POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

At Western New England University, honesty in all academic work is expected of every student. This means giving one’s own answer in all class work, quizzes, and examinations without help from any source not approved by the instructor. Written material is to be the student’s original composition. Appropriate credit must be given for outside sources from which ideas, language, or quotations are derived. Students are cautioned that purchasing term papers from any source is a violation of academic honesty. Additional information on academic honesty may be found in the Student Code of Conduct.

In the event that a student commits an action of academic integrity, a range of sanctions may be applied. In the event that a student has two violations of academic integrity, suspension or dismissal may be a consideration. In these cases, the hearing body will be the All University Disciplinary Board (when classes are in session) or the Dean of Students Office when the Board is not available. The AUDB is a recommending body and their recommendation is forwarded on to the Assistant or Associate Dean of Students for a decision. In academic integrity cases, the appeal of the decision would be heard by the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committe (IACUC) oversees the university's vivarium and animal care and use program and is responsible for reviewing all animal related research protocols, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, inspecting animal housing and laboratories, and overseeing training and educational programs for all individuals involved with animal related research and care.

In order for a course to be designated as one which satisfies one of the GURs (General University Requirements), it must be submitted to and approved by Faculty Council.

The policy below defines Western New England University’s policy and procedures regarding financial conflicts of interest in relationship to sponsored projects involving research, education, and University service:

FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

WNEU’s Financial Conflict of Interest Policy describes its commitment to manage conflicts of interest in sponsored projects where the sponsor may be any external sponsor or the University itself.  The purpose of the policy is to protect the credibility and integrity of the University’s faculty and staff so that public trust and confidence in the University’s sponsored projects is ensured. Learn more here:

TRAINING FOR FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Complete the Disclosure Form below and submit to the Vice President for Finance and Administration:

WNE DISCLOSURE FORM

Policy & Related Guidelines for Use of Respondus Lockdown Browser (RLDB) and Respondus Monitor

Summary

To make the online testing environment more equitable, secure, and accessible, Western New England University makes Respondus LockDown Browser and a companion technology, Respondus Monitor, available for use by faculty, at their discretion, for courses or sections of courses designated by the Office of the Registrar in the catalogue or course schedule as Distance Education courses (ONLIN, ONSYN, ONLTD, ONFLX, or HYBRD).

Respondus LockDown Browser functions as a stand-alone web browser which limits user access to other applications, files, folders, or websites based on pre-determined criteria. Respondus Monitor is a separate, companion technology that uses the users’ web cameras to record their activity during tests where the instructor has required the use of Respondus LockDown Browser. Respondus Monitor cannot be used independently of LockDown Browser; however, LockDown Browser can be used without Monitor.

Instructors, preceptors, or proctors may require the use of LockDown Browser in any testing situation they deem appropriate; however, the use of remote proctoring and monitoring software, like Respondus Monitor, is authorized only for Distance Education courses (with exceptions made as described in the policy for usage below).

Policy

Because of the nature of the technology and its potential impact on student performance, faculty using Respondus LockDown Browser as a stand-alone technology, or in concert with Respondus Monitor, are expected to conform to the requirements outlined in this policy.

• For any and all uses of Respondus LockDown Browser and/or Monitor -- including plans to use implement technology in the event of an unanticipated events such as student illness or emergency class cancellation or campus closure -- the following must be disclosed in the syllabus: 
  
  
  • Technology requirements (web cam & microphone)  
    
    
• Use of Respondus Monitor is pre-authorized for courses or sections of courses designated by the Office of the Registrar in the catalogue or course schedule as Distance Education courses (ONLIN, ONSYN, ONLTD, ONFLX, or HYBRD). Monitoring technology may not be employed in other courses, including face-to-face courses, without prior, written authorization as described below in this policy.
  
  
• To use Respondus Monitor in a course or section of a course that is not designated as a Distance Education course, the course instructor must obtain written authorization for an exception to this policy from their department chair, their dean (or dean's designee), and the provost. To request an exception to the policy and permission to use Respondus Monitor in a non-Distance Education course, complete the Online Monitoring Request Form).
  
  
  • Requests for exceptions must be received no later than 30 days prior to the start of the semester in which the technology will be deployed.
    
    
  • A new request must be made for each semester and for each course section in which a faculty member wishes to seek an exemption from this policy.
    
    
• The use of Respondus Monitor is actively audited; unauthorized use will result in a direct charge to the unauthorized users’ department budget.

Note: This policy may be suspended upon request in the event of a continuity of learning emergency such as that defined in the WNE Inclement Weather Policy. A request for an exception to the policy should be made by the Dean (or Dean's designee) of the requesting program to the Director of ETT (as the provost’s designee).