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A. University Policy on Academic Integrity
Each student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is responsible for
the completion and presentation of work that is the result of an individual
effort. Academic integrity is at the heart of the values expressed in the
University’s mission statement. A Villanova student agrees to accept this
responsibility as a member of an academic community that was founded in the
spirit of St. Augustine’s search for knowledge in an atmosphere of cooperation
and trust. The intellectual health of this community depends on and draws
nourishment from the integrity and mutual respect of each of its members.
Academic integrity is vital, therefore, to any university community.
Students receive credit for doing their own work. Students who use someone
else’s work or ideas without saying so, or who otherwise perform dishonestly in
a course, violate a trust. Such dishonesty, manifested in cheating, fabrication,
plagiarism, multiple submission of work, or assisting in or contributing to
dishonesty, threatens the integrity not only of the individual student, but also
of the University community as a whole. A complete statement on the University
Code of Academic Integrity is presented in Appendix I of the Enchiridion.
Ordinarily, matters involving academic integrity in the classroom are handled
by the faculty member in charge of the course. Whenever a faculty member
believes a student has violated the Code of Academic Integrity, and when
sufficient evidence warrants, that faculty member may assign a penalty which may
range from a failure for the work in question to a failure for the course. The
faculty member will notify the student, the faculty member’s chairperson and
Dean, and the Dean of the student’s college concerning the action taken. A
record will be maintained in the student’s file in the office of his or her Dean
until the student graduates or otherwise severs all relationship with the
University.
If the faculty member judges that a particularly egregious violation has
occurred, then the faculty member may file a written complaint according to the
provisions of the University Academic Integrity Policy. The Academic Integrity
Code Policy and Procedures are posted on the Academic Integrity Homepage at
http://www.vpaa.villanova.edu/academicintegrity.
B. College Policy on Academic Integrity
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences incorporates all elements of the
University Code on Academic Integrity. The College takes particular note of item
G. Other Forms of Dishonesty, which states: “Acting dishonestly in an academic
setting includes more than being honest in one’s academic assignments; students
are expected to be honest in all dealings with the University.”
Misrepresenting one’s self or one’s circumstances to an instructor, a
chairperson, an academic administrator, or a dean in order to seek consideration
for a waiver of policy or procedure will be a basis for implementing the
procedures outlined in the University’s Code of Academic Integrity.
C. Degree Progress and Curriculum Requirements
Although faculty, staff, and the Office of Advising and Professional
Development are available to assist students with course selection and
registration, it is a student’s responsibility to understand and to meet all
curriculum requirements for his or her degree program. Undeclared Arts students
may declare their major at any time prior to the end of their sophomore year,
but must declare a major by the end of the sophomore year. Failure to declare a
major by the end of the sophomore year without the permission of the Dean may
subject the student to dismissal from the College.
D. Attendance Policy
Regular class attendance is expected. All professors will inform you at the
beginning of the semester of their attendance policy. It is always a courtesy to
inform your professors about any absence.
A first-year student will receive a grade of Y (failure) whenever the number
of unexcused absences in a course exceeds twice the number of weekly class
meetings for the course. Class and laboratory attendance for first-year students
is thus compulsory, with the following exceptions: approved placement
activities, approved athletic participation, and approved field trips.
If an emergency arises and a first-year student must leave campus, the Dean’s
Office can assist you by providing official notices to your professors. Excused
absences allow the student to make up tests. Absence from class does not release
the student from work assigned.
Upon the student’s return, an excused absence card, available in the Dean’s
Office, must be completed no later than 4:30 p.m. on the day the student returns
to classes. Documentation must be provided, e.g. for a serious illness, a
doctor’s letter that includes a description of the illness and specific
diagnosis with the date of onset and prognosis and ability to return to class,
or for death in the immediate family, documentation naming the deceased and the
date of death.
Students beyond the first year are subject to the attendance policy set forth in
the syllabus of each individual course in which they are enrolled. The professor
is the sole judge if a missed class is to be excused except for approved
placement activities, approved athletic participation, and field trips when the
professor has been notified in advance. The Dean’s Office will not issue excused
absences forms to upper-class students, but professors may require such
documentation as described above in making their decision.
E. Promptness and Preparation
In the interest of respecting classmates and faculty, each student should
arrive on time to all classes. Students are also advised to discuss tardiness
policies with individual professors. Each student is expected to be prepared for
all classes and examinations. Failure to be prepared or to submit assignments
may be a cause for faculty to assign a lower or failing grade.
F. Course and Teacher Survey (CATS)
Near the completion of each semester, students are provided with the
opportunity to evaluate their professors and courses. The process is as follows:
- Faculty provides each student with a Course and Teacher Survey (CATS)
form during a normally scheduled class.
- The CATS forms are then completed and collected by a designated student
who signs or initials the transmittal form. The faculty member should not be
in the room.
- The designated student must return the evaluations in the envelope
provided to the office indicated by the professor, usually the department
office or the Dean’s Office.
- Once the CATS forms are processed by the Office of Planning, Training,
and Institutional Research (OPTIR), final results are given to the faculty
member and may be available for students to view on NOVASIS.
G. Discipline
Villanova University regards student life on campus as an integral part of
the student’s educational experience. Hence it is understood that students
accept the regulations stated in the Villanova University Student Handbook upon
joining the University community. Students should become acquainted with and
understand the responsibilities set forth in the Student Handbook, especially
those in the sections on Policy and Regulations. Adherence to University
regulations is expected and required for successful completion of the program of
studies.
H. E-Mail Correspondence
The official information system for students is E-mail sent to a student’s
Villanova e-mail account, along with hard copy letters sent to a student’s
address of record. Students are responsible for frequently checking their
Villanova E-mail accounts. Important updates and information may be sent from
faculty members, staff, and other students. If a student chooses to use an
address other than his/her Villanova E-mail address, then he/she is responsible
for forwarding messages from his/her Villanova E-mail to his/her chosen E-mail
address.
I. Final Examinations
Final exams are scheduled in every course and must be taken at times
published by the Office of the Registrar in the Master Schedule available at the
time of pre-registration. If a student has two or more exams at the same time,
or three in one day, then the student must see the instructor for a time change
to be made according to the following priorities:
- group departmental examinations take precedence
- major or required courses should take precedence over electives
- regular courses should take precedence over repeat courses
Absence from a semester examination, except for a conflict resolved in
advance, requires written permission from the instructor. Unexcused absence from
a final exam is sufficient grounds for failure in the course. Students must
contact the professor within 48 hours of a missed exam. Please consult the exam
schedule before making travel plans to leave campus at the end of the semester.
J. NOVASIS
NOVASIS is the University’s student information system available on the World
Wide Web. It works in conjunction with the student record system and allows
access to grades, registration, and address information. To access NOVASIS:
- Go to https://novasis.villanova.edu.
- Select “Log In To Secure Area”
- Enter your Social Security Number or Villanova ID and your NOVASIS PIN
(not your semester registration PIN) to access records.
Your PIN is a unique number assigned to you by the Office of the Registrar.
The PIN is mailed to you by the Registrar’s Office and is not the password
assigned to you by UNIT.
Note: A link to NOVASIS is also available on the Villanova homepage (www.villanova.edu).
K. Degree Audit-CAPP
Curriculum, Advising, and Program Planning (CAPP) is a degree auditing tool
available to all students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences via their
NOVASIS accounts. It offers the ability to track a student’s academic progress
toward completion of his/her degree. When the CAPP compliance process is
performed, it automatically takes a student’s current academic information and
compares it to the requirements for the chosen degree and outlines the remaining
required courses. There is also a “What-If” function that can check the
student’s academic record against the requirements for a new major and highlight
the remaining courses.
Students should consult CAPP prior to meeting with their mentor or advisor
during the pre-registration process and immediately after registering in order
to insure appropriate continual progress toward completion of their degree.
L. Graduation Preparation
Students must meet all academic requirements for graduation. The Dean
determines the student’s eligibility for graduation. However, it is ultimately
the student’s responsibility to understand the requirements of the chosen degree
program and to have planned for the orderly fulfillment of degree and graduation
requirements. The following must also be completed:
- All graduating seniors must complete a Diploma Card that is to be
returned to the Registrar’s Office (Room 202 Tolentine Hall, (610) 519-4030,
http://www.registrar.villanova.edu). Names will appear on the diploma
exactly in the manner in which they appear on the Diploma Card.
- All financial obligations to Villanova University must be met.
At the close of the academic year in May, the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences participates in the annual University Graduation Ceremony. It does not
hold its own graduation ceremony. However, immediately after the University
ceremony, each academic department holds a reception at a location listed in the
University Graduation Program, at which time diplomas are distributed and there
is an opportunity for photographs to be taken.
Students who have no more than three courses left in order to complete their
degree may apply at the Office of the Dean, 105 St Augustine Center for the
Liberal Arts, for permission to “walk” in graduation. Their name will not
appear in the Graduation program, and they will be handed an empty envelope at
the departmental reception in order for photographs to be taken. Once the final
courses have been completed and a grade entered, the Office of the Registrar
will mail the diploma to the student at his/her address of record.
M. Ongoing Responsibilities
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND
SCIENCES TO REVIEW AND TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE UNIVERSITY CATALOGUE AND IN SECTIONS V, VI, AND VII
OF THE ENCHIRIDION. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, THE COLLEGE INCORPORATES ALL
UNIVERSITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THE UNIVERSITY CATALOG.
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