Academic Policies and Procedures

Post University supports the advancement of teaching and learning and embraces the responsible use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, GPT, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, GitHub Copilot, and any tool thereafter.

• Instructors and students are allowed to use generative AI tools for educational purposes, but all work submitted for grading must be the writer’s own work.
• Generative AI tools can be inaccurate, biased, offensive, or unethical because they are trained on large datasets of text and code that can contain inaccurate, biased, offensive, or unethical content. Users are responsible for the content they use or submit, which means they should carefully review the content generated by generative AI tools before using or submitting it.
• Work that incorporates information from a generative AI tool must be acknowledged.
• Penalties can be incurred for using a generative AI tool without acknowledgment.
• Despite the risks, the use of generative AI tools is allowed, as it may make it possible for work to be completed with higher quality and in less time.

In short, generative AI can be a powerful tool for learning and productivity, but it should be used with caution. Users should be aware of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them.

The University’s policy on plagiarism still applies to any uncited or improperly cited use of work by other human beings or submission of work by other human beings as your own.  See Post University Catalog: Academic Integrity Policy

Citation example: If using ChatGPT-3, you would cite “ChatGPT-3. (YYYY, Month DD of query). “Text of your query.” Generated using OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com/“

The purpose of the Academic Integrity Policy is to ensure that students at Post University perform and submit their own, original work and/or give proper credit when incorporating the work of others.  Post University faculty, administration, and staff are dedicated to ensuring a positive education experience for every student.  As such, enforcement of the Academic Integrity Policy is taken seriously, and violations of the Policy will not be tolerated.

Throughout their time at Post University, students can make use of well-known examples of acceptable resources for checking and/or enhancing the grammar of their own, original works including, but are not limited to, Grammarly®, Academic Writer®, and TutorMe®.

Types of Academic Integrity Infractions 

Infractions of the Academic Integrity Policy involve any unethical behaviors at the University and/or actions associated with University classroom learning and content.  Infractions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Cheating, including:

• Submitting work that is not your own original work product, either in part or whole.
• Working with one or more persons on an exam or assessment that is to be taken as an individual.
• Using unauthorized materials (e.g., a “cheat sheet”) during an exam or assessment.
• Acquiring information for assigned projects from another student in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines for the project.
  • Students should refer to the course assignment and/or syllabus for the rules associated with collaboration for every assignment.
  • When in doubt, students should consult their professor for guidance.
• Observing and/or copying work from another individual’s exam.
• Providing information to another student at the University related to an exam or assessment that is meant to be taken individually.
• Purchasing and/or downloading past and current University course materials from sources (e.g., tutoring websites) that purport to be a source of Post University course content.
• Selling, sharing, and/or posting digital or hard copy University course materials in a manner intended to induce others to cheat.
• Authorizing another to complete course work on your behalf.
• Submitting work on behalf of another University student.

Plagiarizing, including:

• Presenting the words, ideas, data, images, videos, or other original materials of another as one’s own without giving proper credit, attribution, or citation to the original author.
  • Any source or materials used must be properly cited and referenced when quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing. 
  • Students must adhere to the University’s expectations for properly citing sources. 
• Attempting to receive credit for work performed by another, obtained in whole or in part from individuals or other sources, including (but not limited to) any material obtained by Generative Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, DALL.E, Bard, etc.).
• Self-plagiarizing previously submitted work in whole or in part without first checking with one’s instructor and/or substantially revising it.
  • Students are expected to submit their own, original work in each class they take to strengthen their skills and demonstrate competency in the learning outcomes of each course.

Masking, including:

• Using digital paraphrasing tools to alter or disguise the original work of another as your own.
  • Using print and/or digital tools for the limited purpose of checking and/or enhancing the grammar of your own, original work is not considered a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Falsifying information, including:

• Intentionally falsifying or inventing any information or citation in an academic activity at the University.
• Presenting – either written or oral – results of research or practice experience hours that have not been performed.
• Authorizing and/or providing log-in information to another for the purpose of accessing Post University courses or academic platforms.

Utilizing course materials in an unauthorized manner, including:

• Reproducing University course content in violation of the University Copyright Protection Policy (re-stated below):

Post University courses contain copyrighted resources that may not be reproduced, revised, or distributed without the written permission of Post University.  Students in violation of Post Copyright Protection Policy are subject to civil and criminal liabilities associated with the Federal Copyright Act and could be subject to dismissal from the University.  This policy includes providing materials to websites that allow students to download or purchase course materials, exams, assignments (both completed assignment or the assignment prompt), study guides, and course materials.  Distributing Post University copyrighted materials or purchasing/downloading any Post University course materials or assignments from these sites is cheating and may result in legal action against the student and dismissal from the University.

Conspiring, planning, or attempting, including:

• Conspiring, planning, or attempting to achieve any of the above acts (i.e., cheating, plagiarizing, masking, falsifying information, and/or utilizing course materials in an unauthorized manner) as enumerated above.

Miscellaneous:

• Any other act or omission by a student that is directly or indirectly contrary to the objectives of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Process for Reviewing Suspected Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy

In the event that there is a suspicion that a violation (“Suspected Violation”) of the Academic Integrity Policy has occurred, the Suspected Violation will be reviewed by the appropriate University personnel, as the situation dictates.

The appropriate University personnel will review the Suspected Violation in a timely manner.  During the review process, the appropriate University personnel may request additional information from the student and/or other individuals involved in the Suspected Violation.  At the completion of the review process, the Decision will be communicated to the student and documented in the Academic Integrity Database.  The University maintains the right to review work by the student from previous assignments, exams and/or courses when reviewing a Suspected Violation.

In the event that the review process determines that No Violation has been committed, there will be no follow-up steps required by the student or University.

In the event that the review process determines that a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy (“Confirmed Violation”) has occurred, the Instructor or appropriate University personnel will assign one of the following sanctions:

• Integrity Warning; or
• Infraction

It is at the discretion of the Instructor or appropriate University personnel reviewing the Confirmed Violation to consider whether the Confirmed Violation constitutes an Integrity Warning or an Infraction.  The severity and/or the student’s intention in the Confirmed Violation will be used to determine whether the student receives an Integrity Warning or an Infraction.  There is no limit to the number of Integrity Warnings a student can receive.

In the event an Integrity Warning is issued, the student involved in the Confirmed Violation will be assigned a zero on the assignment with the opportunity to resubmit new coursework for the assignment under review.  If the Confirmed Violation involves an exam or an assessment, it will be at the discretion of University personnel to determine whether the student may re-take the exam or assessment.

In the event an Infraction is issued, the student may be issued an Infraction 1, Infraction 2 or Infraction 3.  The penalties associated with the Infractions are as follows:

• Infraction 1:     Student is assigned a zero on the assignment or assessment with no opportunity to resubmit.
• Infraction 2:     Student is issued the grade of an F in the course.  Student is removed by the Registrar from the course in which the Confirmed Violation occurred.
• ​​​Infraction 3:     Student is academically dismissed from Post University.  Student will not be eligible for financial reimbursement.  Student may not reapply for readmission to the University.

Typically, infractions 1 through 3 are assigned consecutively upon additional infractions of the Academic Integrity Policy.  Unless noted otherwise, the first instance a student earns an Infraction will result in an Infraction 1, the second instance the same student earns an Infraction will result in an Infraction 2, and the third instance a student earns an Infraction will result in an Infraction 3.

The University reserves the right to deviate from consecutive assignment of infractions in the event it the consecutive infraction is deemed to be not suitable considering the specific facts of the Confirmed Violation.  Instead, University personnel may assign a different infraction or a different penalty that is more appropriate considering the specific Confirmed Violation.  The alternative infraction or penalty assigned may be more or less severe than the infraction listed above.  In particularly severe cases, an Infraction 3 may be issued, and the student will be academically dismissed from the University, regardless of whether the student has previously received an Infraction 1 and/or an Infraction 2.

A student may receive an Integrity Warning after receiving an Infraction 1 or an Infraction 2 without affecting the above-described progression of Infractions.

Students receiving an Integrity Warning, Infraction 1 or Infraction 2 may be required to schedule an appointment at the Center for Academic Success (CAS) to discuss the Confirmed Violation.

Confirmed Violations may be appealed by the student.  The appeal process is detailed at the following locations.

Course Grade Appeal (Integrity Warning, Infraction 1, or Infraction 2):

https://post.edu/student-services/academic-affairs/academic-policies-and-procedures/

Dismissal Appeal (Infraction 3):

https://post.edu/about/student-satisfaction-and-performance/student-complaints/

Student Questions

Students are encouraged to contact their instructor, advisor, or the Center for Academic Success (CAS) if they have any questions about Post University’s Academic Integrity Policy. Questions may also be answered through tutorials on current APA format and documentation styles available through the Library.

Copyright Protection

Post University’s courses contain copyrighted resources created by the University and licensed from various third parties. In compliance with U.S. Copyright Law, these resources may not be reproduced, revised, or distributed without the written permission of Post University.  Individuals found to be in violation of this policy are subject to civil and criminal liabilities associated with the Federal Copyright Act, and risk dismissal from the University under the Academic Integrity Policy.  Unless otherwise noted, student access to these materials is limited to the period of time they are enrolled in the course. Students should contact the library ([email protected]) for information on which resources can be printed.

Withdrawal from Post University

Active/Inactive Students

An active student is a student who is enrolled in a course in the current semester or term. An inactive student is a student who is not enrolled in the current semester or term. Upon enrolling in a course, an inactive student will be considered active.

Student Initiated Withdrawals within the School of Arts and Sciences, John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education, and Malcolm Bridge School of Business

A student requesting to officially withdraw from Post University must inform the Office of the Registrar. In turn, the Office of the Registrar will notify the student’s Academic Advisor or Academic Success Counselor and Financial Aid Advisor.  The official date of withdrawal is the date the Registrar’s Office was informed.

Should a main campus student withdraw after the add/drop period and prior to the end of a semester, the student’s official transcript will reflect a “W” (withdrawal) for courses attempted in that semester.  A grade of “F” will be assigned for any courses where the student has not participated for 14 consecutive days (per the Main Campus Attendance Policy).  Should an online student withdraw after the add/drop period and prior to the end of the term, the student’s official transcript will reflect a “W” (withdrawal) for courses attempted in that term.  A grade of “UF” will be assigned for any courses where the student has not participated since the fourth week of the term (per the UF Policy).

The withdrawal period is the period between the Add/Drop deadline and the last day to withdraw, as defined by the Academic Calendar. The last day to withdraw represents the 60% mark in the term as follows:

A student who has officially withdrawn and would like to be readmitted within one year should contact his/her Academic Advisor or Academic Success Counselor. After a period of one year from the official withdrawal date, the student will need to go through the admissions process to be officially readmitted to Post University.

Student Initiated Withdrawals at American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Students who wish to withdraw from the university must notify their student success advisor and must clearly state the reason for withdrawal. The process should be initiated by phone or email and the official withdrawal date is defined as the date the student provides notification.

Students who wish to withdraw from an American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences course or semester after the Add/Drop deadline may do so during the withdrawal period. The withdrawal period is the period between the Add/Drop deadline and the last day to withdraw, as defined by the Academic Calendar. Students withdrawing from an American Sentinel College course during the withdrawal period will have a “W” recorded for the course on their transcript. Students may not withdraw from a course or semester after the last day to withdraw. Students wishing to withdraw from an American Sentinel College course or semester must notify their Student Success Advisor.  The effective date of the withdrawal is the date the College is notified.  If a student owes any balance on their student account, any refund for withdrawal will be applied towards the balance first before being sent to the student.

The withdrawal timeline for term-based programs at American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences is as follows:

• Prior to the start of course through week 1 – ADD/DROP period (see schedule changes policy)
• Weeks 2 through week 6: Students may withdraw from a course between week two and the last day of week 6. This represents the withdrawal period. Courses withdrawn from a course during this period will appear on the student’s transcript with the letter “W”.
• After week 6: Students may not withdraw from a course.

The withdrawal timeline for competency-based programs at American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences is as follows:

• Prior to the start of the 16-week period through week 1 – ADD/DROP period (see schedule changes policy)
• Weeks 2-12 course withdrawals: Students may withdrawal from all courses in a 16-week period between week two and the last day of week 12. This represents the withdrawal period for competency-based programs. If students complete one or more courses during weeks 2-12, they will be awarded the letter grade for the completed courses; however, they will not be eligible for a refund for any dropped course(s) in that semester. Courses dropped during weeks 2-12 will appear on the student’s transcripts with the letter “W”.

After week 12: Students may not withdrawal or add a course after week 12 of the 16-week period. Students may request up to two drops from 16-week periods during their program.

Administrative Withdrawal – All Colleges (Inactive Student Status)

Inactive students, those are not currently enrolled in a course, will be administratively withdrawn. Administratively withdrawn students in satisfactory academic and civic standing are welcome to enroll in courses for a one-year period without going through the admissions process. Post University’s Student Account’s Department reports inactive students as administratively withdrawn, for purposes of Title IV financial aid.

Students with American Sentinel College of Nursing are also subject to the Continuous Enrollment Policy.

Students may also be dismissed from under conditions outlined in the Dismissal Policy.

Withdrawal for Military Leave

Military students who can no longer begin or continue their education due to a Military service obligation must do the following:

• Notify their Academic Advisor for Main Campus students or Academic Success Counselor for Accelerated Degree Program students, and the Office of the Registrar and/or Military Admissions that they have a Military service obligation that will prohibit them from  continuing as a student in the current academic term.
• Provide the Office of the Registrar with a copy of their military orders or other documentation that demonstrates a need to withdraw from the current academic term to meet the military needs of their branch of the service.

Students who meet the criteria listed above are eligible for the following:

• If the request for withdrawal is during the first half of the term/semester, students will receive no grade for the courses in which they are enrolled, no course credit shall be awarded, and the term shall not be counted toward in the pace of completion for satisfactory academic progress. A full refund of tuition and/or room and board will be granted.
• If the request for withdrawal is after the first half of the term/semester, students can elect to:

1. Withdraw (W) from their classes and receive a full refund of tuition*, or,
2. Request to receive no credit or grade for the course, or,
3. Request an Incomplete (IN) from their instructors and arrange to complete all required course assignments within a specified timeframe. (See Incomplete policy in the University Catalog). The term shall count as a term in residence.

*If the students elect to take a W for the course, this may impact their satisfactory academic progress in the future and should be discussed with their Academic Success Coordinator.

If a military student’s absence will extend into multiple terms, the student will be granted a Military Leave of Absence while they are performing their service obligation. The Military Leave of Absence will expire five (5) years after the end of the service obligation.  Students on a Military Leave of Absence will be able to resume their education without the need of reapplying to Post University by contacting the Office of Military Admissions or the Office of the Registrar.