Revised: July 2017
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship Masters Programs
MGT 5620 –
Managing Legal, Ethical, and Social Challenges
Syllabus – All Formats – Eight Week Calendar
Note that each class, regardless of format, has a Blackboard course component which can be accessed through Sharklink. This course component will have resources, for example, content-videos and PowerPoints based on the textbook chapters as well as cases and case studies.
I. INSTRUCTOR
Instructor for Section:
Name: Dr. Frank Cavico
E-mail: [email protected]
Position: Professor of Business Law and Ethics, HCBE, NSU
Phone: 954-262-5096 (office); 954-294-3298 (cell)
Office: Room 5170, Carl DeSantis Building, Main Campus, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
Office Hours – Ground Classes = Two hours before class and by appointment
Office Hours – Online Classes – By appointment
Course Creator and Course Assessment Leader:
Name: Dr. Frank J. Cavico, J.D. LL.M
Position: Professor of Business Law and Ethics, HCBE, NSU
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 954-262-5096 (office); 954 294-3298 (cell)
Office: Room 5170, Carl DeSantis Building, Main Campus, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.
Note: Once course opens on the Blackboard system please use the message system therein for message communication and save NSU email for backup.
II. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will be able to engage in critical thinking and analyze business decisions from legal, ethical, and social responsibility perspectives. Students will be able to apply legal, ethical, and social responsibility principles in making business decisions. Students will examine case studies, actual cases, and current events and engage in analysis of real-world problems impacting business. Students will become aware of the legal, political, regulatory, social, and global environment of business.
III. PREREQUISITES
None required; however, this course assumes a modest background in law, government, legal and government institutions, and the legal nature of business entities; and this course also assumes that the students come to class with basic moral standards, beliefs, and values, and that the students approximately share these basic values.
IV. Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of this course are for the students to:
1. Apply laws to make determinations as to the legality of business decisions
2. Apply ethical theories and principles to make determinations as to the morality of business decisions
3. Apply definitions of corporate social responsibility to make determinations as to the social responsibility of business
4. Differentiate among the values of legality, morality, and social responsibility in making business determinations.
5. Integrate knowledge across the fields of the law, ethics, and social responsibility.
6. Evaluate business from legal, ethical, and social responsibility perspectives.
V. COURSE MATERIAL
A. Required Materials
Textbooks (two required)
Cavico, Frank. J. and Mujtaba, Bahaudin G. (Third Edition 2013). Business Ethics: The Moral Foundation of Effective Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship. Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing. ISBN: 10:125671254X; ISBN: 13: 9781256712541. The publisher’s website is www.pearsonhighered.com.
AND
Cavico, Frank. J. and Mujtaba, Bahaudin G. (Second Edition 2014). Legal Challenges for the Global Manager and Entrepreneur. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-1-4652-4500-7. Note that there may be different ISNB for the Second Edition as there are versions with a supplemental materials package as well as an electronic E-book version. The publisher’s website is www.kendallhunt.com.
Below please find the links whereby students can purchase the text directly from Kendall Hunt (including the eBook version):
Legal Challenges for the Global Manager and Entrepreneur Pack http://www.kendallhunt.com/cavico
Legal Challenges for the Global Manager and Entrepreneur Web Access Only http://www.kendallhunt.com/store-product.aspx?id=245920
Case Studies and Supplemental Case Study Site
In addition to the cases and case studies in the two aforementioned textbooks, very recent case studies can be found at the course supplemental case and case study site at: http://www.huizenga.nova.edu/5015/cases.cfm Cases are grouped chronologically and by subject matter. Case studies can be used for class discussion purposes as per the pertinent course requirements in Blackboard. The site can also be accessed at http://www.huizenga.nova.edu/course-materials/5015 as well as http://www.business.nova.edu/course-materials/5015, which site also includes additional materials.
Case studies can also form the basis for a term paper topic with the approval of the Professor. If a case study is selected as the basis for a topic, it is not necessary that the student(s) answer all the discussion questions at the end of the case; rather, the case should be used for the topic as well as some facts and law to get the student(s) started on research for the paper; but the paper must comply with the course paper requirements as noted below. Note that all paper topics must be approved by the course Instructor who will grade the term paper based on a Grade Rubric provided by the Professor.
APA Manual
The APA Manual 6th Edition is a recommended textbook for all courses in our school as the APA style is required as per school policy.
Note that the APA has published an APA Style Guide to Electronic References (2007). The Guide has information on how to format new media including blogs, podcasts, wikis, and YouTube; and has changed the rule citing scholarly articles retrieved electronically.
The Alvin Sherman Library has obtained an institutional subscription available to all faculty and students at: http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/teachinghandouts/APAchanges.htm. The PDF file attached to the library link provides a revised and updated version of section 4.16 of the fifth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001, pp. 268–281). Many of the changes require an understanding of the changing nature of electronic resources and methods of accessing scholarly resources.
Another library site for APA resources can be found at: http://www.nova.edu/library/dils/lessons/apa/5th/howtocitesources.htm.
NSU Bookstore
Textbooks may be purchased from the NSU Bookstore (located in the University Park Plaza) by calling 1-800-509-2665 or online at: http://www.nsubooks.bkstore.com.
B. Recommended Materials
Business-related publications such as Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, or The Wall Street Journal will be helpful but a subscription is not required.
The NSU libraries comprise the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, East Campus Branch Library, Health Professions Division Library, Law Library and Technology Center, North Miami Beach Branch Library, University School Library Media Centers, and the William S. Richardson Ocean Science Library. Students are strongly encouraged to visit one of the physical locations and/or take advantage of the vast electronic library available for research. For more information, please visit the university libraries at: http://www.nova.edu/library.
Please note that all required and recommended materials should be referenced in APA style.
VI. GRADING SCALE
A. Grading Scale for this course is as follows:
100-94 A
93-89 A-
88-85 B+
84-82 B
81-78 B-
77-74 C+
73-70 C
69 and below F
B. Grade Expectations
Not all students can expect an A grade for this course! Being awarded an A indicates that the student has an excellent grasp of the various subject matters and topics and has demonstrated an ability to apply them accurately, precisely, and with a clear understanding of their implications for the situation. Being awarded a B indicates proficiency in applying the subject matters and topics, but not as clear an appreciation of their full ramifications, rationales, and subtleties. Being awarded a C indicates that the student has a limited understanding of the subject matters and topics, but has failed to apply them accurately or in a well reasoned manner or properly interpret their meaning and consequences. An F indicates that the student has not grasped the subject matters and topics and has not demonstrated an ability to apply them to solving problems.
C. Grade Components/Format
Term Paper – 30%
Exams – 50%
Case Study Work, Discussion, Participation, and Paper Presentation – 20%
Note: See course set-up on the Blackboard system for specific formats for further details about Grade Components.
VII. SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS
Session 1
Course Introduction
Legal Challenges text:
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning
Chapter 3 – The Legal System of the United States
Business Ethics text:
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Plato and Organizational Ethics
Chapter 3 – Aristotle: The Doctrine of the Mean and Virtue Ethics
Session 2
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 4 – International and Comparative Law
Chapter 5 – Alternative Dispute Resolution
Chapter 6 – Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Business Ethics:
Chapter 4 – Psychological and Ethical Egoism
Chapter 5 – Machiavelli and the Ethics of Empowerment
Chapter 6 – Ethical Emotism, Ethical Relativism, and Legal Positivism
Session 3
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 7 – Constitutional Law and Business
Chapter 8 – Administrative Law and Business
Chapter 9 – Torts and Business
Business Ethics:
Chapter 7 – Utilitarianism
Chapter 8 – Kant’s Categorical Imperative
Session 4
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 10 – Products Liability
Chapter 11 – Crimes and Business
Chapter 12 – Contract Law
Business Ethics:
Chapter 9 – Natural Laws and Natural Rights
Chapter 10 – Social Contract and Fatalism
Chapter 11 – Becoming Moral
Session 5
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 13 – Sales Law and the Uniform Commercial Code
Chapter 14 – Agency Law
Chapter 15 – Business Organizations
Business Ethics:
Chapter 12 – Moral Accountability
Chapter 13 – Corporate Governance: Legal and Moral Issues
Session 6
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 16 – Real Property Law
Chapter 17 – Intellectual Property Protection
Chapter 18 – Internet Regulation
Business Ethics:
Chapter 14 – Global Ethics and the Environment
Chapter 15 – Product Safety, Inside Information, Trade Secrets, and Advertising Ethics
Session 7
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 19 – Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance
Chapter 20 – Anti-trust Law
Chapter 21 – Employment, Labor, and Immigration Law
Business Ethics:
Chapter 16 – Employment and Employee Relationships
Chapter 17 – Ethical Analysis of Affirmative Action and Age Discrimination
Session 8
Legal Challenges:
Chapter 22 – Consumer Protection
Chapter 23 – Environmental Protection
Chapter 24 – Conclusion
Business Ethics:
Chapter18 – Ethical Business Leadership
Chapter 19 – Critical Issues for Success
Course Conclusion
All work due on BB system last day of class at 11:59 pm.
B. Details on Course Assignments
1. Research and Analytical Paper – Requirements and Rubrics
A major term paper will be a requirement of this course. The paper will be a research and analytical endeavor of a current, controversial, narrowly focused topic, involving business directly or indirectly, that has legal, ethical, and social responsibility ramifications. The term paper will be approximately 15-25, double-spaced, pages in text length, not including cover page or Appendices, with length depending on topic and whether individual or group effort, and if the latter the size of the group. The paper can be done as a sole effort, a partnership, or in a group at the option of the students. Doing the paper with a partner or as part of a team is highly recommended, however, due to the substantive nature of the paper and the fact that it is both a research and analytical paper. Yet if a student wants to perform the paper assignment as a sole effort that approach is permissible, but it is strongly recommended that student then choose a narrow and manageable topic. Note that all topics have to be approved by the Instructor; and that the students must present to the Instructor no later than the last day of the first month of class a Word document via Blackboard Message as well as a “hard copy” for the ground students the topic for the paper, a brief outline reciting the required paper format and outline as per this Master Syllabus, and if a group endeavor the group members and group leader.
The paper must be written according to APA style; and be carefully and currently referenced. Appropriate references are critical. This is a research paper in addition to an analytical paper, and thus the student must use at least 6 different sources, including books and textbooks, though at the graduate level preference should be given to published journal articles. Other sources may be organizational websites, government websites, or other reputable Internet sources. Since a requirement of the paper is that the topic be a “current” one, so too should be the references. Be sure to try to use published journal articles or books as sources, and not less-reliable Internet websites. Reference the paper very carefully and appropriately. Students may use a company’s website, but do so sparingly, and remember that what a company has on its own website may be positively biased in its favor. Academic integrity is of the utmost importance in this term paper; so cite all sources and use APA style for citations and quotations in the text.
Appearance, punctuation, grammar, neatness, and spelling count. This must be a professional looking paper at the graduate level to receive full credit. Paper should have an introduction, body, conclusion, and reference section; paper should also have appropriate headings and sub-headings in the body of the paper as noted in the course paper requirements. Be sure to use the required school title page with author certification statement. A Table of Contents must be included which lists each heading as well as the beginning page number for that section. Write transition sentences between sections so that the reader knows where student(s) are proceeding and why. Transition sentences also help to integrate a paper and enhance its “flow.”
Note that this is a research and analytical paper. Analyses based on the law, ethics, and social responsibility, and reasoning to conclusions based on legal, ethical, and social responsibility principles, are required, and are expected, at the graduate level. The paper must be substantive, principled-based, logical, and well reasoned at the graduate level. For individual or group papers, avoid all personal pronouns, such as “I” and “We”; rather use “The authors.” Avoid any personal opinions except in the overall Conclusion to the paper.
Regarding the online format, group work may, at first, seem unusual in the online environment, but the electronic nature of the class makes it quite easy for students to send work back and forth, to meet in private group rooms, and to collaborate on a final product. Online term paper groups can be created on the Blackboard system for ground as well as online students, all of whom can use Blackboard’s many group collaboration tools.
For those students deciding to do the paper with a partner or to form a group or team, note that each group should pick a group or team leader who will be the primary liaison with the instructor. This student team leader will coordinate the work, clear the topic and group members with the Instructor, as well as integrate, consolidate, and edit the work, and make sure the final version is in conformity with the course paper requirements. The team leader will also ensure that work is submitted as well as e-mail everyone in the group the final draft paper. The team leader will be responsible for making sure the paper is properly referenced and for ensuring that all group members sign (traditionally or electronically) the official HSBE cover page with the Author Certification statement(s).
If a group or team effort, please note that the paper will be assigned one grade as one whole work, and each group member will receive that one grade notwithstanding individual effort and/or quality of effort. Grades will not be assigned per paper section(s) or per individual student for his or her individual section(s). Group members will not grade each other. Accordingly, it is required that for a group paper, the Group Leader be appointed, that the paper responsibilities be apportioned in an equitable manner, and that the Group Leader ensures that everyone performs his or her share of the work at the graduate level, that the final version of the paper is an edited, consistent, whole, and integrated work at the graduate level, that the paper is in full conformity with course paper requirements, and that the paper is “signed” by all group members. The term paper is a major project, and also will be an evolving one throughout the term. The paper is not due until the final day of class; but it is very strongly advised that the students should start on it right away.
The paper is to be submitted online on the Blackboard system for the final course session. See the Blackboard system under My Course Content for the final session of your format for details. Note that all students, even if doing a paper in a group (which is optional) must submit the paper individually on the Blackboard system. All students – ground and online – must submit the paper on Blackboard.
Note that the course term paper is tied to ALL Course Competencies but most strongly to competencies numbers 7 and 8.
Term Paper Format, Outline, (including Utilitarian Ethical Model) and Grading Rubric:
5015 Term Paper
Official Huizenga School Cover Page (with author certification statement(s))
Title to Paper: Integrating Values – The Legality, Morality, and Social Responsibility of ____________ (insert topic)
Abstract (very brief summary of paper)
Table of Contents
I. Introduction (5% of paper grade)
A. Purposes of Paper
· Analytical paper – “3 value” analysis of law, ethics, and social responsibility
· Current, controversial, and narrowly focused topic involving business directly or indirectly
· Significance of topic
B. Background Information regarding topic
II. Legal Section (20% of paper grade)
A. Introduction to Legal Section
B. Statement of Relevant Legal Principles and Rules of Law
C. Application of Law to Topic and Legal Analysis
D. Legal Conclusion (and transition to Ethics Section)
III. Ethics Section (40% of paper grade as set forth below)
A. Utilitarian Ethical Analysis (20% of paper grade)
· Introduction (brief) to ethics as a branch of philosophy
· Introduction and brief explanation of Utilitarian theory
· See Cavico and Mujtaba Business Ethics text Chapter 7 for discussion of Utilitarianism
· Stakeholder, pleasure v. pain, numerical model of Utilitarianism – Utilitarian analysis as per required model (See required Utilitarian model below)
· Moral conclusion pursuant to Utilitarian model
B. Kantian Ethical Analysis (10% of paper grade)
· Introduction and brief explanation of Kantian ethics
· See Cavico and Mujtaba Business Ethics text Chapter 8 for discussion of Kantian ethics
· Statement of Kant’s Ethics Principle – The Categorical Imperative
· Application of the Three Tests of the Categorical Imperative to topic (Universal “Law” Test; Kingdom of Ends Test; Agent-Receiver Test)
· Kantian Moral Conclusion
C. Additional Ethical Analysis (10% of paper grade)
· Selection by student(s) of additional third ethical theory for analysis
· See Cavico and Mujtaba Business Ethics text Part I for suggested ethical theories
· Statement of ethical theory and key ethical principles
· Application of ethical theory and principles to topic and ethical analysis
· Moral Conclusion pursuant to additional third ethical theory
· Overall Conclusion to Ethics section as a whole (and transition to Social Responsibility section)
IV. Social Responsibility Section (20% of paper grade)
A. Introduction to Social Responsibility section
B. Definition of term “Social Responsibility” and formulation of definitional-principle
C. Application of Social Responsibility definitional-principle to topic
D. Social Responsibility recommendations
E. Social Responsibility Conclusion
V. Conclusion (5% of paper grade)
A. Restatement of Major “3 Value” Conclusions
B. Overall Conclusions, Personal Opinions, Recommendations, and Predictions
References (5% of paper grade)
· Research sources (six minimum; current; primary sources or “strong” secondary)
· APA style for sources and citations
Style (5% of paper grade)
· Consistency of style among sections
· Grammar, spelling, and punctuation
· Lucidity and “flow” of writing
· Integration of paper
.
The Utilitarian Ethical Model
In order to determine the morality of an action, practice, rule, or law pursuant to the stakeholder, pleasure v. pain, numerical model of the ethical theory of Utilitarianism:
1. Accurately and narrowly state the action to be evaluated (e.g., Is it moral for a particular company or organization to…?);
2. Identify all people and groups who are directly and indirectly affected by the action (including the company’s or organization’s constituent groups or “stakeholders” as well as society as a whole);
3. Specify for each stakeholder group directly and indirectly affected all the reasonably foreseeable good – pleasurable and bad – painful consequences of the action, as far as into the future as appears appropriate, and consider the various predictable outcomes, good and bad, and the likelihood of their occurring;
4. For each stakeholder group, including society as a whole, measure and weigh the total good consequences against the bad consequences, and determine which predominates for each stakeholder group;
5. Quantify the good and bad consequences for each stakeholder group on a numerical scale (-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0 +1, +2, +3, +4, +5) representing units and extremes of pleasure and pain;
6. Sum up all the good and bad consequences assigned to the stakeholder groups;
7. If the action results in an overall positive number, it produces more good than bad, and is a morally right action; and if the action results in an overall negative number, it produces more bad than good, and is morally wrong; based on this model of the Utilitarian ethical theory.
Bibliography for Utilitarian model: Cavico, Frank J. and Mujtaba, B.G. (2010). Business Ethics: The Moral Foundation of Effective Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship (Second Edition). Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Custom Publishing.
Presentation of the Paper
The presentation of the paper is the students’ means to share the results of their research and analysis with their classmates and to share the learning about the topics they researched and evaluated. Details are given about the paper presentation for each class format; see the course set-up in the Blackboard system:
2. Discussion and Participation
The atmosphere of the class is open, non-critical, exploratory, and opinion-forming. Honest academic search for the truth, facts, current status, and investigation occurs in an open, risk-free type situation. Ask questions, formulate thoughts and opinions, and learn to express them to the class, while being open to and respectful of others’ beliefs, values, and contributions. Note that when making legal, moral, and social responsibility conclusions, the students are expected to be able to justify them in a principled manner, that is, by making reference to and incorporating legal, ethical, and/or social responsibility principles into the discussion.
Further details are given about discussion and participation requirements for each class format in the course as it is set up in the Blackboard system.
3. Exams
In addition to the term paper and the participation/discussion requirements, there will be one cumulative exam worth 50% of the student’s grade. The exam will be in seven distinct and separate parts, all of which can be found on the Assessment link in the Blackboard system (found on the Course Menu on the left-hand side of the screen). The seven parts of the exam are tied to the first seven Course Competencies previously mentioned. The questions will be drawn from much larger randomized question pools with each pool being tied to a unique Course Competency. Each part to the exam will state the course competency in which that part is based and the number of questions in that part. In the Assessment link there will be a detailed message explaining what textbooks the exam parts are based on and how many questions there are in each part. The cumulative exam will be open-book and all parts will be available and open from the first day of class for the entire semester until the very last day of class. There will be a total of 100 questions, distributed over the seven parts, each worth one-half point, for the cumulative exam. The student can do each part individually, enter and re-enter each exam part, go back and forth, save one’s work, and then when completely done, and only when completely done, submit the exam. The student must do all seven parts to the exam. The exam parts will be automatically graded on Blackboard system and the student can see his or her grade on the My Grades link; and the student will be provided with immediate “feedback” as to correct vs. incorrect answers.
It is strongly recommended that the students preview the exam, do the text book reading, as well as view the PPs and videos, before commencing any exam part; and it is also strongly advised that the student not wait under the very end of the semester to complete all seven parts to the exam, though all parts to the cumulative exam are not due until the very last day of class at 11:59 pm. In essence, this exam has been designed to be more than just an assessment tool, but also a learning tool.
Note that if the student needs technical assistance for the exam or any other technical matter concerning the course, the university’s technical Help Desk can be reached at 954 262-4357 and the business school’s Help Desk can be reached at 954 262-5059. If the student submits an exam part or parts prematurely before answering all the questions, the instructor can clear the exam. Note, however, that the questions are drawn from randomized pools. Finally, just in case there are tech problems, the students should keep a record of their grades on all parts to the exam.
Note most importantly that the cumulative exam, as opposed to the paper which can be a group undertaking, is a sole individual effort; and thus no impermissible collaboration is allowed as per the school’s Academic Honesty Policy.
Further details are given about the examination requirements on the Blackboard system in an Announcement in each course as well as an explanation on the Assessment link that contains the exam parts.
VIII. POLICIES
Course withdrawals will not be permitted to avoid the academic consequences of plagiarism levied by the faculty, assistant dean, and/or associate dean. These consequences may include reduced or failing course grades as well as suspension or expulsion from the program and/or school.
Late submission of assignments will not be accepted unless by prior arrangement and permission from the Instructor unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Additional work to improve grades will not be allowed in any circumstances.
Plagiarism, Academic Dishonesty, and other forms of Misconduct:
Webster’s defines plagiarism as stealing or passing-off ideas or words of another as one’s own; use, without crediting the source; committing literary theft; presenting as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. NSU students sign a statement verifying the authenticity of authorship with each written assignment. Plagiarism is not acceptable, so care must be taken to credit any sources used in preparing term papers, theses, or dissertations. Additionally, the submission of written assignments and papers for one course originally submitted and receiving a grade for another course is unacceptable. Students should study the APA Style Manual; it explains how to credit sources.
Be sure that if you are using the ideas or work of someone else, that you credit that person, book, article, etc. This must be done regardless of whether you use direct quotes or whether you paraphrase someone else’s work. Further, any time you use more than three words in a row that came from someone else, you typically should use quotation marks. (If you directly copy someone else’s work and then put the source at the end of the copied material without quotation marks and page references, this is still plagiarism.) Also, do not overuse quotes in your work. It is the job of the graduate student to read material, synthesize it, and put it in your own words while acknowledging the source. Remember that APA references require that if you quote material, you must add the page or paragraph number of that quote to your citation (author, year, page for quotes). All referencing should be in APA style unless directed otherwise by the instructor (such as using the heading Introduction) Please note that the instructor regularly uses an online plagiarism checker, Turnitin.com.
Following is the Huizenga School’s policy on Academic Misconduct:
General Academic Misconduct Policy of the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship
The H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship (Huizenga School) is strongly committed to a policy of honesty in academic affairs. Students are expected to do their own academic work. Students are awarded degrees in recognition of successful completion of academic coursework in their chosen fields of study. Each student, therefore, is expected to earn his or her degree on the basis of individual personal effort. Consequently, any form of cheating or plagiarism constitutes unacceptable academic dishonesty. Such academic misconduct will not be tolerated at the Huizenga School, and thus will be penalized according to the seriousness of the infraction, in conformity with the standards, rules, and procedures of the Huizenga School and NSU. Accordingly, students are well advised to keep in mind that suspension and expulsion from the Huizenga School are among the sanctions that may be imposed for violations of the Academic Misconduct Policy.
Definitions:
· Plagiarism, as defined by the Little, Brown Essential Handbook for Writers, 4th edition, is “the presentation of someone else’s ideas or words as your own. Whether deliberate or accidental, plagiarism is a serious and often punishable offense” (Aaron, 2001).
· Deliberate plagiarism is “copying a sentence from a source and passing it off as your own and, summarizing someone else’s ideas without acknowledging your debt, or buying a term paper and handing it in as your own” (Aaron, 2001).
· Accidental plagiarism is “forgetting to place quotation marks around other writer’s words, omitting a source citation because you’re not aware of the need for it, or carelessly copying a source when you mean to paraphrase” (Aaron, 2001).
GUIDELINES
The United States Naval Academy’s statement on academic plagiarism (USNA, 2004) provides the following guidelines that we will implement verbatim at the Huizenga School.
1. “Give credit where credit is due. Inevitably, you will use other people’s discoveries and concepts. Building on them creatively. But do not compromise your honor by failing to acknowledge clearly where your work ends and that of someone else begins. (USNA, 2004).
2. “Provide proper citation for everything taken from others. Such material includes interpretations, ideas, wording, insights, factual discoveries, charts, tables, and appendices that are not your own. Citations must guide the reader clearly and explicitly to the sources used, whether published, unpublished, or electronic. Cite a source each time you borrow from it. A single citation, concluding or followed by extended borrowing, is inadequate and misleading. Indicate all use of another’s words, even if they constitute only part of a sentence, with quotation marks and specific citation. Citations may be footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical references. (USNA, 2004).
3. Recognize the work of others even if you are not borrowing their words. Theories, interpretations, assessments, and judgments are all intellectual contributions made by others and must be attributed to them. (USNA, 2004).
4. Paraphrase properly. Paraphrasing is a vehicle for conveying or explaining a source’s ideas and requires a citation to the original source. A paraphrase captures the source’s meaning and tone in your own words and sentence structure. In a paraphrase, the words are yours, but the ideas are not. It should not be used to create the impression of originality. (USNA, 2004).
5. Cite sources in all work submitted for credit. Your instructor may also require you to identify the contributions of others in drafts you submit only for review. Ask your instructor for his or her citation requirements and any discipline-specific attribution practices. (USNA, 2004).
6. Be cautious when using web-based sources, including Internet sites and electronic journals. There is a common misperception that information found on the Internet does not need to be cited. Web-based information, even if anonymous, must be appropriately cited. Do not cut and paste or otherwise take material from websites without proper citation. (USNA, 2004).
7. Provide a citation when in doubt. Always err on the side of caution. (USNA, 2004).
8. Papers may be submitted to www.turnitin.com for review.
Cheating by Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct. The Huizenga School views plagiarism as the representation of another’s work, words, or ideas, statement of facts not generally known as one’s own without use of an academically recognized method of citation. Work submitted at the Huizenga School must be the original work of the student. Original work may include the words and ideas of others, but the source of these words and ideas must be indicated in a manner consistent with an academically recognized form, style, and citation manual. Plagiarism subjects the student to penalties pursuant to the Academic Misconduct Policy. Any student helping a student plagiarize is considered as guilty as the student assisted.
Plagiarism involves using the words, information, insights, or ideas of another without crediting that person through proper citation. Proper documentation is required for all source material as discussed in the individual course policy statement which will be provided and explained by each instructor during the first session of each course. It is your responsibility to know the rules for proper citation – claiming ignorance of the proper citation rules is not an excuse for cheating. One can avoid plagiarism by fully and openly crediting all sources used.
In the absence of guidance from the instructor, reference “APA Style Manual” (standards and rules to be followed when referencing source material).
Cheating on Examinations and Assignments :
Academic misconduct consists of cheating of any kind with respect to examinations and assignments as well as the unauthorized possession and/or use of exams, papers, and materials. Cheating is defined and characterized by copying answers to examinations, quizzes, presentations, and projects from a source not approved by the professor. This includes but not limited to “crib” notes and “cheat” sheets, cell-phones, PDA’s, I-Pods, and of course, collusion with your fellow student (neighbor). In addition the use of test banks, computers, answer keys, stolen exams, and instructor’s manuals are expressly forbidden. (USNA, 2004).
Cheating subjects the student to penalties pursuant to the Academic Misconduct Policy. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:
· The unauthorized submission of work previously presented in another course.
· Having someone else write a paper for the student; purchasing a paper from someone or through the Internet.
· Participating in an arrangement whereby work, classroom activity, or an examination is done by another person.
· Unauthorized collaboration on assignments or work to be presented.
· Arranging to have others take examinations or to do assignments.
· Obtaining examinations prior to administration.
· Communicating or exchanging test information with other students during an exam or quiz.
· The manipulating of recorded grades or other class records in a grade book or on a computer system or the falsifying of such information.
· Bribery.
Cheating in the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship will not be tolerated.
Discipline for Academic Misconduct
The professor/instructor has the authority to determine whether plagiarism or cheating has occurred. She or he will take the appropriate action depending upon the nature of the infraction.
Expulsion: Deliberate plagiarism is unethical and dishonorable! In cases of deliberate plagiarism and cheating, the student is subject to immediate dismissal from the program. In these cases, due process is afforded through the appeals process.
Failing Grade: Accidental plagiarism, or sloppy scholarship, is academically unacceptable. In cases of accidental plagiarism, the professor/instructor has the authority to issue a failing grade for the assignment or the course depending upon the severity of the infraction. In these cases, the decision of the faculty member is final.
NSU Student Handbook: Academic Standards
Huizenga School Handbook: Student Grievance Procedure
Disruption to Academic Process
Disruption of the classroom or the teaching environment is unacceptable at the Huizenga School and is considered a form of punishable academic misconduct. This includes email or any other form of communication. Disruption of the academic process includes act(s) or word(s) by a student in a classroom or teaching environment that in the estimation of a faculty member deflects attention from the academic matters at hand. Examples of such disruption encompass: noisy distractions; persistent, disrespectful, and/or abusive interruptions; improper language, dress, and/or behavior; and actions that present a danger to the health, safety, and/or well-being of a faculty member, student, staff member, or guest. Disruption also includes tampering with, defacing, or stealing library or online materials. Punishment for such disruption can range from a verbal reprimand by the faculty member, to dismissal of the student from class with a grade of “F,” to suspension or expulsion from the school.
References
Aaron, J. (2001). The Little, Brown Compact Handbook. (4th ed.) Needham Heights, MA:
Pearson/Longman.
USNA, (2004). United States Naval Academy 9USNA) Statement on Academic
Plagiarism. May 4, 2004 Faculty Senate Meeting. Retrieved on February 21, 2008 from: http://www.usna.edu/Library/Plagiarism/Plagiarism.html
IX. MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS
Meeting dates, locations, and course times vary according to the format of the student’s pertinent class format. See the relevant Course info on the Blackboard course site.
Sample of Cover Page to be Used for All Assignments
Nova Southeastern University
Wayne Huizenga Graduate School
of Business & Entrepreneurship
Assignment for Course: (Course number and title)
Submitted to: (Professor’s name)
Submitted by: (Student’s name)
(Student’s ID number)
(Address)
(Work phone number)
(Home phone number)
Date of Submission:
Title of Assignment:
CERTIFICATION OF AUTHORSHIP: I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance I received in its preparation is fully acknowledge and disclosed in the paper. I have also cited any sources from which I used data, ideas of words, whether quoted directly or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by me specifically for this course.
Student Signature: ___________________________
*******************************************
Instructor’s Grade on Assignment:
Instructor’s Comments:
1
