Please use a Large Langugage Model (LLM) or Generative AI (GAI) only if the assignment explicitly calls for it or allows it, and follow specific assignment guidelines to disclose which text comes from the LLM/GAI (this is new, so we’ll learn more about this and discuss it)! Know that Grossmont College has not released an official policy regarding LLMs/GAI at this time (January 2023), so it's important to understand your instructors' personal policies regarding it.

We will spend more time on this as we work through the semester, but let's start with the college's basics:

Academic Fraud

The college is an academic community with high standards, and its teaching, learning and service purposes are seriously disrupted and subverted by Academic Fraud.

All students at Grossmont College are expected to comply with the institution’s high standards of Academic Integrity and avoid instances of dishonesty at all times. Such acts of dishonesty include cheating, plagiarism, fraud, false citations or data, and the fraudulent use of Internet resources.

Students are not to commit academic fraud, which is a form of cheating, lying and stealing. It is a serious violation of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the catalog. This intent of this document is to increase student awareness as to what Academic Fraud is, to provide strategies to avoid the situations, and to explain the consequences of committing

Academic Fraud. The Faculty and Administration expect students to have a responsible and sincere commitment to Academic Integrity during the performance of their instructional activities and completion of assignments or requirements.

Academic Fraud includes, but is not limited to, the following situations:

1. Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas or work without proper or complete acknowledgement.

Plagiarism encompasses many things, and is by far the most common manifestation of academic fraud. For example, copying a passage straight from a book into a paper without quoting or explicitly citing the source is plagiarism. In addition, completely rewording someone else’s work or ideas and using it as one’s own is also plagiarism. It is very important that students properly acknowledge all ideas, work, and even distinctive wording that are not their own. Students who are unsure of how or when to properly acknowledge sources are encouraged to consult their instructor.

2. Cheating is the copying of any test or quiz question or problem, or work done in a class that is not the student’s own work. It also includes giving or receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination whether it was intentional or not.

Obtaining or distributing unauthorized information about an exam before it is given is also cheating, as is using inappropriate or unallowable sources of information during an exam. To avoid unintentional copying of work, students should cover their own exams and quizzes, and not leave a test or quiz on the desk where another student may be tempted to look at it.

3. Multiple Submission is the use of work previously submitted at this or any other institution to fulfill academic requirements in another class.

For example, using a paper from an English 126 Creative Writing class for a Sociology 138 Social Psychology class is Academic Fraud. Slightly altered work that has been resubmitted is also considered to be fraudulent. With prior permission, some professors may allow students to complete one assignment for two classes. In this case, prior permission from both instructors is absolutely necessary.

4. False Citation is falsely citing a source or attributing work to a source from which the referenced material was not obtained. A simple example of this would be footnoting a paragraph and citing a work that was never utilized.
5. False Data is the fabrication or alteration of data to deliberately mislead. For example, changing data to get better experiment results is Academic Fraud. Instructors and tutors in lab classes will often have strict guidelines for the completion of labs and assignments. Whenever in doubt about what may be considered Academic Fraud, students should immediately consult with the instructor.

Plagiarism via the Internet is occurring with more and more frequency, and takes a number of different forms. As should be obvious, purchasing research papers on the Internet and submitting them as a student’s own work constitutes a gross case of plagiarism. Cutting and pasting from a website without putting the text being used in quotation marks and/or without properly citing the source also constitutes plagiarism. Posting stolen tests online and/or accessing such tests is cheating. Also students should be aware that while many websites provide reliable information, others may not include well-documented research. Students should be sure to check facts using a variety of different types of resources in order to ensure accuracy.

Intentional Deception is the submission of false documentation (absence excuse, proof of attendance, volunteer hours, etc.) for falsifying any official college record. A student who misrepresents facts in order to obtain exemptions from course requirements has committed an act of intentional deception and may also be subject to the consequences listed below. It is best for a student to do the work as required in a course or speak to the instructor about circumstances that may cause problems in completing forms correctly or honestly.

Students who engage in Academic Fraud will be subject to authorized penalties at the discretion of the instructor of record in the class. Such penalties may range from an adjusted grade on the particular exam, paper, project, or assignment to a failing grade in the course at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor may also summarily suspend the student for the class meeting when the infraction occurred as well as the following class meeting.

In addition, “Academic Fraud” can result in a suspension or expulsion as stipulated by the District’s Student Disciplinary Procedures administered by the Vice President of Student Services and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

It is worthwhile to note the California Education Code Section 76224(a) states:

“When grades are given for any course of instruction taught in a community college district, the grade given to each student shall be the grade determined by the faculty member of the course and the determination of the student’s grade by the instructor, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency, shall be final.”

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the Accessibility Resource Center (A.R.C.) as soon as possible (early in the semester) so that reasonable accommodations may be authorized and implemented in a timely manner.

Accessibility Resource Center (A.R.C.)
Location: Building 60, Room 120
Email: grossmont.arc@gcccd.edu
Phone: (619) 644-7112
A.R.C Website

• Attendance is demonstrated through submission of assignments (including quizzes, essays, etc). 
• Remember that I have a generous late policy, and you need to submit each assignment to move through the modules--it's better to submit something late than not at all!  Inbox me if there's anything I can help with if you start to fall off track, or if you just want to discuss your options.  
• Sometimes it will be necessary to meet with me via Zoom to discuss an assignment or general progress in the course. If I ask you to meet with me, I expect that you will work with me to find a time convenient for both of us within five calendar days. If the requested meeting regards a necessary revision, refusal to meet with me will mean a zero on the assignment. 
• Those students who do not respond to any of my messages (either via Inbox or left as comments on assignments) for ten days or more may be dropped from the course, at the instructor's discretion.
• Those students who miss more than six assignments (six is an average number of assignments per week) may be dropped from the course, at the instructor’s discretion.  
• If you stop participating in class or decide you do not want to complete the class, it is your responsibility to drop the classLinks to an external site., as allowed by the college course calendarLinks to an external site..

There will be opportunities for extra credit sprinkled throughout the class, and an assignment that is really fantastic (beyond what I've asked for) will earn extra points.  There will NOT be a big extra credit assignment at the end of the semester.  

Plus/Minus Grading 

Unless you have submitted a request for credit/noncredit through Admissions and Records, I will be using a plus/minus grading system.  Your grade will be constantly available to you under "Grades" on the left side of the screen.

Assignments will be due on their assigned days at any time; when peer responses are assigned, the responses can be submitted up to two days later.  You can submit most work early, but you will need to pop in during the week for discussion board responses. Each upcoming module will be posted at least one week in advance.  

Late assignments will be reduced by 5% for each day late.  Late assignments will not typically be accepted more than a week past the due date.  

Please note that in Canvas, after the due date passes, a late assignment will be a zero automatically until I manually override it. It may take a few days for me to score the assignment, so do not panic if you see a temporary zero.

I can not accept late finals or final papers, as I have a hard grading deadline for those.  All work must be submitted on time during the last week of class.

• Meet with me individually during online hours via Zoom using Student Connect from the menu! Click here for instructions.Links to an external site.

Visit our Student Support Hub to get get information and links to a variety of resources, services, help desks and helpful Canvas tutorials.

Writing is revision: re-seeing your work through multiple perspectives (your own and others). It will be helpful for you to write your paper a few days ahead of time so that you can review it after having a day or two to put it away. Always print it out, and read it aloud. Reading your own work right after writing it, and/or on the computer screen, and/or silently, is often unhelpful. 

Once you have revised the best you can, you have multiple avenues for more support.  Make an appointment to see me via Zoom, use Tutoring (in the Canvas menu), use the English Writing CenterLinks to an external site. on campus, or ask for help from someone you know with strong English skills (such as a family member who majored in English). 

For this class, you will need regular access to a laptop, desktop, or tablet computer with a reliable internet connection.

All materials this semester will be provided at no cost, and there is no textbook to buy!