Academic Integrity and Honesty Policy

Ogeechee Technical College is committed to fostering an academic environment rooted in honesty, trust, and integrity. All members of the college community—including students—are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic conduct. Any actions that compromise the mission of the institution, the educational process, the pursuit of knowledge, or the fair evaluation of student performance are strictly prohibited.

Examples of Academic Integrity Violations
Violations include, but are not limited to:

Cheating and Misrepresentation
Copying from another student during an exam.
Submitting another student’s work (e.g., care plan, medication sheet, patient profile) as one’s own.
Using unauthorized materials, devices, or study aids during an exam.
Accessing or using test bank websites or other prohibited sources for exam preparation.
Using unauthorized handheld devices during class or clinicals.

Exam Misconduct

Copying, removing, or attempting to remove exam items or notes from the testing environment.
Receiving assistance on test content from individuals who have previously taken the exam.
Sharing test information with other students after taking an exam.
Continuing to write or work on an exam after time has expired.

Falsification or Fabrication

Falsifying clinical or classroom data.
Fabricating or lying about assignment completion or submission.
Creating false documentation for clinical or course-related activities.
Failing to report clinical errors or omissions in a timely manner.

Plagiarism

Copying or closely paraphrasing information from books, articles, or online sources without proper citation.
Recycling or resubmitting work used in a prior course (self-plagiarism).
The use of generative artificial intelligence.

Unethical Collaboration

Unauthorized collaboration on take-home exams, assignments, or other individual tasks.
Attempting to obtain or give an unfair academic advantage (e.g., accessing exam materials, disrupting others’ work, falsifying need for exam extensions).

Unprofessional Conduct

Theft or intentional damage to institutional or personal property.
Obstructing others’ access to instructional materials (e.g., hoarding or destroying library resources).

Reporting and Investigation

Students who witness or suspect dishonest or unprofessional behavior are encouraged to report the incident to the course instructor or the Program Director.
Reports will be handled with confidentiality, and students may choose to remain anonymous unless they provide consent to disclose their identity.
If a student feels comfortable, they may also ask the peer to cease the behavior and report it themselves.
All alleged violations will be reviewed by the Dean for Academic Affairs in consultation with relevant faculty. If warranted, a formal hearing may be initiated through the Student Affairs Office.

Based on the severity of the offense, a student may be recommended for immediate dismissal from the nursing program after a single violation.

Consequences for Violations

Violation	Outcome
First Violation	A grade of zero (“0”) will be given on the assignment or competency; A letter of concern will be placed in the student’s file.
Second Violation	Automatic course failure; A letter of concern will be placed in the student’s file.
Third Violation	Permanent removal from the nursing program.*

Academic integrity is essential to the professional development of future nurses. Students are responsible for maintaining ethical standards throughout their academic and clinical experiences. Violations will not only impact academic standing but may also jeopardize licensure and professional credibility.

*Academic Misconduct by a student is also governed by the OTC College policies and procedures that apply to all enrolled students. Permanent removal from the nursing program may also include dismissal from the college.