Conduct Expectations

Professional Conduct

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards maintains detailed guidance on student rights and responsibilities related to learning in a community that is safe and fosters integrity and accountability. You are responsible for keeping aware of their policies and procedures, found at the following page: conduct.students.wisc.edu

All students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional behavior and ethics. Students should avoid even an appearance of improper behavior or lack of ethical standards while in Graduate School at UW-Madison, in all professional settings, and in their personal lives. Students should conduct themselves according to the standards expected of members of the profession to which the student aspires.

Concerns about infractions of Professional Conduct may be effectively handled informally between the instructor/advisor and the student. If a resolution is not achieved, a graduate program representative may be included in the discussion. Separate and apart from a violation of Professional Conduct, a student may face University disciplinary action with regard to the same action. Students are responsible for reading the information here as well as the information published on all the relevant web sites. Lack of knowledge of this information does not excuse any infraction.

Professional Ethics: Students shall show respect for a diversity of opinions, perspectives and cultures; accurately represent their work and acknowledge the contributions of others; participate in and commit to related opportunities; aim to gain knowledge and contribute to the knowledge base of others; understand the UW Student Code of Conduct; represent their profession and the program; and strive to incorporate and practice disciplinary ideals in their daily lives. Resumes/CVs must reflect accurate information.

Honesty and Integrity: Students shall demonstrate honesty and integrity as shown by their challenging of themselves in academic pursuits; honesty and ethics in research and IRB applications—including honesty in interpretation of data, commitment to an unbiased interpretation of academic and professional endeavors; and the need to document research activities, protect subject/client confidentiality and HIPPA regulations. Students shall follow-through and pull their weight in group activities and understand where collaboration among students is or is not allowed; not plagiarize others or past work (self-plagiarism), cheat, or purposefully undermine the work of others; and avoid conflicts of interest for the duration of their time in the program. As a professional, honesty and integrity also extends to personal behavior in life outside of the academic setting by realizing that students are representatives of the program, UW-Madison, and the profession as a whole.

Interpersonal and Workplace Relationships: Students shall interact with peers, faculty, staff and those they encounter in their professional capacity in a manner that is respectful, considerate, and professional. This includes and is not limited to attending all scheduled meetings, honoring agreed upon work schedules, being on-time and prepared for work/meetings, contributing collaboratively to the team, keeping the lines of communication open, offering prompt response to inquiries, and employing respectful use of available equipment, technology, and/or resources. Chronic or unexplained absences are unprofessional in the workplace and could be grounds for termination or removal of funding. To facilitate the free and open exchange of ideas, any criticism shall be offered in a constructive manner, and the right of others to hold different opinions shall be respected.

Commitment to Learning: Students are expected to meet their educational responsibilities at all times. Be actively prepared for class and be ready for questions and answers. Be on time for every class and always show courtesy during class or if you have to leave class early. If possible, students should notify the instructor at least one day in advance of a planned absence. Students who are unable to attend class are responsible for finding out what occurred that day and should not expect instructors to give them individual instruction. Recognizing that the pursuit of knowledge is a continuous process, students shall show commitment to learning by persevering despite adversity and seeking guidance in order to adapt to change. Students shall strive for academic excellence and pursue and incorporate all critique, both positive and negative, in the acquisition of knowledge in order to understand and respect the community in which they work.

Professional and Safety Appearance: Appearance includes a person’s dress, hygiene, and appropriate etiquette/protocols for the environment (including safety protocols and protective clothing in environments that require them).

The Kinesiology graduate program, the Graduate School, and the Division of Student Life all uphold the UW-System policies and procedures in place for academic and non-academic misconduct. In addition, graduate students are held to the same standards of responsible conduct of research as faculty and staff. Furthermore, unprofessional behavior towards clients/subjects, faculty, staff, peers and public are significant issues in the evaluation and promotion of students. In turn, we hold expectations for the highest level of academic integrity and expect professional, ethical, and respectful conduct in all interactions. Students may be disciplined or dismissed from the graduate program for misconduct or disregard for professional conduct expectations regardless of their academic standing in the program. Separate and apart from a violation of Professional Conduct, a student may face University disciplinary action with regard to the same action. Students are responsible for reading the information here as well as the information published on all the relevant web sites. Lack of knowledge of this information does not excuse any infraction.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct is governed by state law, UW System Administration Code Chapter 14. For further information on this law, what constitutes academic misconduct, and procedures related to academic misconduct, see:

The Graduate School

Academic Policies & Procedures: Misconduct, Academic

grad.wisc.edu/documents/misconduct-academic

Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards

Academic Misconduct Website

conduct.students.wisc.edu/academic-misconduct

Academic Misconduct Flowchart

conduct.students.wisc.edu/documents/academic-misconduct-flow-chart

Academic misconduct is an act in which a student (UWS 14.03(1)):

• Seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation
• Uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise
• Forges or falsifies academic documents or records
• Intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others
• Engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student’s academic performance
• Assists other students in any of these acts

Examples of academic misconduct include but are not limited to:

• Cutting and pasting text from the Web without quotation marks or proper citation
• Paraphrasing from the Web without crediting the source
• Using notes or a programmable calculator in an exam when such use is not allowed
• Using another person’s ideas, words, or research and presenting it as one’s own by not properly crediting the originator
• Stealing examinations or course materials
• Changing or creating data in a lab experiment
• Altering a transcript
• Signing another person’s name to an attendance sheet
• Hiding a book knowing that another student needs it to prepare for an assignment
• Collaboration that is contrary to the stated rules of the course
• Tampering with a lab experiment or computer program of another student.

Non-Academic Misconduct

Non-academic misconduct is governed by state law, UW System Administration Code Chapters 17 and 18. For further information on these laws, what constitutes non-academic misconduct, and procedures related to non-academic misconduct, see:

The Graduate School

Academic Policies & Procedures: Misconduct, Non-Academic

grad.wisc.edu/documents/misconduct-nonacademic

Office for Student Conduct and Community Standards

Non-Academic Misconduct Website

conduct.students.wisc.edu/nonacademic-misconduct

University of Wisconsin System (UWS)

Chapter 17: Student Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures

docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/uws/17

Chapter 18: Conduct on University Lands

docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/uws/18

The university may discipline a student in non-academic matters in the following situations:

• for conduct which constitutes a serious danger to the personal safety of a member of the university community or guest
• for stalking or harassment
• for conduct that seriously damages or destroys university property or attempts to damage or destroy university property, or the property of a member of the university community or guest
• for conduct that obstructs or seriously impairs university-run or university-authorized activities, or that interferes with or impedes the ability of a member of the university community, or guest, to participate in university-run or university-authorized activities
• for unauthorized possession of university property or property of another member of the university community or guest
• for acts which violate the provisions of UWS 18, Conduct on University Lands
• for knowingly making a false statement to any university employee or agent on a university-related matter, or for refusing to identify oneself to such employee or agent
• for violating a standard of conduct, or other requirement or restriction imposed in connection with disciplinary action.

Examples of non-academic misconduct include but are not limited to:

• Engaging in conduct that is a crime involving danger to property or persons, as defined in UWS 18.06(22)(d)
• Attacking or otherwise physically abusing, threatening to physically injure, or physically intimidating a member of the university community or a guest
• Attacking or throwing rocks or other dangerous objects at law enforcement personnel, or inciting others to do so
• Selling or delivering a controlled substance, as defined in 161 Wis. Stats., or possessing a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver
• Removing, tampering with, or otherwise rendering useless university equipment or property intended for use in preserving or protecting the safety of members of the university community, such as fire alarms, fire extinguisher, fire exit signs, first aid equipment, or emergency telephones; or obstructing fire escape routes
• Preventing or blocking physical entry to or exit from a university building, corridor, or room
• Engaging in shouted interruptions, whistling, or similar means of interfering with a classroom presentation or a university-sponsored speech or program
• Obstructing a university officer or employee engaged in the lawful performance of duties
• Obstructing or interfering with a student engaged in attending classes or participating in university-run or university-authorized activities
• Knowingly disrupting access to university computing resources or misusing university computing resources

Research Misconduct

Graduate students are held to the same standards of responsible conduct of research as faculty and staff. Further information about these standards and related policies and procedures can be found at:

The Graduate School

Academic Policies & Procedures: Responsible Conduct of Research

grad.wisc.edu/documents/responsible-conduct-of-research

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education

Research Policies

research.wisc.edu/compliance-policy

Much of graduate education is carried out not in classrooms, but in laboratories and other research venues, often supported by federal or other external funding sources. Indeed, it is often difficult to distinguish between academic misconduct and cases of research misconduct. Graduate students are held to the same standards of responsible conduct of research as faculty and staff. The Graduate School is responsible for investigating allegations of research misconduct. This is often done in consultation with the Division of Student Life as well as with federal and state agencies to monitor, investigate, determine sanctions, and train about the responsible conduct of research. For more information, contact the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy, 333 Bascom Hall, (608) 262-1044.

Please see section on “Grievance Procedures and Misconduct Reporting” for further information on reporting research misconduct of others. Here are links for additional information regarding Research Misconduct and Additional information regarding Responsible Conduct Research:

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education’s Research Policies:

Resources on Research Ethics

Resources for Responsible Conduct of Research

Procedure for Dealing with Misconduct in Scholarly Research

Obligations and Protections for Reporting Research Misconduct

Hostile and Intimidating Behavior

Hostile and intimidating behavior is defined in university policy as “unwelcome behavior pervasive or severe enough that a reasonable person would find it hostile and/or intimidating and that does not further the University’s academic or operational interests.”

Hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB) can occur in both the private and public sectors, including colleges and universities. Even individual instances of such behavior can have a significant effect on the person it’s aimed at, and can take a physical and emotional toll, reduce the effectiveness of a person’s work, and hamper the ability of individuals – and entire units – to do their work. It is a significant reason for unhealthy workplace climate and culture and should be addressed immediately.

Hostile and intimidating behavior can occur both within and across employment sectors – faculty on faculty, faculty on staff, etc. – and power differentials, and in any university setting (the office, the lab, in the halls, at meetings; it can happen in groups or one-on-one). Regardless of when and how it happens, it must be addressed and corrected. Hostile and intimidating behavior is prohibited by university policy.

Students who feel they have been subject to HIB are encouraged to review the informal and formal options on the “Addressing HIB” tab of the UW’s HIB website.

Process and Sanctions for Violations of Conduct Standards

In general:

• Failure to meet the program’s academic or conduct expectations can result in disciplinary action including immediate dismissal from the program. If a student is not making satisfactory progress in regards to academic or conduct expectations, the advisor will consult with the student’s committee to determine if disciplinary action or dismissal is recommended.
• Student progress will be reviewed through student progress reports once per year. Students and their advisors will each complete the “Annual Graduate Student Feedback” and then will meet to revise and submit a final report. If the advisor and graduate committee find that at the annual meetings or at any other time that a student has failed to achieve satisfactory progress with academic or conduct expectations the student may be dismissed from the program.
• Students placed on probation will be on probation for one semester and will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee following the probationary semester. Students placed on probation may be dismissed or allowed to continue based upon review of progress during the probationary semester.
• The status of a student can be one of three options:
• Good standing (progressing according to standards; any funding guarantee remains in place).
• Probation (not progressing according to standards but permitted to enroll; loss of funding guarantee; specific plan with dates and deadlines in place in regard to removal of probationarystatus.
• Unsatisfactory progress (not progressing according to standards; not permitted to enroll, dismissal, leave of absence or change of advisor or program).

More specifically:

• Any graduate student who fails to meet the program’s expectations during two consecutive semesters (not including summer) will be dismissed from the program at the end of the subsequent semester. Any student who fails to meet the program’s expectations because of failure to pass any required exams and procedures within designated time limits will be dismissed from the program at the end of the subsequent semester.
• A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full- time enrollment (or 12 credits of enrollment if enrolled part-time) the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for 1 additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate. See the Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: Probation and Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement.
• Students may be disciplined or dismissed from the graduate program for any type of misconduct (academic, non-academic, professional, or research) or failure to meet program expectations regardless of their academic standing in the program. Separate and apart from a violation of Professional Conduct, a student may face University disciplinary action with regard to the same action. Concerns about infractions of the Professional Conduct may be effectively handled informally between the student and the advisor/faculty member. However, if a resolution is not achieved, the issue may be advanced for further review by the program. See Satisfactory Progress – Conduct Expectations

Kinesiology Graduate Studies Committee (GSC)

If graduate students or advisors want to seek formal input from several graduate faculty members the Kinesiology Department has a standing committee, the Graduate Studies Committee. It consists of five graduate faculty members appointed by the Department Chair. Usually, each Committee member will have several years of experience in graduate program administration. The chair dismisses any student member(s) for student personnel matters. You may contact the Committee via your advisor, Director of Graduate Studies, or the Graduate Program Manager.

Disciplinary Actions

• Written reprimand
• Denial of specified privilege(s)
• Imposition of reasonable terms and conditions on continued student status
• Removal of funding
• Probation
• Restitution
• Removal of the student from the course(s) in progress
• Failure to promote
• Withdrawal of an offer of admission
• Placement on Leave of Absence for a determined amount of time
• Suspension from the program for up to one year with the stipulation that remedial activities may be prescribed as a condition of later readmission. Students who meet the readmission condition must apply for readmission and the student will be admitted only on a space available basis. See the Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: Readmission to Graduate School: Readmission
• Suspension from the program. The suspensions may range from one semester to four years.
• Dismissal from the program
• Denial of a degree

In addition to the program’s disciplinary actions, the Dean of Students Office may also have grounds to issue one or more of the following:

• Reprimand
• Probation
• Suspension
• Expulsion
• Restitution
• A zero or failing grade on an assignment/exam
• A lower grade or failure in the course
• Removal from course
• Enrollment restrictions in a course/program
• Conditions/terms of continuing as a student