabus and related course documents.
- Seeking clarification from instructors when academic performance standards are unclear.
- Contributing to an academic environment that respects integrity and ethical scholarship.
- Committing to the highest standards of excellence in their discipline.
- Reporting any suspected violations of this policy via the Academic and Conduct Report Form.
Article IV: Procedures for Addressing Violations
Section 1: Reporting Violations
Allegations may be initiated by any member of the Institute community, including faculty, staff, students, and clinical site instructors/preceptors.
The Academic and Conduct Report Form is the required and official reporting mechanism for documenting and addressing violations. Reports should be made as soon as possible following the discovery of a violation to ensure timely investigation and resolution.
Section 2: Resolution Processes
When an academic integrity violation is alleged, students should refer to their program manual for program-specific disciplinary procedures. Each academic program may have additional processes that align with the principles outlined in this policy while incorporating profession-specific ethical standards and remedial actions.
Informal Resolution
Faculty are encouraged to resolve minor infractions informally when appropriate, using an educational approach to help students understand academic integrity expectations. If a student has multiple violations or if the violation is serious, the case will be escalated for formal review.
Formal Adjudication
Cases that require formal investigation will be reviewed by the appropriate program or school’s designated body, which will determine appropriate sanctions based on the nature of the violation.
Special Cases for Interprofessional Education and Practice
For violations occurring within Interprofessional Education and Practice courses or activities, the faculty of record will work with the academic unit leader of the program in which a student is enrolled to address sanctions or remedial actions. Students whose violation requires formal adjudication will follow the above process of being reviewed by the appropriate program or school’s designated body.
Special Cases for Courses Outside of a Student’s Program
For violations occurring in courses outside of the program in which a student is enrolled, the faculty of record will work with the academic unit leader of the program in which a student is enrolled to address sanctions or remedial actions.
Section 3: Sanctions
Sanctions for academic integrity violations will be determined based on the following factors:
- The nature and severity of the violation.
- The significance of the assignment(s) involved.
- The student’s intent and level of awareness.
- The impact on the Institute community and academic environment.
- The student’s history of prior academic integrity violations.
- The need to maintain academic standards and uphold institutional integrity.
- The protection of the Institute community.
- The necessary corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Any mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
Possible Sanctions
In accordance with the Institute’s Academic and Disciplinary Actions policy, the following sanctions may be imposed:
- Mediation and Informal Resolution: Faculty or administrators may resolve minor issues through direct communication and corrective actions, which do not result in a formal record being maintained in a student’s academic file.
Examples of informal resolutions include:
- Educational sanctions (e.g., academic integrity training, reflective essays)
- Assignment revision or resubmission
- Reduction in credit for an assignment or course.
- Failure of assignment (recommended for first violation)
2. Warnings: Students may receive a formal warning specifying problematic behavior or performance and corrective actions.
- Oral Warning: Documented within the program, but no permanent record is retained after the student leaves the Institute.
- Written Warning: A formal letter placed in the student’s academic file; failure to comply with the corrective action may result in further sanctions.
3. Course-Level Sanctions
- Failure of an assignment or exam
- Failure of the course/clinical placement (recommended for repeat violations or egregious first offense)
4. Institutional Sanctions
- Suspension- Temporary removal from the Institute for a specified period, including academic and clinical settings. Requirements for reinstatement will be outlined.
- Dismissal- Permanent removal from the Institute for serious or repeated academic integrity violations.
Section 4: Procedure
Incidents Discovered by Faculty
When a faculty member becomes aware of a potential academic integrity violation that is minor enough to warrant an informal resolution process, then the faculty member should meet with the student and determine (a) if the violation occurred and (b) an informal resolution that can be agreed upon by both the faculty member and the student. Faculty members will submit record of the informal resolution to a student’s academic advisor, who will maintain record. If a student has had multiple informal resolutions in their record, then the academic advisor will forward the case to the Assistant Dean, or designee, who will evaluate the case and determine if formal adjudication is needed.
Incidents Discovered by Report
When an academic integrity violation is reported using the Academic and Conduct Report Form, the report will be sent to the Assistant Dean of Student Success (Assistant Dean) of the appropriate school. The Assistant Dean, or designee, will forward the report to the faculty of record (if applicable) and the appropriate academic unit leader. In cases where an academic program lies outside of an academic school, the Dean of Students, or delegate, will forward the report to the faculty of record and the appropriate academic unit leader.
If the violation occurred within a specific course, the faculty of record may attempt an informal resolution with the student if deemed appropriate. Otherwise, the academic unit leader will send the case to the program’s designated adjudicating body for formal resolution.
Formal Adjudication Procedures
For cases requiring formal adjudication:
- The program’s designated adjudicating body will investigate the alleged violation.
- A hearing may be conducted, allowing the student to present their case.
- The program’s designated adjudicating body will recommend sanctions to the appropriate academic unit leader.
- The academic unit leader will issue the final decision and communicate the outcome to the student.
- Sanctions will be recorded as appropriate, and students will be informed of their right to appeal.
Special Cases for Conflict of Interest
Should the academic unit leader be unable to determine official sanctions due to a conflict of interest in a case, the program’s adjudicating body will recommend sanctions to the Dean of the respective school or a designee, who will issue the final decision and communicate that to the student. If the Dean is involved in the issuing of sanctions, then any appeal procedures will be overseen by the Dean of Students or an alternate administrator.
Section 5: Appeals
Students who wish to contest the findings of the academic integrity violation or the assigned sanctions may file an appeal following the process outlined in their program manual.
To avoid conflicts of interest:
- Appeals may not be reviewed by faculty or staff involved in the original case.
- The Dean of the respective School or a designee will oversee the appeal process.
- If a conflict of interest exists, the Dean of Students or an alternate administrator will evaluate and execute the appeal process.