Policy on Academic Honesty

(Adapted from Hofstra University’s Faculty Policy Series)

Statement of Principles:

The Zucker School of Medicine will not tolerate dishonesty, and it will not offer the privileges of the community to the offender. Students play an active role in their own education and the care of patients, and each student bears responsibility for their own work and behavior. Anyone who refuses this responsibility both misses the point of a medical education and proves unworthy of it.

One learns and contributes to the body of knowledge by reviewing work already done and by using it as the basis for generating new ideas, discovering new data, and drawing new conclusions. Though the process of learning is undeniably collaborative, one’s achievement in that process is assessed on the basis of one’s individual contribution. Academic honesty requires carefully distinguishing one’s own work from that of others. Each individual must fully acknowledge when, where, and how the individual's work refers to or depends on that of others. This means carefully tracing the boundary between others’ efforts and one’s own, clearly noting where others’ work leaves off and one’s own begins.

A student who commits any act of academic dishonesty, including knowingly helping another student to commit such an act, or failing to report when another student has committed such an act, rejects such responsibility and may forfeit the right to remain a member of the academic community, particularly if the student is unwilling or unable to recognize the seriousness of the offense. It is critical for students to avoid even the appearance of dishonesty. Any violation of these principles constitutes academic dishonesty.

Procedures for Addressing Violations:

The names of all students involved in academic dishonesty issues shall be held confidential.
All concerns regarding possible violations of these principles by students will be brought to the attention of the Student Advancement Committee (SAC) or Professionalism Committee(PC). The student will be provided, in writing, with the same documentation of the allegation that the committee receives. If the allegation involves an individual who is a member of the committee, the individual will be excluded from voting as a member of the committee.

References to Regulations and/or Other Related Policies
Hofstra University Faculty Policy Series #11G
Policy on Due Process for Academic Adverse Action

 

Last Updated: October 2021