Classroom Policies

The first injunction of the BYU Honor Code is the call to be honest. Students come to the university not only to improve their minds, gain knowledge, and develop skills that will assist them in their life’s work but also to build character. President David O. McKay taught that “character is the highest aim of education” (The Aims of a BYU Education, p. 6). It is the purpose of the BYU Academic Honesty Policy to assist in fulfilling that aim. BYU students should seek to be totally honest in their dealings with others. BYU students should complete their own work and be evaluated based upon that work. They should avoid academic dishonesty in all its forms, including:

  • Plagiarism
  • Fabrication or falsification
  • Cheating
  • Other academic misconduct

All students, once admitted to BYU, are required to observe the standards of the Honor Code whether on or off campus.

Plagiarism

Intentional plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft that violates recognized principles of academic integrity as well as the Honor Code. Such plagiarism may subject the student to appropriate disciplinary action administered through the university Honor Code Office in addition to academic sanctions that may be applied by an instructor. Inadvertent plagiarism, while not in violation of the Honor Code, is nevertheless a form of intellectual carelessness that is unacceptable in the academic community. Plagiarism of any kind is completely contrary to the established practices of higher education, where all members of the university are expected to acknowledge the original intellectual work of others when it is included in one’s own work. In some cases, plagiarism may also involve violations of copyright law.

Intentional Plagiarism

Intentional plagiarism is the deliberate act of representing the words, ideas, or data of another as one’s own without providing proper attribution to the author through quotation, reference, or footnote.

Inadvertent Plagiarism

Inadvertent plagiarism involves the inappropriate, but nondeliberate, use of another’s words, ideas, or data without proper attribution. Inadvertent plagiarism usually results from an ignorant failure to follow established rules for documenting sources or from simply being insufficiently careful in research and writing. Although not a violation of the Honor Code, inadvertent plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct for which an instructor can impose appropriate academic sanctions. Students who are in doubt as to whether they are providing proper attribution have the responsibility to consult with their instructor and obtain guidance.

Examples of plagiarism include:

  • The verbatim copying of an original source without acknowledging the source
  • Paraphrased plagiarism: the paraphrasing, without acknowledgment, of ideas from another that the reader might mistake for your own
  • Plagiarism mosaic: the borrowing of words, ideas, or data from an original source and blending this original material with one’s own without acknowledging the source
  • Insufficient acknowledgment: the partial or incomplete attribution of words, ideas, or data from an original source
  • Plagiarism may occur with respect to unpublished as well as published material. Acts of copying another student’s work and submitting it as one’s own individual work without proper attribution is a serious form of plagiarism

Fabrication or Falsification

Fabrication or falsification is a form of dishonesty where a student invents or distorts the origin or content of information. Examples include:

  • Citing a source that does not exist
  • Attributing to a source ideas and information that are not included in the source
  • Citing a source for a proposition that it does not support
  • Citing a source in a bibliography when the source was neither consulted nor cited in the body of the paper
  • Intentionally distorting the meaning or applicability of data
  • Inventing data or statistical results to support conclusions

Cheating

Cheating is a form of dishonesty where a student attempts to give the appearance of a level of knowledge or skill that the student has not obtained. Examples include:

  • Copying from another person’s work during an examination or while completing an assignment
  • Allowing someone to copy from you during an examination or while completing an assignment
  • Using unauthorized materials during an examination or while completing an assignment
  • Collaborating on an examination or assignment without authorization
  • Taking an examination or completing an assignment for another or permitting another to take an examination or to complete an assignment for you

Other Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct includes other academically dishonest, deceitful, or inappropriate acts that are intentionally committed. Examples of such acts include but are not limited to:

  • Inappropriately providing or receiving information or academic work so as to gain unfair advantage over others
  • Planning with another to commit any act of academic dishonesty
  • Attempting to gain an unfair academic advantage for oneself or another by bribery or by any act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to another person for such purpose
  • Changing or altering grades or other official educational records
  • Obtaining or providing to another person an unadministered test or answers to an unadministered test
  • Breaking and entering into a building or office for the purpose of obtaining an unauthorized test
  • Continuing work on an examination or assignment after the allocated time has elapsed
  • Submitting the same work for more than one class without disclosure and approval

Applicable Actions for BYU Marriott and/or the University

Consequences of violating the Academic Honesty Policy range from receiving a failing grade on an assignment to dismissal from the university.

Informed by the vision, mission, and values of BYU Marriott, this grade distribution policy outlines principles and GPA targets for our programs. The aim of this policy is to promote consistency across our offerings, ensuring that grades accurately and fairly reflect students’ learning and achievements while also maintaining high academic standards and allowing students to strive for and achieve learning and academic success.

Guiding Principles:

  • Academic Excellence and Rigor: Grades must reflect the high academic standards of a premier business school, with rigorous criteria that drive deep student engagement with the course material. Grading distributions are used to recognize true excellence, differentiate among students, and signal to students where their competencies lie.
  • Fairness, Equity, and Clarity: Grading systems must be transparent and consistent across courses. Course criteria and expectations should be clearly communicated to students at the beginning of the semester/term.
  • Diverse Assessment and Regular Feedback: In most courses, faculty should employ a range of assessment methods to capture different learning styles and provide regular feedback, enabling students to track and improve their performance throughout the course.
  • Professional Competencies and Inclusive Practices: Grading systems should reflect not only academic knowledge but also essential business skills, like teamwork, leadership, and ethical reasoning, while ensuring policies are inclusive and responsive to student needs and the evolving business landscape.
  • Grade Evaluation Integrity and Inflation Prevention: Faculty should establish and uphold a transparent and fair grade appeal process. They should actively monitor and adjust grading practices to prevent grade inflation, preserving the integrity of our academic standards.
  • Ongoing Assessment by Department/Program and College Leaders: At the end of each semester/term, leaders review data from the Grade Summary Dashboards (provided by the Registrar’s Office) with faculty. Department leadership, in consultation with the Associate Dean of Academics, should regularly review GPA distributions within programs to ensure compliance with GPA targets. Exceptions should be rare and should be documented by department leadership.
  • Program-Specific Consideration: The average BYU GPA of the admitted, incoming class of all programs should be considered as part of the grade range for major core classes.

GPA Targets

  • Capstone, project-based, and directed readings courses: 3.7
  • BYU Marriott prerequisite courses (ACC 200, FIN 201, MKTG 201, IS 201, GSCM 201/211, ExDM 300): 3.2
  • MCom 320: 3.4
  • BYU Marriott program second prerequisite courses (ACC 310, IS 303): 3.4
  • Business core courses (HRM 391, STRAT 392, MSB 390, ACC 241): 3.6
  • Major core courses (junior core, upper-division major electives): Half the distance between the average BYU GPA of students admitted into the program and 3.6.
  • Advanced major-specific courses: 3.6

Updated 7/23/2024

Brigham Young University Nondiscrimination Policy

Students must plan their schedules to complete their final examinations during the regularly scheduled examination times. If unplanned, non-academic extenuating circumstances (such as serious illness, personal injury, etc.) prevent completion of a final examination before the grade submission deadline, an incomplete grade contract (available from the Registrar’s Office) should be completed and submitted.

Please also review the BYU Final Examination Policy.

Brigham Young University prohibits all forms of sexual harassment—including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking—by its personnel and students and in all its education programs or activities. University policy requires all faculty members to promptly report incidents of sexual harassment that come to their attention in any way and encourages reports by students who experience or become aware of sexual harassment. Incidents should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at t9coordinator@byu.edu or (801) 422-8692 or 1085 WSC.  Reports may also be submitted online at https://titleix.byu.edu/report or 1-888-238-1062 (24-hours a day). BYU offers a number of resources and services for those affected by sexual harassment, including the university’s confidential Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate. Additional information about sexual harassment, the university’s Sexual Harassment Policy, reporting requirements, and resources can be found in the University Catalog, by visiting http://titleix.byu.edu, or by contacting the university’s Title IX Coordinator.

Why this policy?

  • Respect the faculty’s right and obligation to control the learning experience in their classroom
  • Protect faculty and student privacy
  • Respect a faculty member’s rights with regard to their instructional materials

Students are not permitted to record (in either audio or video format) classroom lectures or discussions without advance written permission from the instructor. Advance, in this case, means at least thirty minutes prior to the start of the class. Putting the instructor on the spot at the start of class is not appropriate.

Permission to record a class applies exclusively to the student who received permission from the professor. An instructor may provide permission to an entire class as part of the course syllabus or other written description of a course, but all permissions must be in writing.

If permission is given by the instructor, all students present in the class must be notified that the audio/video recording may occur. If the instructor elects to record the class, all students in the class must be notified.

Permission to allow a recording is not a transfer of any copyrights to the recording. Any recordings made may only be used for individual or group study with other students enrolled in the same class. The recording may not be reproduced or uploaded to publicly accessible websites.

Students must destroy recordings at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the class unless they receive the instructor’s written permission to retain the recordings.

Students who require audio recording or other adaptations of lectures as a reasonable accommodation for a disability should contact the University Accessibility Center before the lecture in order to obtain permission for the recording.

Students who record class lectures without express permission are subject to BYU Marriott and university disciplinary action. Public distribution of such recordings may constitute copyright infringement in violation of federal or state law. Depending on the severity of the violation, such action could result in a student being dismissed from the university along with whatever legal sanctions are applicable.

Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere, which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the University Accessibility Center at (801) 422-2767. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified, documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the University Accessibility Center. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. Please contact the Equal Employment Office at (801) 422-5895.

Technology is an essential part of today’s learning environment—that is why the BYU Marriott School of Business requires every student to own a laptop. However, technology, when used inappropriately, can also hinder learning. Most BYU Marriott students have, at some point, sat next to students who use their laptops in class to check social media, email, search the internet, or play online games. Unfortunately, students can be distracted by this behavior and classroom learning decreases.

As a result of these distractions, BYU Marriott has implemented the following policy, effective Fall 2010: Each professor will establish the times when using laptops in class to take notes or work on class projects is allowed. These times may be frequent or infrequent depending upon the nature of the class. Using laptops in class at times other than those established by your professor or for uses other than as instructed by your professor is considered inappropriate and would affect your professor’s assessment of your professionalism.

Please respect your fellow students and professors and abide by this BYU Marriott policy.

The use of phones for any purpose is not appropriate in classes at BYU Marriott. Please turn them off as you enter the classroom and keep them stored out of sight in your backpack or pocket.

At BYU Marriott, we strive to develop leaders of faith, intellect, and character who will transform the world through Christlike leadership. In realizing our vision, mission, and values, we recognize the significant role of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in writing, research, and analysis. Our commitment is to leverage the potential of GenAI to enhance educational experiences while maintaining the highest standards of integrity—a core value of BYU Marriott.

Guidelines for Responsible GenAI Use

  • Employees and students align with the BYU policy on artificial intelligence, making sure that all use is consistent with BYU’s safe use guidelines for GenAI, the Honor Code, and the Academic Honesty Policy.
  • In their syllabus, faculty include guidance on when GenAI is allowed, how it should be used, and proper attribution for their course. Faculty will remind students of the policies for their specific course (see sample statement for syllabi below). 
  • Employees and students ensure that the use of GenAI respects data privacy and security, especially when handling sensitive or personal information. For example, employees will not enter private student information (like names, Net IDs, email addresses, and grades) or other sensitive content (such as proprietary or nonpublic data) into GenAI tools, per BYU’s Data Use, Privacy, and Security Policy. 
  • Employees and students are responsible for any output they generate, regardless of GenAI use, and for ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of what they say and share—in both form and content.

Recommended GenAI Practices

  • Integration in Education: Faculty are encouraged to integrate GenAI into instruction and learning activities where appropriate, leveraging its potential to enhance educational outcomes rather than completely banning its use.
  • Student-Faculty Consultation: Students should consult with their faculty about the use of GenAI in assignments or projects if the course syllabus does not explicitly address it.
  • Critical Analysis: Faculty should encourage students to critically analyze and discuss the outputs of GenAI, fostering a deeper understanding of the technology’s capabilities and limitations.
  • Staying Informed: Both employees and students are encouraged to stay informed about the latest developments in GenAI, adapting its use in the curriculum and other areas of practice as the field evolves.
  • Ethical Considerations: Employees and students should consider potential biases in GenAI and the ethical implications of its use.

Sample GenAI Policy Statement for Syllabi “In this class, I acknowledge the growing influence of Generative AI (GenAI) in academic and business settings. Students are expected to follow university policies related to GenAI (seehttps://genai.byu.edu/) and adhere to my specific guidelines. Unless stated otherwise, you may use GenAI to support your learning and enhance your deliverables but not as a shortcut to avoid learning. Cite any GenAI use with a footnote detailing the tool used and a brief description of how it was utilized. I will specify when GenAI is prohibited for assignments, quizzes, or exams. This includes any use, such as brainstorming or editing. This policy aims to help you become the best professional possible.”

Created 7/23/2024