PSOE Advisement

Once the program is identified as a major, the Office of Records, Registration and Advisement will notify the Dean’s Office of the Price School of Education who will assign a permanent advisor. It is extremely important that the advisory relationship be maintained throughout the program as the arranging of internships, practicum and the scheduling of proper courses and sequences need to be coordinated.

Academic Integrity

Items 1-6 are recognized as unacceptable forms of academic behavior at Reinhardt College.  Items 7#, 8# and 9# represent additional forms of academic dishonesty established by the Price School of Education.

1. Plagiarizing, that is presenting words or ideas not your own as if they were your own. Three or more words taken directly from another author must be enclosed in quotation marks and documented.

2. Submitting a paper written by another student or another person as if it were your own.

3. Submitting a paper written by you for another course or occasion without the explicit knowledge and consent of the instructor.

4. Fabricating evidence or statistics that supposedly represent your original research.

5. Cheating of any sort on tests, papers, projects, reports, etc.

6. Unauthorized use of the password or account number of another student or a faculty member to gain access to computers, data files, or computer output.

7. Aiding or otherwise enabling another student to engage in any form of academic dishonesty.

8. Failure to report suspected or obvious incidences of academic dishonesty to the course instructor.

9. Any other behaviors that violate the spirit of ethical and professional behavior.

Penalties for Academic Dishonesty

In the event of academic dishonesty, according the definitions (1-9) stated above and whatever additional definition an instructor has published in a class syllabus to his or her students, the instructor may do one of the following things, according to his or her assessment of the severity of the infraction and any extenuating circumstances:

1. Assign a grade of F or 0 on the paper, project, or examination, but allow resubmission, resulting in a maximum combined grade of C.

2. Assign a grade of F or 0 on the paper, project, or examination without the opportunity for resubmission.

3. Assign a grade of F in the course.

Students taking classes in the PSOE and teacher education candidates must understand that academic dishonesty in any form may have consequences beyond the boundaries of one class and may result in denial of admission or dismissal from the PSOE.  A student appeals process is available to address grade appeals, denial of admission to the PSOE, and dismissal from the PSOE.

In all cases the instructor will forward evidence of dishonest to the Dean of the Price School of Education for review and action.  The Dean shall forward evidence of dishonesty and a summary of any action taken to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

PSOE Grade Appeals

A candidate has the right to appeal a grade or evaluation assigned in a course, a field experience, or candidate teaching only if there is evidence of a capricious change in grading standards or criteria stated in the course syllabus. A student shall receive a decision within a reasonable period of time.

PSOE Grade Appeals Procedures

1. A candidate who is seriously dissatisfied with a grade should approach the instructor of the course or the supervisor of field experience/candidate teaching and ask for clarification.  The candidate may also ask his/her advisor for direction.

2. If the issue is not resolved, the candidate may consult with his/her advisor and may subsequently file an appeal in writing with the Dean of the PSOE.  The Dean the consults with the candidate, the faculty member and appropriate personnel.  (If the appeal is in the field experience or candidate teaching, the Director of Field Experience would be an intermediate step in the process before the Dean.)

3. The candidate may request a hearing with the faculty member/supervisor, advisor, and the Dean.

4. If there is still no resolution, the candidate has the right to appeal to the VPAA.  The faculty member has the right to appeal to the Faculty Appeals Committee.

PSOE Appeals of Admission/Retention Decisions

A candidate may appeal admission and retention decisions if there has been an irregularity of adhering to the established criteria.  These decisions are made by structured faculty committees by following specific guidelines and procedures and are accompanied by specific reasons for denial of admissions or retention.

Appeal Procedures

1. An appeal of an admission/retention decision must be made in writing and received by the Dean within two days of the original decision.

2. The Dean may elect to make a decision, return the decision to the original Faculty committee with recommendations or may refer it to the Candidate Appeals Committee.  The Candidate Appeals Committee will consist of two representatives from the PSOE, not involved in the original decision if possible; two faculty outside the PSOE; and two student candidates.  The Dean of the PSOE will appoint the members of this committee.

3. The candidate may appeal to the Candidate Appeals Committee or Dean’s decision to the VPAA for the final.