Academic integrity is crucial because it fosters trust, credibility, and fairness in education. It ensures that your work genuinely reflects your abilities and promotes intellectual growth by encouraging independent thought and honest effort. Upholding integrity shows respect for others' contributions and supports a culture of mutual learning while preparing you for a professional life where ethical behavior is essential. Upholding these values ensures fairness for all.As a student at ACE, you are expected to maintain the values of the College in your academic work. American College of Education expects students to exhibit academic integrity through their educational experiences and avoid all forms of academic dishonesty. If you are found to violate the Academic Integrity policy outlined in the catalog, the following steps will be taken.Your faculty member will contact you with your Department Chair in copy to explain why the assignment violated the academic integrity policy. You will have 24 hours to respond. The faculty member will not assign a grade to the assignment while the infraction is being investigated.Once you have been allowed to respond, your Department Chair and the faculty member will determine the severity of the violation, the appropriate grade for the assignment, and whether the student should receive an informal or formal warning. If you received a previous informal violation, an automatic formal warning will be issued if another violation is verified.If you receive a second formal warning of violating the academic integrity policy, the following steps will occur:1. Your Chair will notify you of the problem immediately, providing documentation of the offense and stating the issue is being escalated to the Academic Disciplinary Committee for review.2. You will be allowed to either submit a statement for committee review or join the committee meeting via phone during the first few minutes to state your case verbally.3. The committee will review the offenses along with your defense and determine the appropriate academic and disciplinary sanctions. Academic and disciplinary sanctions will be based on the seriousness of the situation and may include, but not be limited to, the following:• Documented counseling by ACE faculty and/or staff.• A reduction of a grade in the course.• Administrative Withdrawal from the course with a grade of F.• Dismissal for a specified period of time