Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Integrity Policy

 

1. Definition of Academic Integrity

The E-Learning and Training Platform (Boad) of the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University is committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of all educational materials published on the Platform.

Academic Integrity is defined as academic honesty in the use, documentation, and attribution of information in all its forms, including text, videos, images, and all digital content, in accordance with ethical standards of education, learning, and scientific research.

2. Cheating

Cheating refers to the use or attempted use of unauthorized sources, materials, or information in completing any academic activity or assignment, including but not limited to:

  • Examinations
  • Assignments
  • Research papers
  • Educational activities

Examples of cheating include:

  • Receiving assistance from another person to complete assignments or exams
  • Copying information from references or search engines during exams in violation of exam instructions
  • Submitting another person’s work as one’s own
  • Using unauthorized tools or technical means during assessments

3. Academic Integrity Guidelines for Trainees

Unless otherwise instructed by the course instructor, trainees must adhere to the following:

  • Complete all assignments and tasks independently using their own efforts.
  • Refrain from using any external resources during examinations, including:
  • -Books and academic references
  • -Search engines
  • -Content from previous lectures (unless explicitly permitted)
  • -Assistance from any external individuals
  • Avoid copying answers or assignments from other trainees and submitting them as their own work.
  • Refrain from engaging external entities, whether commercial or non-commercial, to complete assignments or research on their behalf.
  • Use their personal account only and maintain the confidentiality of login credentials.
  • Report any technical issues related to account creation or login through official support channels.

4. Academic Integrity Guidelines for Instructors

Instructors are responsible for promoting and enforcing academic integrity and may utilize available technical measures to prevent cheating, including:

  • Configuring electronic exam settings to ensure fairness and reliability.
  • Using Safe Exam Browser (SEB) when required. SEB is a secure testing tool that:
  • -Prevents opening new browser windows
  • -Disables the taskbar and system shortcuts
  • -Restricts access to other applications during examinations
  • Instructing trainees to close all applications before launching the secure exam environment.

5. Content Sharing

  • Users are strictly prohibited from publishing, uploading, transferring, or making available any educational activity content outside the Platform or through any other medium.
  • Platform content may not be reused or redistributed without prior written approval from the Platform administration or its authorized representatives.

6. Academic Honesty

  • Any instance of cheating, plagiarism, or use of others’ ideas or work without proper citation shall result in a direct impact on the final grade or the application of other appropriate measures determined by the instructor or the competent authority.

7. Forms of Academic Integrity Violations

Violations include, but are not limited to:

  • Impersonation: Using another user’s account or completing assignments or exams on behalf of others.
  • Cheating and Plagiarism: Using others’ ideas or work without proper acknowledgment.
  • Unauthorized Modification: Altering or manipulating others’ work without written permission.
  • Intellectual Property Violations: Unauthorized copying, distribution, or reuse of content.

8. Actions Taken in Case of Academic Integrity Violations

The University reserves the right to take appropriate actions based on the severity and nature of the violation, including:

  • Denial of credit for the assignment, task, or examination involved.
  • Application of University policies for final examinations.
  • Modification or cancellation of grades, even after official approval, if violations are discovered later.
  • Referral of repeated or serious violations to a specialized committee for further action in accordance with applicable regulations.

Virtual Attendance Policy

Virtual Attendance Policy

 

First: Platform Definition

The E-Learning and Training Platform (Boad) is an educational and training platform operated by Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. The platform offers courses, programs, training courses, and workshops in accordance with the regulations and systems approved by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Second: Principle of Virtual Attendance

  • Virtual attendance is considered equivalent to traditional (in-person) attendance.
  • Attendance is measured based on:
  • -The trainee’s level of participation in learning activities.
  • -The completion of required tasks and assignments.
  • A trainee shall not be considered as having fulfilled attendance requirements unless the approved attendance ratios for each attendance type are met.

Third: Types of Virtual Attendance

1. Synchronous Attendance

Synchronous attendance refers to a learning mode in which real-time interaction occurs between the trainee and the instructor via the internet through virtual classrooms.

Requirements:

  • Synchronous session schedules must be clearly specified in the course description or the approved timetable.
  • Trainees must attend at least 70% of live sessions.
  • When training is delivered in:
  • -Asynchronous e-learning mode, or
  • -Blended learning mode,
  • -for programs exceeding one month in duration,
  • -synchronous attendance must constitute no less than 25% of the total program training hours.

2. Asynchronous Participation (E-Learning Activities)

Asynchronous participation is a learning mode in which trainees engage in the educational process without being restricted to a specific time, through interaction with content, instructors, or other trainees, using appropriate electronic applications and systems for managing the training process.

Asynchronous activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • Discussion forums
  • Online assessments and quizzes
  • Assignments and tasks
  • Other interactive learning activities

Requirements:

  • Trainees must complete at least 80% of the required training tasks.
  • Trainees must review no less than 80% of the training content to be eligible for a course or program completion certificate.

Fourth: Issuance of Certificates

  • Course or program completion certificates shall only be issued after fulfilling the following requirements:
  • -Synchronous attendance (if applicable)
  • -Asynchronous participation
  • -Completion of required tasks and activities according to the approved ratios.
  • -Completion of course/program exam (if applicable)
  • The platform operator reserves the right to verify attendance records prior to issuing certificates.

Fifth: General Provisions

  • Manipulation of attendance records or logging in on behalf of others is strictly prohibited.
  • Approved regulatory actions shall be applied in the event of any violation related to attendance or participation.
  • The University reserves the right to amend this policy in accordance with updates issued by regulatory authorities and the requirements of the National eLearning Center (NELC).

Communication Policy with Beneficiaries in the E-Learning Environment

Communication Policy with Beneficiaries in the E-Learning Environment

 

Introduction

The purpose of this policy is to regulate the communication process between beneficiaries in the e-learning environment, and to promote a positive and safe educational environment based on mutual respect, which contributes to achieving the educational goals of the institution.

Policy Objectives

This policy aims to:

  • Define clear mechanisms for approved communication.
  • Create an interactive e-learning environment based on cooperation and conscious participation.
  • Preserve the rights of all parties through transparency and clarity of procedures.
  • Organize communication in a way that achieves mutual respect and is committed to the rules of professional conduct.

Communication Tools and Channels

Communication between the parties of the educational and training process takes place through the following official channels:

  • Educational discussion forums.
  • Official e-mail.
  • Announcement boards within the learning system.
  • Virtual classrooms.

Rules of Conduct in Communication

All users of e-learning systems are committed to adhering to professional conduct during communication, as follows:

  • Use polite language and an appropriate style that reflects mutual respect.
  • Refrain from using any inappropriate or offensive expressions or phrases that affect the dignity of others.
  • Adhere to the topic of discussion and avoid engaging in political and religious discussions or deviating from the educational goals.
  • Do not share any content that violates the approved systems, values, or policies.
  • Respect the privacy of others and do not trade any personal information or data that is not authorized to be published.
  • The user of the e-learning systems shall abide by the rules governing e-learning at the university
  • The user is committed to the regulations of the anti-cybercrime system and its executive regulations.
  • The user is committed not to publish any written, visual, or audible content outside the e-learning system.

Dealing with Communication Violations

In the event of a violation of the communication rules, the authority has the right to take appropriate measures in accordance with the approved regulations for the rules of conduct and student discipline.

Communication Procedures

First: Language and Style of Communication

  • All parties to the educational and training process are committed to using the proper Arabic language, or the language approved in the training when it is provided in a foreign language.
  • Trainees are keen on the clarity of the message and defining its purpose when corresponding.

Second: Mechanism for Responding to Beneficiaries

  • The trainer is committed to responding to the trainees' inquiries during the training time.
  • Technical support requests submitted through the "Tawasol" ticketing system are dealt with within a maximum period of 5 days. In the event of a delay in responding, the matter is escalated to the system supervisor.
  • Important announcements and alerts are announced in sufficient time to allow trainees to prepare, and it is preferable to publish them a reasonable period before the specified date.

Third: Documentation of Correspondence

  • Any communication that takes place outside the official channels, such as messaging applications or social communication networks, is not approved.