Case Western Reserve University: School of Graduate Studies

The University should concern itself with matters of authorship, author-university relations, and copyright in order to stimulate faculty interest in creating learning materials and ensure that the learner, the author, and the University appropriately share the benefits of the creativity, money, and energy expended.

To fulfill these purposes, the university policy must be highly flexible and must be incorporated in an administrative process responsive to the needs of the learner, the author, and the unit of the University which sponsors and/or produces the learning material.

Download the full text of the University Guidelines on Authorship and Policy on Copyright
Or consult the Graduate Student Handbook.

Graduate Studies Policies

Academic Integrity Standards

The University’s research, scholarship, teaching, and community service are central to its mission. To achieve that mission, it is critical that the highest standards of academic integrity are articulated to all members of the University community: faculty, students, and staff. All members of the community are an expected to interact professionally in those endeavors which promote and facilitate the university’s common mission. Adherence to professional Codes of Ethical Conduct can and do play a central role in the matter.

Students, faculty and administrators share responsibility for the determination and preservation of standards of academic integrity. Each must adhere to his/her own personal code of integrity and must be prepared to educate others about the importance of academic integrity, to take reasonable precaution to discourage violations of academic integrity and to adjudicate violations.

For students, education about the importance of academic integrity begins during the admissions process. The centrality of integrity to the academic enterprise is reinforced during new student orientation when students engage in discussion about academic integrity. Specific mention of academic integrity and course-specific guidelines also may be presented in all classes. Programs and instruction about academic integrity guidelines are available throughout students’ graduate school career.
Students are expected to uphold standards of academic integrity by taking reasonable precaution in the academic arena. Reasonable precaution involves implementing measures that reduce the opportunities for academic misconduct, but do not inhibit inquiry, create disruption or distraction in the testing environment, or create an atmosphere of mistrust.

The vitality of academic integrity is dependent upon the willingness of community members to confront instances of suspected wrongdoing. Faculties have specific responsibility to address suspected or reported violations as indicated below. All other members of the academic community are expected to report directly and confidentially their suspicion of violation to a faculty member or a dean or to approach suspected violators and to remind them of their obligation to uphold standards of academic
integrity. To the extent possible, the identity of individuals reporting academic misconduct will be kept confidential.

Download the full text of the Academic Integrity Standards for Graduate Students
Or consult the Graduate Student Handbook

Grievance Procedure

It is the responsibility of the School of Graduate Studies to assure that all students enrolled for graduate credit at Case Western Reserve University have adequate access to faculty and administrative consideration of their grievances concerning academic issues. A three-step procedure has been established for graduate students to present complaints about academic actions they feel are unfair.

Students with complaints should first discuss their grievances with the person against whom the
complaint is directed.
In those instances in which this discussion does not resolve a grievance to the student’s satisfaction,
a complaint should be presented in writing to the Department Chairperson.
In the event that a decision still appears to be unsatisfactory to the student, the student may bring the matter to the attention of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Dean may ask the student to put the complaint in writing. The Dean will then discuss the case with the student and the Department Chairperson to evaluate the particulars and to make a ruling on it.

The Dean of Graduate Studies has the responsibility for the final decision, and the ruling from the Dean’s Office will be considered final and binding on the persons involved in the grievance. Additional information about the grievance procedure can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies. It should be understood that this grievance procedure relates solely to graduate student complaints concerning academic issues. The procedure for handling complaints about other matters is detailed in the Graduate Student Handbook.