Academic Integrity at NWTC

Academic misconduct is any action that misrepresents your work or gives you an unfair advantage. This includes:

• Using unauthorized materials during a test or exam, including accessing exam content before, during, or after it is given without permission
• Submitting work that is not your own, including:
  • Turning in someone else's assignment, file, or project as your own
  • Allowing another person to copy or submit your work
  • Reusing work from a previous course when not permitted
  • Using ideas, writing, or research from others without proper citation
• Using unauthorized digital tools or AI to complete assignments, quizzes, or exams when not explicitly allowed by your instructor. This includes tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, Quillbot, DALL-E, Claude, Adobe Firefly, GitHub Copilot, Replit Ghostwriter, Tabnine, or any general or industry-specific AI tool.
• Collaborating when collaboration is not permitted, including sharing files, code, or answers and submitting the work as your own
• Taking a test or exam for someone else, or having someone take one for you
• Stealing, buying, selling, or sharing exam or course materials without authorization
• Tampering with another student's work, lab materials, computer program, or digital files
• Any course-specific misconduct defined by your instructor or syllabus
• Helping or attempting to help another student commit academic misconduct

A note on AI tools: Your instructor will tell you what AI tools, if any, are permitted in their course. When in doubt, ask before you use them. Using AI without permission is considered academic misconduct.

Artificial intelligence tools are becoming a normal part of many workplaces, and learning to use them responsibly is a skill worth building. At NWTC, we want to help you develop that skill the right way.

Each instructor sets their own expectations for AI use in their course. Those expectations will be communicated in your syllabus or assignment instructions. Your responsibility is to understand and follow those expectations.

Responsible AI use at NWTC means:

• Only using AI tools when your instructor has explicitly permitted them
• Citing AI-generated content when required to do so
• Using AI to support your thinking, not to replace it
• Submitting work that honestly represents your own understanding and effort

If your instructor determines that academic misconduct has occurred, they may take one or more of the following steps:

• Ask you to redo the work or retest in a supervised setting
• Ask you to resubmit the work for a reduced grade
• Reduce your earned points or grade
• Require a written reflection addressing what happened and how you will avoid future violations
• Give the assignment a zero or an F

In more serious cases, consequences may include:

• A course grade of F
• Removal from your academic program
• Suspension from the college

Finding out you have been accused of academic misconduct can feel stressful. Here is what you can expect from the process, and what your rights are during each step.

The process is designed to be fair and transparent. You will have the chance to share your perspective before any final decision is made.

Here is how it works:

1. Your instructor will either assign a grade of zero with feedback that a conversation is needed, or leave the grade blank while they review the situation. They will gather relevant information, which may include:
   • Your syllabus and assignment instructions
   • Canvas activity logs
   • Web monitoring video recordings
   • Plagiarism checker reports
   • Any prior academic misconduct on record
2. You will have a chance to talk with your instructor. This is your opportunity to explain what happened and share any relevant information.
3. Your instructor will determine next steps based on everything they have reviewed. This may include consulting with college officials or referring the matter to the Student Conduct process.
4. You will receive clear information about the outcome and what it means for you going forward. Outcomes range from no action taken to more serious consequences such as failing the course.

If you disagree with your instructor's finding or the outcome of an academic misconduct case, you have the right to appeal.

Important: An appeal is not a full rehearing of the case. It is a limited review. To appeal, your situation must fit at least one of these reasons:

• A procedural error was made
• New evidence exists that was not available when you spoke with your instructor
• There is evidence of bias
• The consequence given does not fit the violation

How to appeal:

1. Fill out the Academic Misconduct Appeal Form within 5 business days of receiving your Findings and Sanctions notification.
2. The Dean for your class will review your appeal and send a decision to your NWTC student email within 5 business days . The Dean's decision is final.