Honor Code and Pledge

The American University of Afghanistan enthusiastically promotes integrity and professional ethics among all members its community. Violations of this policy are considered as serious misconduct and may result in disciplinary action and severe penalties including suspension or expulsion.

The AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF AFGHANISTAN

HONOR Pledge

“On my honor, I will uphold the values of The American University of Afghanistan: Respect, Civility, Ethics, Morality and Integrity.”

Definition of Violations to the Honor Code and discipline

A.   PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the act of taking and/or using the ideas, work, and/or writings of another person as one's own. 

  1. To avoid plagiarism give written credit and acknowledgment to the source of thoughts, ideas, and/or words, whether you have used direct quotation, paraphrasing, or just a reference to a general idea.
  2. If you directly quote works written by someone else, enclose the quotation with quotation marks and provide an appropriate citation (e.g., footnote, endnote, bibliographical reference).
  3. Research, as well as the complete written paper, must be the work of the person seeking academic credit for the course. (Papers, book reports, projects, and/or other class assignments) 

B.   CHEATING

Cheating is an act of dishonesty with the intention of obtaining and/or using information in a fraudulent manner. 

  1. Observing and/or copying from another student's test paper, reports, computer files and/or other class assignments.
  2. Giving or receiving assistance during an examination period. (This includes providing specific answers to subsequent examinees and/or dispensing or receiving information that would allow the student to have an unfair advantage in the examination over students who did not possess such information.)
  3. Using class notes, outlines, and other unauthorized information during an examination.
  4. Using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in part or in whole the contents of an examination or other assignment not authorized by the professor of the class.
  5. Using for credit in one class a term paper, book report, project, or class assignment written for credit in another class without the knowledge and permission of the professor of the class.
  6. Exchanging places with another person for the purpose of taking an examination or completing other assignments.   

Discipline

Faculty members may respond to cases of cheating in any of the following ways: 

  1. Allow the testing to progress without interruption, informing the offending student about the offense—and award a failing grade on the test—"F" if a letter grade is used or zero if a numerical grade is used.
  2. Seize the test of the offending student and give a failing grade on the paper.
  3. Give the offending student a failing grade in the course.
  4. Recommend sanctions, including disciplinary expulsion from the university.  All cases should be referred to the student conduct system. 

Before a final determination is made all cases should be referred to the University Student Conduct process for finding through adjudication.

Departments may add to these guidelines in order to enforce academic integrity and professional ethics to meet their special needs.