POLICIES TO KNOW

This section includes rules we live by here at Ohio University.

Click on a topic at right or scroll down the page to review the entire list.

IN THIS SECTION:

• Academic Honesty
• Academic Probation
• Honor Code
• Nondiscrimination
• Privacy Statement: Notification of Student Right to Know
• Student Code of Conduct

Academic Honesty

All work you do in Ohio University courses is expected to be your own, even if you request assistance from some other person. You must also give credit in your writing for any information or ideas that you use from any other source. (Failure to do so is defined as "plagiarism.")

Dishonesty or deception in fulfilling academic requirements includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, un-permitted collaboration, forged attendance (when attendance is required), fabrication (e.g., use of invented information or falsification of research or other findings), using advantages not approved by the instructor (e.g., unauthorized review of a copy of an exam ahead of time), knowingly permitting another student to plagiarize or cheat from one's work, or submitting the same assignment in different courses without consent of the instructor. Note: An instructor may impose a grade penalty for academic misconduct and/or file a judicial referral.

Academic Probation

To avoid academic probation, you must maintain an accumulative GPA of at least 2.0. At the close of each quarter in which you are a full-time student, your record will be reviewed to verify your GPA. If you are a part-time student, the review will take place at the close of the quarter in which your accumulative number of hours of enrollment since your initial enrollment, or since your last review, exceeds 10.
If at the time of the review you do not have the required 2.0 minimum GPA, you will be placed on academic probation. If you are already on probation, you may be allowed to continue at the University until the next review if, in the opinion of the dean, you are making adequate progress toward attaining a 2.0 GPA. A continuance can be granted a maximum of three times. Thus, there is a limit of four consecutive quarters on academic probation if you are a full-time student.

Normally, adequate progress is based on reducing, or at least not increasing, the number of deficiency points you have, which is determined by multiplying your total number of hours attempted by two and subtracting grade points earned. For example, if you have attempted 40 hours and have earned 65 grade points for those hours, first multiply hours by 2 (40 x 2 = 80). Then subtract the number of grade points (80 – 65 = 15 deficiency points). Increasing your grade points for additional hours can decrease your deficiency points and show that you are making adequate progress. This can be done by earning grades of C+ and above in the hours you attempt.

Removal of probationary status is automatic at the close of the quarter of review for both part-time and full-time students when your accumulative GPA rises to 2.0 or above. Part-time students may be on probation between quarters of review even though their GPA is 2.0 or higher.

If you are denied continuation of probation, you will be dropped from the University. A status of “Drop I” means you were dropped because of an increase in deficiency points. “Drop L” means you reached the limit of four probationary quarters. If you have been dropped, you are not able to enroll for regular courses on any Ohio University campus.

You may petition the executive director of Lifelong and Distance Learning for reinstatement, but normally reinstatement will not be granted until at least 12 months after your dismissal. As a condition for reinstatement, the executive director may suggest remedial steps you can take, usually in the form of courses to be taken at other institutions. Successful performance in this coursework may constitute sufficient grounds for waiving or shortening the waiting period for reinstatement.

If you have been dropped from the University for a second time, reinstatement is possible only under extraordinary circumstances and usually is not granted until at least 24 months after the second dismissal.

Honor Code

Ohio University values integrity. Students, faculty, administrators, and staff have a shared responsibility to embrace the pursuit of learning and to foster a commitment to academic integrity. All members of the campus community also share an obligation to challenge obstacles to that pursuit and redress violations of that commitment.

Academic integrity is the foundation of all activities that promote learning, including critical and imaginative thinking, discovery of knowledge, and expressions of creativity. Academic integrity also entails refraining from plagiarism, cheating, and other unethical acts that undermine the values of the campus community.
Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of the ideas or the writing of someone else as one's own.

Nondiscrimination Policy
It is the policy of Ohio University that there shall be no discrimination against any individual in educational or employment opportunities because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, veteran status, sexual orientation or handicap. Also, there shall be no discrimination because of age except in compliance with requirements of retirement plans or state and federal laws and guidelines.

- Excerpt from Ohio's Equal Employment and Educational Opportunity Policy

Privacy - Notification of Student Rights
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to University officials with legitimate educational interests. A University official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the board of higher education; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another University official in performing his or her tasks. A University official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records, without a student's consent, to officials of another school, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right of nondisclosure of designated directory/public information. Ohio University has designated the following items as directory/public information that may be released to the public without the student's consent: name, mailing address (local and/or permanent), telephone (local and/or permanent), University e-mail address, date and place of birth, current major program(s) of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of enrollment at Ohio University, degrees and awards received from Ohio University (including dates and major programs), previous educational institution most recently attended, and other similar information, to include: student's a.k.a. name(s); student standing and degree level (1st year undergraduate, 2nd year graduate, etc.); enrollment status (full time, etc., including total hours enrolled by term); primary advisor; expected graduation date; current college and campus; residency status (Ohio resident, out-of-state student); admission status (new, continuous, etc.); record hold(s); deceased status; and directory/public information release status. Students who do not want their directory/public information (including a listing in the annual Campus Directory) released to third parties must complete the Ohio University Confidentiality Status Request form and return it to the Registrar's Office Services Windows in Chubb Hall within the first 15 calendar days of Fall Quarter. Students who do not want to be listed in the Ohio University online e-Directory must complete the same form, but may submit it at any time.

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Ohio University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605.

Student Code of Conduct

To understand your rights and responsibilities as a student at Ohio University, please read the Student Code of Conduct. As a student, you will be held to these standards.

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