Atlanta Campus Catalog 2011-2012 - Mercer University

Moral discernmentMoral discernment may be interpreted to include judgment in ambiguous situations, academicintegrity, ethical reasoning, ethical behavior, and the ability to act upon reflectively-heldconvictions.These broad learning outcomes are achieved, not in the abstract, but in and throughthe exercise and development of certain specific practical competencies that are infusedin these four outcomes of general education.• Communicating effectively in writing in a variety of modes and settings• Communicating effectively orally in a variety of modes and settings• Analyzing observed natural phenomena through the use of scientific reasoning• Reasoning quantitatively• Integrating coherently diverse perspectives with knowledge• Acting perceptively and responsibly in light of the education one has receivedAs required by the University’s accrediting body, general education programs atMercer will constitute a minimum of 30 semester hours to include credit hours in humanities/fine arts, social/ behavioral science, and science/mathematics.Academic HonestyMutual trust is a basic component of any community. Mercer University expects students,as members of the academic community, to take seriously their positions in thatcommunity. Students are expected to ensure the continuance of trust among themselvesand between them and the faculty by accepting responsibility for their own work. TheUniversity considers breaches of this trust and responsibility to be serious offenses.Academic offenses include the taking of credit for or unfair use of work that has beendone by another person. This includes plagiarism, cheating, and other acts of dishonestyin academic areas.Plagiarism is defined as the use of ideas, facts, phrases, quotations, reproductions,or additional information, such as charts or maps, from any source without giving propercredit to the original author. Failure to reference any such material used is both ethicallyand legally improper.Cheating includes the use of textbooks, notes, or other reference materials on a test,daily quiz, or other examination when not specifically permitted by the professor; copyingideas or facts from another student’s paper during a test, quiz, or other examination; givingor receiving ideas orally or in writing during a test, quiz, or other examination; obtainingtest questions that the professor has not released for reference prior to the test; andobtaining or giving specific information that appears on a test before the test is administered.52 / MERCER UNIVERSITY