Please refer to the policy concerning Academic Honesty at the Dean of Students home page. All members of the University community must participate in the development of a climate conducive to academic honesty. While the faculty, because of their unique role in the educational process, have the responsibility for defining, encouraging, fostering, and upholding the ethic of academic honesty, students have the responsibility of conforming in all respects to that ethic.

Intellectual honesty requires that students demonstrate their own learning during examinations and other academic exercises and that other sources of information or knowledge be appropriately credited. Scholarship depends upon the reliability of information and reference in the work of others. No form of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or facilitating of dishonesty will be condoned in the University community.

Formal definitions of academic dishonesty, examples of various forms of dishonesty, and the procedures that faculty must follow to penalize dishonesty are contained in the ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY, which follows ACADEMIC REGULATIONS herein. A student identified by an instructor or another student of having committed a breach of the academic honesty regulations has the right to appeal before any penalty can be imposed. Appeals must be filed within ten days of notification by the instructor that s/he suspects dishonesty. Information on the appeals process is also contained in the ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY, or can be obtained from the Ombud's Office, where appeals are filed.

In addition, the Academic Standards Committee adopted the Policy Concerning Academic Honesty in June of 2004, which states the following:

Policy Concerning Academic Honesty

The integrity of the academic enterprise of any institution of higher education requires honesty in scholarship and research. Academic honesty is therefore required of all students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Academic dishonesty is prohibited in all programs of the University. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:

• Cheating: intentional use, and/or attempted use of trickery, artifice, deception, breach of confidence, fraud and/or misrepresentation of one's academic work.
• Fabrication: intentional and unauthorized falsification and/or invention of any information or citation in any academic exercise.
• Plagiarism: knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own work in any academic exercise. This includes submitting without citation, in whole or in part, prewritten term papers of another or the research of another, including but not limited to commercial vendors who sell or distribute such materials
• Facilitating dishonesty: knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty, including substituting for another in an examination, or allowing others to represent as their own one’s papers, reports, or academic works.

Sanctions may be imposed on any student who has committed an act of academic dishonesty.

Any person who has reason to believe that a student has committed academic dishonesty should bring such information to the attention of the appropriate course instructor as soon as possible. The procedures are intended to provide an efficient and orderly process by which action may be taken if it appears that academic dishonesty has occurred, and by which students may appeal such actions.

Policies

• Know your college and university’s E-mail policies.
• Use professionalism, efficiency and protect yourself from liability.

Addresses and Subject Lines  

• Check with the List Administrator of your college for faculty/student assignments to groups and e-mail distribution lists. Know who can use what lists and for what use.
• Always use a brief but relevant subject heading (avoid using this space for your message).
• Always use a salutation, “Hello Sue,” and end with your name, “Jane Doe”.
• Your address should ideally be a personal name and not a string of letters and numbers that cannot identify you.

Content, Message, Length

• Keep to the subject.
• Use proper grammar and spelling.
• Do not e-mail credit card numbers or social security numbers.
• Do not send person’s names or any information that could breach confidentiality.
• Do not send angry messages. If there is a conflict, it is best to meet in person to discuss.
• Do not type messages in all lower case or all upper case – they are hard to read and hard to interpret.
• Do not SPAM. Use your list administrator to send broadcast e-mails of importance to students or the College. If you have important class related information, include it in your website or use the class home page announcements feature.
• Proofread and make sure the appropriate people are on the e-mail.

Replies and Reply-All’s

• Only include enough of the original e-mail to continue the thought. Avoid sending a string of previous e-mails. This may not be appropriate.
• If you have been sent a question on an e-mail list, send your personal reply to the original mailer only, not the entire list, unless indicated otherwise.
• If you are copied on an e-mail, no reply is required.

Signatures

• Always use a signature when you can. Keep it to 4 or 5 lines (mailing, phone, and fax info).
• Use your mail service to automatically insert this signature.
• Avoid appending long and inappropriate text to your signature.

Courtesy and Timing

• Remember to use “please” and “thank you.”
• Use formal address when indicated such as “Dr., Dean, Professor.”
• Don’t expect an e-mail reply any faster than a phone reply would take.
• If you need an immediate answer from someone, use the telephone.
• If you schedule meetings, please allow for one-week advance warning via e-mail.
• Use emoticons (smiley faces, etc.) sparingly.

PURPOSE: To provide students with information regarding the acceptable use of technology in the classroom and clinical setting.

POLICY STATEMENT

The use of technology is an integral part of today’s classroom and clinical environment. However, when technology is used inappropriately it can also hinder the teaching, learning, and patient care process. Therefore, each professor will establish times when the use of technology in the classroom and in clinical is appropriate. During those times, the technology must be used for purposes that are relevant to the specific course and not distracting fellow students. Using technology at times other than those permitted by your course professor will be considered disruptive behavior and will result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

CLASSROOM

The Acceptable Use Policy for Computing and Information Technology Resources outline the responsibilities of each member of the community when using computing and information technology resources. This is put forth as a minimum set of standards for all areas of the University.

CLINICAL

• The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing abides by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing publication, “A Nurse’s Guide to the Use of Social Media” and the ANA’S Principles for Social Networking and the Nurse.
• Nurses must not transmit or place online individually identifiable patient information.
• Nurses must observe ethically prescribed professional patient nurse boundaries.
• Nurses should understand that patients, colleagues, institutions, and employers may view postings.
• Nurses should take advantage of privacy settings and seek to separate personal and professional information online.
• Nurses should bring content that could harm a patient’s privacy, rights, or welfare to be attention of appropriate authorities.
• Nurses should participate in developing institutional policies governing online conduct.

Six tips to avoid problems related to social media

1. Remember that standards of professionalism are the same online as in any other circumstance.
2. Do not share or post information or photos gained through the nurse patient relationship.
3. Maintain professional boundaries in the use of electronic media.
4. Do not make disparaging remarks about patients, staff, fellow students or faculty,   even if they are not identified.
5. Do not take photos, videos or audio recordings of patients on personal devices, including cell phones.
6. Promptly report a breach of confidentiality or privacy.

References: American Nurses Association. (2011, September). Principles for social networking and the nurse. Silver Spring, MD: Author, National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2011, August).
White Paper: A nurse’s guide to the use of social media. Chicago, IL

(Sen. Doc. NO. 89-037)

Head/Chairpersons of Departments/Programs should draw the attention of their faculty to the obligations under the Law. Any student who is unable to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement because of religious observance is to be provided with an opportunity to make up the said examination, study or work requirement.

Students have the right to make up examinations, study or work requirements that they miss because of absence from class for religious observance, but they also have an obligation to inform the course instructor as to the days on which they may be absent for religious reasons at the beginning of each semester.
If they feel that it is important for course planning, instructors have the right to require students to provide a written list of days they will be absent for religious observance within one full calendar week after the student’s enrollment in the course, provided the course instructor lists this requirement and corresponding deadline on the course outline or other handouts.

In the event of a dispute between a faculty member and a student in the course, the Head (Chairperson/Designee) of the Department in which the course is taught shall be responsible for its amicable resolution. If the dispute cannot be resolved at this level, the issue should be referred to the Ombudsperson. Current procedures of resolving grievances of students (Sen. Doc. No. 86-020) apply.

If it is possible to do so safely, exit the building immediately when you become aware of an incident, moving away from the immediate path of danger, and take the following steps:

Notify anyone you may encounter to exit the building immediately. Evacuate to a safe area away from the danger and take protective cover. Stay there until assistance arrives. Call 911 and the U- Mass Police department at 545-2121 providing each dispatcher with the following:

1. Your name
2. Location of the incident (be as specific as possible)
3. Number of shooters (if known)
4. Identification or description of shooter(s)
5. Number of persons who may be involved
6. Your exact location
7. Injuries to anyone, if known.

Individuals not immediately impacted by the situation are to take protective cover, staying away from windows and doors until notified otherwise. If you are directly involved in an incident and exiting the building is not possible, the following actions are recommended:

1. Go to the nearest room or office
2. Close and lock the door
3. Turn off the lights
4. Seek protective cover
5. Keep quiet and act as if no one is in the room
6. Do not answer the door
7. Notify 911 and UMass Police 545-2121 if it is safe to do so, providing each dispatcher with the following information:
   • Your name
   • Your location (be as specific as possible)
   • Number of shooters (if known)
   • Identification or description of shooter
   • Number of persons who may be involved
   • Injuries if known
   • Wait for local police or security to assist you out of the building

The University of Massachusetts has developed policies on the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs on and off campus. See the campus’s Code of Student Conduct.