As part of the familiarisation and orientation process, IIT Bombay has created a section dealing with issues ranging from academic ethics, hostel and infrastructure to extra-curricular activities.
SUSPENSION for a semester to a year, repeating a course, fail grade and community service — these are some of the rules which are part of the academic ethics of IIT Bombay — and freshers and their parents will have to acquaint themselves with the new rules. As part of the familiarisation and orientation process for students who have joined the institute this year, IIT Bombay has created a separate online section, dealing with issues ranging from academic ethics and hostel and infrastructure to extra curricular activities.
“IIT Bombay aims to produce leaders and innovators that can positively impact the society. Academic integrity is one of the core values propagated by this institute to achieve this aim. All the students are expected to adhere to an academic honour code and maintain a high standard of conduct. Cases of academic dishonesty are dealt with seriousness. Disciplinary action will be taken against students who are found to violate the code by the Academic Disciplinary Action Committee (ADAC), depending on the severity of the act of the malpractice,” it says.
The document details offences like impersonation or forging signatures, copying in home or programming assignments and during exams, plagiarism in internal reports, and repeat offences and the indicative punishment that may be imposed for each category.
Further, for students who are not well-versed in English, which is the medium of instruction across IITs, the web portal talks about a British Council organised course for freshmen.
“For most of us who are from a non English-medium background or have a limited exposure in English, we might face difficulties in talking and learning in an English-medium college…this course will help you with all the tools to cross the language barrier. And this English learning will not only benefit academically, but also help us interact outside class, in discussions, in life and in any situation that requires us to use English,” it says.
In a separate letter to parents, the institute stated that students who enter this institute every year are some of the best brains in the country and due to the competitive environment here, it has often experienced cases where students, who until then had always topped their class, found it difficult to get grades that met their expectations. “This has often led to one of two extremes, some students face excessive parental pressure while others simply adopt an indifferent attitude which further reduces their academic performance. We hope that you would encourage your ward to put his or her best foot forward and treat the best effort from their side as the objective, rather than the results,” stated the letter.
It also apprises parents of the student mentor programme, which is aimed at providing guidance and help to first year students and advises parents to meet the mentors and stay in touch with them during the course of the semester.