Policy Number: I-85
Last Reviewed: June 12, 2025
Responsible Dept.: Vice President of Academic & Workforce Solutions
A signed copy of this policy is available in the President’s Office.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Virginia Western Community College is an institution dedicated to academic integrity. As such, the college expects students to share the responsibility of maintaining an honest academic environment to protect the integrity of the courses and the institution.
By applying for admission to the College, for both credit and non-credit programs, each student agrees to abide by the policies and procedures governing academic integrity. The statement below outlines the rights each student has as a member of the college community as well as the responsibilities each student must uphold to continue within that community.
Each student has the privilege of exercising their rights without fear of prejudice, provided they respect the laws of the Commonwealth, the policies of Virginia Western, and the rights of others on campus. These rights include the following:
- Students are free to pursue their educational goals. Appropriate opportunities for learning in the classroom and on campus are provided through the curricula offered by the college.
- Students are afforded due process. No disciplinary sanctions may be imposed without due process, except as provided in the Academic Integrity Policy below.
- Students’ academic performance shall be evaluated fairly by the instructors of the respective courses.
Each student, as a responsible adult, shall maintain standards of conduct appropriate to membership in the college community. Such responsibilities include the following:
- Each student must demonstrate respect for themselves, as well as for faculty, staff, and fellow students.
- Each student must know, understand, and abide by the regulations and policies of the college.
- Each student must maintain academic integrity and abide by the academic integrity policy of the college.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is one of the cornerstones of education. Virginia Western Community College expects all members of its academic community to share in the responsibility of maintaining an honest academic environment to protect the integrity of our courses and the credentials awarded by the college. Students are expected to do their own work and submit assignments that reflect their own knowledge, skills, and abilities. Academic integrity requires members of the community to engage honestly, ethically, and responsibly in their academic endeavors.
The expectations outlined below reflect our shared values and provide examples of behaviors that uphold or violate those principles. While this list is not exhaustive, it offers important guidance. We encourage students to speak directly with their instructors about what academic integrity looks like in each course–a lack of awareness does not eliminate responsibility.
- Demonstrate authentic knowledge and understanding on all assignments. Exams, quizzes, tests, and assigned work are how learning outcomes are measured and should represent true skills and abilities. Using or accessing unauthorized materials creates an unfair advantage and is not permitted. Taking an exam or completing coursework on behalf of someone else, or having someone else complete the work, is a serious breach of trust.
- Collaborate only with approval. Teamwork and peer learning are encouraged when permitted, but unauthorized collaboration misrepresents individual contributions. Collaboration is only allowed when explicitly authorized by the instructor. Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance undermines the integrity of the assessment process.
- Submit original and unique work for each assignment. Copying from others without permission is not aligned with our values of honesty and fairness. Reusing substantial parts of previously submitted work is not allowed unless approved by the current instructor.
- Give credit where it’s due. Plagiarism–whether intentional or unintentional–includes:
- Using someone else’s exact words without proper quotation and citation.
- Presenting another’s ideas or structure in your own words without attribution.
- Submitting someone else’s work as if it were your own.
- Use technology ethically. AI tools and other automated writing or coding aids should only be used as permitted by the instructor. Understanding whether a technology being considered for an assignment is appropriate is a shared responsibility – ask the instructor in advance.
- Provide accurate information. Falsifying any documentation or data violates the standards of academic honesty.
- Act with integrity, even when others do not – speak up. If you are aware of academic misconduct, you have a duty to report it to help uphold the integrity of our learning community.
Some programs may have violations in addition to those listed in this policy. The consequences in those programs may be more severe than those listed here. Please refer to the Student Handbook for each program for the violations and consequences for that program.
The academic integrity procedures and sanctions for this policy are linked in the procedures document (PDF).
Reviewed/Revised: 6/2025
