University Policies

Manual of Rules and Regulations

Students should be familiar with Graduate College policies regarding issues such as residency requirements, transfer of credits, assistantships, academic standing, etc. A complete list of rules and regulations is available at http://www.uiowa.edu/~gradcoll/manual.html

Policy on Student Academic Misconduct

Plagiarism or cheating may result in grade reduction and/or other serious penalties. Examples of plagiarizing or cheating include:

• presenting someone else's written or spoken words or ideas as your own

• using direct quotes with no quotation marks, paraphrasing without crediting the source or in some other way suggesting someone else's work is yours

• copying all or part of someone else's exam, homework, etc.

• knowingly allowing another student to copy your work or to submit your work as his/her own

• misrepresenting your contribution in a group project

• referring to notes, texts, etc. during a closed book exam

• collaborating with others on a take home exam when directed not to do so

Faculty in the College of Education who detect cheating or plagiarism should consult with their division chair. If punitive action is going to be taken, it should be done in consultation with the Associate Dean of Student Services in the College of Education (N310LC, 335-5594). Punitive action may take the form of a reduction of points on the work involved, lowering a course grade, or more serious action.

Student Complaint Procedures

• Discuss your concern with the person with whom you have the problem. Try to avoid an adversarial approach. Assume there is a misunderstanding, not intentional malice. The more you can resolve problems at an informal, personal level, the more effective we will be in the long run.

• If the complaint is not resolved, or the issue is of such a personal nature or retribution is feared, then you should discuss the situation with the division chair (current office addresses for division chairs are listed in the Schedule of Courses at the head of the section where the course is listed or on the College of Education's Home Page on the World Wide Web).

• If your instructor is a teaching assistant, see the supervising faculty member whose name and office number are provided to you at the beginning of the semester before going to the division office.

• If the complaint is not resolved at the division level, it should be addressed to the Associate Dean for Student Services (N310LC, 335-5594).

• If you feel a satisfactory resolution has not been reached with the Associate Dean for Student Services, a written appeal should be filed with the Office of the Dean (N459LC). This appeal should outline the issues in dispute and the remedies requested and should describe the steps already taken in accordance with the procedures set forth above.

• The Dean may convene a special advisory committee to recommend appropriate action. The Dean may affirm, overrule, or modify the committee's recommendations.

• The Office of the University Ombudsperson (C108 Seashore Hall, 335-3608) responds to problems and disputes brought forward by all members of the University community-students, staff, and faculty. The ombudsperson may be consulted at any time.

• If the complaint cannot be resolved through these procedures, a student may file a formal complaint with the University under the procedures established for alleged violations of the statement on "Professional Ethics and Academic Responsibility" (see sections 20.266 and 20.290) in the University Operations Manual. Copies of the University Operations Manual are available in all division offices and in the Office of Student Services, N310LC.

Notes about specific types of complaints:

Instruction and Course Requirements. It is important that concerns about use of class time, use of inappropriate content, inequities in assignments, lack of academic feedback, lack of accommodations for students with disabilities. incompetence in oral communication, etc. be shared with the instructor as soon as it is perceived that the problem is a critical or recurring one. Postponing this action will often increase the seriousness of the problem and decrease the likelihood a satisfactory accommodation can be made before the end of the course.

Student Disabilities. It is expected that students with disabilities will let faculty know what accommodations are needed. If after doing so, and problems still exist, students should follow the general procedures outlined above. If the procedures as outlined do not satisfactorily resolve a problem related to an identified disability, students should exercise their right to file a complaint with the Office of Affirmative Action (202 Jessup Hall, 335-0705).

Grade Disputes. In most educational settings, the instructor exercises considerable professional judgment. However, arbitrary or inappropriate grading practices need to be identified and remedied. Students should follow the general complaint procedures outlined above.

Sexual Harassment. If a complaint involves sexual harassment, you should follow University procedures rather than the complaint procedures outlined above. The University policy on sexual harassment and consensual relationships in the instructional context can be found in "Policies and Regulations Affecting Students (available at the Campus Information Center, Iowa Memorial Union, in the Office of Affirmative Action [202 Jessup Hall, 335-0705] and in The Daily Iowan in the month of September as a supplement). Sexual harassment complaints may be filed with the Office of Affirmative Action.