Identity Attestation
Upon matriculating into the DMSc program, all students are required to attest to the following:
- I hereby affirm and attest that I am the individual who is enrolling in courses at The College of Idaho. I understand that all the academic work I will submit for evaluation and grading will be my own original work.
- I understand that misrepresentation of my identity is a violation of the College’s Honor Code and may result in disciplinary action including but not limited to failure in the course, dismissal from the College, and legal action.
- I affirm that all the information I have provided for my enrollment is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Plagiarism and Use of AI
The College of Idaho maintains that academic honesty and integrity are essential values in the educational process. Earning a Doctor of Medical Science degree requires the development of scholarly writing and critical appraisal skills, among other competencies. Engaging in plagiarism is an example of academic dishonesty and violates the College’s Honor Code.
Plagiarism is the presentation of another's product, words, ideas, or data as one's own work. When a student submits work for credit that includes the product, words, ideas, or data of others, the student must use proper and complete citation and reference in accordance with AMA style guidelines.
Students may not use content sourced from generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications as a substitute for their own academic work nor claim ownership or authorship of any content generated by these tools. However, for purposes of the College’s DMSc program, students may use AI applications, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot, to augment development of doctorate-level competencies but must do so with appropriate caution.
Student Accountability
When a student submits work for credit that includes the product, words, ideas, or data of others, the source must be acknowledged by the use of complete, accurate, and specific references, such as footnotes. By placing one's name on work submitted for credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgments. A student will be charged with plagiarism if there is not an acknowledgment of indebtedness. Acknowledgment must be made whenever:
- One quotes another person's actual words or replicates part of another's product.
- One uses another person's ideas, opinions, work, data, or theories, even if they are completely paraphrased in one's own words.
- One borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials, unless the information is common knowledge (already published in at least three other sources without citation).
- One uses AI application to create allowable assignment content.
While programs exist that detect AI-generated text within student assignments, their accuracy is lacking and the risk of falsely accusing students of using AI-generated material is too great to justify their use. As such, The College of Idaho’s DMSc program will not use AI detection programs on student assignments. Faculty members may still apply professional expertise and critical assessment to the determination of originality on student assignments and may report concerns for AI-generated text within written assignments to DMSc program leadership for consideration.
Whether they use AI applications or not, DMSc students are ultimately held responsible for the accuracy, originality, and appropriate attribution of material contained within every assignment that they submit for credit.
Penalties
Though the burden of proof of student academic dishonesty or misconduct lies with the faculty member, the imposition of penalties is also the responsibility of the faculty member. The consequences of plagiarism vary based on whether the incident is a first, second, or third occurrence. Faculty members have the discretion to require that the student repeat the assignment or exam, or may give a failing grade for the assignment, exam, or courses, or may otherwise deal with the academic dishonesty in a manner they determine to be appropriate within the context of their course.
A first occurrence of plagiarism is generally believed to result from inexperience and/or a lack of familiarity using AMA guidelines or AI-generated material and is perceived as a misuse of sources, and the sanctions for a first offense generally include, but not limited to a grade of zero on the assignment or resubmission of the assignment for a reduced grade. A second occurrence of plagiarism is a more serious academic offense and is not attributed to naiveté, ignorance of guidelines, or a misunderstanding of what constitutes acceptable graduate scholarship at the College, and therefore, the sanction includes, but is not limited to a failing grade in the course. A third occurrence of plagiarism is seen as a student’s chronic inability or refusal to produce acceptable graduate-level scholarship. In such cases, the matter is referred to the Dean of Graduate Studies or their designee for disciplinary proceedings pursuant to the College’s “General Student Conduct Procedures” as articulated in the Student Handbook, and the sanction includes but is not limited to dismissal from the program.
Academic Probation
Progression in the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program is contingent on continued demonstration of satisfactory completion of program objectives and course content. Lack of academic progression will result in the student being placed on academic probation and may be grounds for academic dismissal (see Dismissal).
Students who fail any course(s) in the DMSc program are automatically placed on academic probation until they have successfully passed the failed course(s). A student who believes that a course grade does not accurately reflect their performance must attempt to resolve the matter with the faculty member within two weeks from posting of the final grade in Self Service. If the student and faculty member are unable to reach a solution, then the student may request grade mediation (see Grade Mediation Policy).
Dismissal
Dismissal from the DMSc program may be determined as the result of, but not limited to, the following conditions:
- Failure of two or more courses;
- Continued academic probation;
- Violation of the Honor Code or Student Code of Conduct; or
- Failure to receive a passing grade in every course.
If a student meets the requirements of the probationary period, they are removed from academic probation and returned to good academic standing. DMSc students in poor academic standing when withdrawing from all courses in a term/block are required to petition the director/chair of the program for re-entry.
Continuous Enrollment
DMSc students who are finished with all coursework but have not completed all Practicum requirements must maintain continuous enrollment until completion of all graduation requirements. As an exception to the College’s Incomplete Grade Policy, students will be issued a grade of Incomplete (I) in the requisite Practicum course. Upon approval of an incomplete grade, the student will have a maximum of two 10-week blocks to complete all Practicum requirements. During this time, students will be enrolled in Practicum Completion (DMSC-840) for each relevant term/block. If the Practicum requirements are not completed by the end of the second 10-week block, a grade of an F will be issued for the relevant Practicum course.