2010-2011 HBU Catalog - Houston Baptist University

CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
At the beginning of each fall term, students will be asked to take a pledge to uphold the Code of Academic
Integrity.
Academic integrity is expected of all students. This means that all work being submitted for a student‘s grade
is that student‘s own work and not the work of others. This includes answers to test items, written
assignments, oral presentations, etc. Academic dishonesty such as cheating on exams, written work, oral
presentations, and course assignments violates the very heart of the nature of the University as a Christian
Liberal Arts Institution. It is the responsibility of all students, faculty and staff to demonstrate academic
integrity.
The Oath of Academic Integrity reads as follows: ―I promise to uphold the Code of Academic Integrity at
Houston Baptist University and will not tolerate its violation in others.‖
As a Christian university, HBU views any act of academic dishonesty as a violation of the University‘s
fundamental principles. Academic dishonesty occurs when a student submits the work or record of someone else
as his own or when a student has special information for use in an evaluation activity that is not available to other
students in the same activity.
It is the responsibility of the faculty member or academic administrative officer to establish clearly whether
academic dishonesty has occurred. The faculty member will decide whether to assign a zero for the specific
component of work involved or an ―F‖ for the course in the case of an egregious violation. The faculty member
shall report the incident to the Dean of the College or School. In the case of admissions testing or documentation,
the student may be barred from admission by the University Admissions Committee. The student may appeal the
action in the case of a classroom violation to the Dean of the College or School involved or to the Director of
Admissions in the case of admissions testing or documentation violations.
A Standards Committee within each College or School will serve as a hearing committee to assure that the
student receives a fair hearing in matters of grade appeal. The committee may take further action when academic
dishonesty has occurred or may recommend further action to the Provost or a standing University committee, i.e.
Academic Affairs or Admissions Committees. In the cases of serial violations, or academic dishonesty whose
influence extends beyond the boundary of a single course, the President of the University, on the
recommendation of the Provost, may suspend a student from the University for cause. In every case, however,
the grade assigned in the course is determined by the instructor.
The instructor in every class will notify students of the policy regarding academic dishonesty at the beginning of
each term. However, students are responsible for knowing and following these policies in all cases. Inclusion in
this Catalog is considered sufficient notice to all students of University policy and procedures in this matter. The
student should be aware that suspension from the University or other administrative action may be taken in cases
of academic dishonesty.
Academic Load
The minimum number of semester hours (125) required to complete an undergraduate degree at HBU suggests
that a student must average approximately sixteen to seventeen (16-17) hours each semester to make normal
progress toward degree completion in a four-year period. For the undergraduate programs, the minimum load for
full-time enrollment is twelve (12) undergraduate semester hours with an allowed maximum of nineteen (19)
semester hours; 6 hours is required for the student to be enrolled half-time for the semester. The normal course
load per semester for undergraduate students is 15-18 semester hours. The faculty advisor and appropriate dean
must approve credit hour overloads.
Schedules for more than 19 semester hours may only be permitted if one or more of the following criteria are
met:
• The student has a 3.0 GPA (B average) on all courses completed and for the immediately preceding
semester
• The student has a 3.25 GPA for the preceding semester; or
• The student is a last-term senior in good standing.
The privilege of taking more than 19 hours will not be allowed if grades drop with the overload. A desire to
meet a specific graduation date is not, in itself, sufficient reason to request the privilege of a greater than normal
load.
The maximum credit for any summer is fourteen (14) hours which must be earned in not more than four courses.
Five full courses will not be permitted for any reason whether taken in residence or by transfer. Students may
not earn credit for more than two courses for a maximum of seven (7) hours in any one term.
2010-2011 HBU Catalog www.hbu.edu/catalog Page 45