ARTICLES OF GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE XII. Violation of Academic Principle

Section 1

The fundamental academic principle is that students learn through independent and original work.

A. Examinations are to be taken without giving or receiving assistance.

B. All sources of material used in writing reports or papers are to be acknowledged in the appropriate ways in the body of the paper, in notes, or in the bibliography.

C. Separate reports or papers are to be written for each course unless the instructors give permission in advance for one paper to be handed in for two courses.

D. Use of another student's work or ideas is to be acknowledged. This includes laboratory work and reports.

Section 2

It is the responsibility of every member of the College community to report to the Chief Justice or the Class Dean any apparent violation of this principle.

A. Before speaking to the Chief Justice or Class Dean, the instructor or other individual reporting the apparent violation is encouraged to talk to the student.

B. Unless all doubt of a violation has been removed, the Chief Justice or Class Dean is to be notified.

C. The Chief Justice then confers with the individual making the report. If the honor principle appears to have been violated, or if doubt remains, the Chief Justice advises the individual making the report to file a formal written charge with the clerk, worded as follows:

"I charge (student's name) with a violation of the Wellesley College Honor Code". (Brief description of the nature of the violation, e.g., "Her final paper for {course} contains many portions which are not her own and are not properly documented.")

Section 3

A. The members of the General Judiciary ascertain the facts with the help of the instructor in the course, the student, her chosen representative, and any others who may be involved.

B. If it is determined that a violation has in fact occurred, the consequence may range from the satisfactory completion of or a lowered grade on the piece of work involved to suspension or exclusion from the College, depending upon the seriousness of the violation and all the circumstances.

C. Whenever appropriate, the action of the General Judiciary shall be designed to result in a better understanding of the original assignment and principle of Section 1 above

Section 4

A student who violates the rules governing the use of the library will be subject to a suspension of her library privileges, or to such penalty as the nature of the case may require. This may involve suspension from College or loss of academic credit.