Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication policies

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication has a student-centered culture focused on helping students complete their degrees in a timely manner. Students are encouraged to visit the school website or contact its student services center at 602-496-5055 with questions about any of the school’s policies.

Academic integrity

Academic dishonesty in any form is not tolerated in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The crux of democracy is the ability of citizens to obtain honest, truthful and balanced information, and the credibility and integrity of individual journalists and communications professionals are crucial in that effort. In light of the school's mission to prepare students to become journalists and communications professionals, it is critical that credibility and integrity be fostered within the educational environment of the school.

The school has zero tolerance for academic dishonesty; academic integrity is enforced within every course and educational activity offered or sanctioned by the school. Any allegation of academic dishonesty is referred to an appointed academic integrity officer for investigation, with cases elevated to the school's Standards Committee for review and recommendation to the dean of the school. If any student is found to have engaged in academic dishonesty in any form — including cheating, plagiarizing and fabricating (see examples (PDF)) — that student shall receive a grade of XE for the class and may face suspension or expulsion from ASU.

At the beginning of every Cronkite School class, every student must digitally agree to uphold the school's commitment to academic integrity, as well as the ASU Academic Integrity Policy and the Student Honor Code. This agreement indicates that each student has read and understands the terms of academic integrity violations and all potential sanctions.

Per ASU's policy, anyone with a good faith basis for believing that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty may report the alleged violation. In any case, the alleged violation should be brought to the attention of the faculty member or instructor who oversees the academic activity in question. Students can use this link to report an alleged violation to an Academic Integrity Officer.

If the Cronkite School dean determines that a graduate student has violated the ASU Academic Integrity Policy and should be suspended or dismissed from the program, they will notify ASU’s Graduate College and make a formal recommendation for dismissal or suspension. The Graduate College dean makes the final determination of sanctions.

Responsibilities related to academic integrity

Accuracy: Because accuracy is the most important aspect of journalism, students must adhere to rigid standards for all submitted work, regardless of the intent to publish. Any major error of fact, anything that would require a printed correction if the story were to appear in a newspaper — a misspelled proper name, an erroneous phone number, an incorrect address, a libelous statement or a misstatement of a major fact — results in a grade of "E" (59%) on that assignment. Minor misspellings or errors of grammar bring down the grade. Carelessness causes students to lose points fast.

Attendance and makeup work: Students must attend all classes for their full duration — as well as examinations as noted by the ASU final exam schedule — on the days and times and in the locations indicated on the class syllabus and My ASU. If a student experiences extreme personal circumstances, they must notify their instructor immediately. The instructor is obligated to report extreme or extenuating circumstances to the dean's office for the coordination of student support.

Course content: Course content, including lectures, is copyrighted material. Students may not share outside the class, upload, sell or distribute course content, assessments, access codes or notes. Students must refrain from uploading to any course shell, discussion board or website used by the instructor or other course forum any material that is not the student's original work unless the student first complies with all applicable copyright laws; faculty members reserve the right to delete materials on the grounds of suspected copyright infringement.

Classroom etiquette: Students must keep mobile devices stored out of reach during class unless prompted by the instructor. Students may use computers, phones and other devices during class only to take notes and engage with course content. Food and drinks other than water are not allowed in the classroom. Students should arrive on time and be prepared to engage meaningfully with their instructor, peers and course content.

Deadlines: Meeting deadlines is crucial to success in any Cronkite course. The instructor holds students to the same standards as professional communicators. Students are expected to meet all deadlines, including testing technology and equipment well ahead of those deadlines. Assignments submitted even one minute past the deadline are not accepted; students receive a zero. There are no exceptions, including for technical difficulties. For example, students with unreliable internet connections have been unable to submit their assignments on time and, thus, earned no points for those assignments.

If a student begins an assignment but runs out of time to complete it, the student should remember that submitting a partially completed assignment is better than not submitting anything at all (as long as the work meets all expectations for academic integrity and does not compromise the work of other students).

Extreme personal circumstances: Students should notify their instructor as soon as possible if an extreme individual circumstance interferes with the ability to complete coursework. Examples include hospitalization of a student, death of an immediate family member, or a natural disaster.

Active duty military: Students who are on active duty with the military and, because of deployment or service responsibilities, experience Internet connectivity issues that prevent them from participating in course activities or meeting assignment deadlines must notify the instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Religious accommodations: Students who need to be absent from class because of religious observance should notify their instructors at the beginning of the semester.

Diversity principles: The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication embraces inclusivity in student, staff and faculty populations to create an academic environment that fosters diversity of thought and acceptance of all people. To this end, the school directs efforts to the following four principles:

• Actively seek out and encourage diverse populations to become productive members of the faculty, staff and the student body.
• Create and maintain a work, learning and social environment that is cognizant and supportive of a diversity of human differences and beliefs.
• Incorporate within the formal content of the curriculum and in each course an affirmation of the core values of accuracy, fairness, ethical behavior and sensitivity when reflecting an increasingly multicultural world.
• Foster and support a climate in which events and activities of the school reflect diversity of awareness, and sensitivity to and support for people of different origins, orientations and abilities.

Expectations of professionalism: Students must exhibit professionalism in all course-related activities, assessments and communications. It is vital to the learning process that each student respect their instructor, classmates, clients, partners, sources, technology, equipment and course content. Students who engage in damaging or abusive behavior — and those who consistently make disruptive, disrespectful or intimidating comments in person or online — are referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for investigation and possible consideration for dismissal from the program.

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication strives to create a respectful, civil learning environment for everyone; however, some course content and discussions may evoke emotional responses based on personal experiences and backgrounds. Students should bring any concerns to the attention of their instructor or, alternatively, to school leadership.

According to ASU policy SSM 104-02, “Students, faculty, staff, and other individuals do not have an unqualified right of access to university grounds, property or services. Interfering with the peaceful conduct of university-related business or activities or remaining on campus grounds after a request to leave may be considered a crime."

ACEJMC values and competencies: As a member of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the school is committed to classroom learning that achieves ACEJMC professional values and competencies (http://www.acejmc.org/policies-process/principles/). These include the core areas of freedom of speech, ethics, diversity, critical thinking, research, writing and use of tools and technologies related to the field.

Social media guidelines: It is important that students of journalism and communication know how to use social media ethically and professionally. The school has developed standards drawn from The Poynter Institute for Media Studies and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Original work and collaborations: All work submitted for classes must be original work, created solely for the current session of the class. This includes photos, text, video and images. Students may not submit assignments or evaluations done for any other class, for any other organization or for a previous session of the class. ASU offers resources to learn more about plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Students who violate this clause are referred to an academic integrity officer.

All assignments must be the student's own work — from concept to execution — unless the instructor specifies some type of collaboration. Even when part of a team, not all elements of the assignment may be team-based. For example, the assignment may call for a team discussion of a topic, but a writing assignment based on that discussion must be the student's individual work. Violating this policy may qualify as academic dishonesty. Students are responsible for understanding what elements of an assignment or task (if any) require peer collaboration or individual completion.

Notice of nondiscrimination

ASU prohibits all forms of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Students should review ASU’s policy ACD 401: Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation.

Title IX protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. As required by Title IX, ASU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education programs or activities that we operate, including in admission and employment. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX may be referred to the ASU Title IX coordinator or to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or to both. For more information, students should email titleixcoordinator@asu.edu, call 480-965-0696, or visit the office located at 1120 S. Cady Mall, INTDSB 284. For information on making a report, students should reference the Report It website.

Undergraduate policies

Academic standing

Probation and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication continuing academic probation

All ASU students, freshman through senior, must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 for all courses completed at ASU. If this standard is not maintained, the student is placed on probation. Students on probation must see an advisor before further registration and must do one of the following:

• Achieve an ASU GPA of 2.00 or greater to return to academic good standing.
• Obtain a semester GPA of 2.50 with no grade lower than “C” to be granted one additional semester on continuing probation. At the end of the continuing probation, the student must return to academic good standing (a minimum cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00) to avoid disqualification.

Disqualification

Students who do not meet probation requirements are academically disqualified. Disqualified students should meet with their academic advisors. These students may attend ASU only during the summer session immediately following disqualification.

Journalism and mass communication and sports journalism majors: Students in these majors must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 for all courses completed at ASU to be in good standing in the major. Students who have a cumulative GPA lower than 2.50 have one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to meet the requirement. Students who fail to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.50 or higher must change their major from journalism and mass communication or sports journalism.

Mass communication and media studies, digital media literacy and digital audiences majors: Students in these majors follow the university policies on Retention and Academic Standards for GPA requirements, probation and disqualification.

Advising

Undergraduate students are assigned an advisor according to the student’s last name. Students should see the school advising page for specifics.

To ensure that students are making progress toward their degrees, the school encourages students to check in with their advisors each semester. Advising is mandatory for:

• first-time, first-year students, both semesters during their first year at ASU
• students on academic probation
• students who are off track in their major
• students who have completed 75 credit hours
• transfer students prior to enrolling for their first semester at ASU

ASU Online students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with their respective advisors before enrolling for their first semester.

For additional information, students should contact the school’s advising center at 602-496-5055.

Students should follow the sequence of courses outlined on major maps and online degree audits and contact their advisor with any questions. Critical requirements for first-year students in the school are available at the school website.

Credit and registration

Changes of major

Students are eligible to change their major if they meet the criteria below.

Journalism and mass communication and sports journalism degree programs: Current ASU students are eligible to change their major to this program if they have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in 12 or more credit hours earned at ASU in courses that can be used to satisfy the school's nonelective general studies requirements.

Mass communication and media studies, digital audiences and digital media literacy degree programs: Current ASU students are eligible to change their major to these programs if they have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00.

Transfer credit

Students may apply up to 64 credits of coursework from an accredited two-year institution to their degree. Students may apply up to nine credit hours of approved upper-division journalism coursework from a four-year, ACEJMC-accredited institution to meet the school’s BA in journalism and mass communication and BA in sports journalism degree requirements. Students interested in having these courses reviewed should collect detailed syllabi and course schedules, review the ASU transfer credit criteria and consult a Cronkite academic advisor or admissions specialist for assistance.

Degree requirements

All students must meet the critical requirements for their majors. Students who are required to follow eAdvisor tracking requirements and do not comply with the critical requirements are off track, and a hold is placed on their records. These students must meet with an advisor to have the hold removed.

• specific requirements for the journalism and mass communication degree
• specific requirements for the sports journalism degree
• specific requirements for the mass communication and media studies degree
• specific requirements for the digital audiences degree
• specific requirements for the digital media literacy degree

Major proficiency requirements

All students must receive a “C” (2.00) or higher in all JMC and MCO courses applied toward major requirements. Journalism and mass communication and sports journalism majors must also receive a grade of "B-" (80%) or higher in JMC 101 Grammar for Journalists and must maintain, at minimum, a cumulative GPA of 2.50 to be eligible to enroll in JMC and MCO classes.

Concurrent degrees

The primary degree is the one that appears at the top of a student's transcript. A concurrent degree is an additional degree that a student pursues.

Following are general rules for students pursuing concurrent degrees in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication:

• Currently enrolled journalism and mass communication or sports journalism majors who would like to add a concurrent degree must have a cumulative ASU GPA of 2.50 or higher and must have completed 30 credit hours of coursework.
• Currently enrolled mass communication and media studies, digital audiences or digital media literacy majors who would like to add a concurrent degree must have a cumulative ASU GPA of 2.00 or higher and must have completed 30 credit hours of coursework.
• ASU students not enrolled in the school who would like to add a concurrent degree in journalism and mass communication or sports journalism must be in good academic standing within ASU, must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 and must have completed 30 credit hours of coursework.
• ASU students not enrolled in the school who would like to add a concurrent degree in mass communication and media studies or digital audiences must be in good academic standing, must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 in a degree program and must have completed 30 credit hours of coursework.
• The school requires that students enrolled in journalism and mass communication or sports journalism majors take a minimum of 36 credit hours of the school's courses.
• The school requires that students enrolled in the mass communication and media studies, digital media literacy or the digital audiences majors take a minimum of 30 credit hours of the school's courses.
• A student may not pursue concurrent degrees in journalism and mass communication, sports journalism, mass communication and media studies, digital audiences, or digital media literacy.

Procedures for adding a concurrent degree:

1. Once a student has decided to declare a concurrent degree, they should inform the academic advisor for each degree in order to receive proper information about requirements such as degree requirements and courses.
2. When a student meets the requirements for a concurrent degree, they should contact the assigned academic advisor for each major to review and complete the university's approval process. Students in the school are assigned an academic advisor by the student’s last name.
3. If a student no longer wishes to pursue a concurrent degree, they should email that intention to the academic advisor. The message should include the student's full name and ASU ID number, and specify the degree that the student wants to have removed from the academic record.

Any questions should be directed to Cronkiteadvising@asu.edu.

Reinstatement/readmission

Students seeking readmission after being discontinued from the university should contact admission services.