Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. The University takes all reported incidences of academic misconduct seriously and seeks to ensure that they are dealt with efficiently and appropriately.
Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty. It consists of knowingly presenting in writing or in speech the intellectual or creative work of others as if it were one’s own. This includes:
- Failing to identify direct or word-for-word quotations by use of appropriate symbols and reference to the source.
- Restating in your own words the work (ideas, conclusions, words) of another without reference to the source.
- Presenting as your own the creative work (for instance, music or photographs) of another without proper acknowledgment.
Besides plagiarism, other forms of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to:
- Submitting the same work in two or more courses without significant modifications or expansion and without the approval of the instructors involved.
- Submitting purchased, borrowed, copied or specially commissioned work as if it were one’s own.
- Presenting as your own the work of any computer system (for instance, Chat-GPT). Systems that use artificial intelligence, language models, etc. to construct answers to a user prompt are essentially the same as submitting work purchased, borrowed, copied, or commissioned. While the act of synthesizing this information from existing sources into a response to the prompt, without citation, would be considered plagiarism, it is the algorithm that is doing the plagiarism. A student using that material as if it were their own has committed willful misconduct.
- Knowingly permitting others to submit your work under their names.
- Copying the work of others during an examination or other academic exercise.
- Knowingly allowing others to copy your work during an examination or other academic exercise.
- Using “cheat sheets” or any other unauthorized form of assistance during an exam, quiz or other academic exercise.
- Manipulating or fabricating data to support erroneous conclusions.
- Allowing the use of another student’s identification or log in credentials to complete an academic requirement, including Arts and Lecture Events.
NOTE: AUTHORIZED HELP is encouraged and includes:
- Attendance at help sessions.
- Tutoring received with your instructor’s knowledge (responsible tutoring does not provide answers to specific assignments but focuses on general principles, concepts, rules and information, as well as on skills development).
- Work with Academic Resource Center and Tutoring Center staff done with the knowledge of your instructor.
- The use of computer software, websites, and algorithms that provide help with grammar, spelling, and other writing basics (i.e. “spellcheckers”), except in cases where an assignment is meant to assess spelling, grammar, etc. without the use of aids. (If you are unsure, ask your instructor).
The effect of cheating within a community is to destroy the environment of honesty and trust on which the community depends. A dishonest performance diminishes the achievement of those who have worked hard and demonstrated real mastery of a subject. For this reason, you are encouraged to confront peers who violate the standard of honesty by any form of cheating or plagiarism and, if necessary, to report their behavior to an appropriate authority (instructor, director or authorized university agency or body). No one but you can know if you should take the kind of action just described.
Sanctions:
Stage 1 - In a case of unintentional or doubtful plagiarism, the student receives a written warning from the faculty member. Whether the student receives an “F” for the assignment is up to the faculty member. The action is reported to the Admissions and Standards Committee and to the Provost’s office.
Stage 2 - This stage is for an offense after a Stage 1 violation reported in a different course, or for a first offense in which the student knowingly and willfully engages in academic misconduct, as determined by the faculty member. At a minimum, the student receives an “F” for the assignment; whether the student receives an “F” for the course is up to the faculty member. The student will be required, within a month (not counting academic breaks) of notification from the faculty member or conclusion of an appeal process, to complete an online course on academic misconduct and meet with the faculty member and their advisor following completion of that online course. Failure to complete the course and conference with faculty will result in an automatic escalation of the offense to Stage 3. The action is reported to the Admissions and Standards Committee and to the Provost’s office.
Stage 3 - Stage 3 is for a second Stage 2 violation in the same or different course or an automatic escalation from Stage 2 as described above. The penalty is an “F” in the course. The student will be required, within a month (not counting academic breaks) of notification from the faculty member or conclusion of an appeal process, to meet with the Provost regarding the violation. Failure to meet with the Provost will result in an automatic escalation of the offense to Stage 4. The action is reported to the Admissions and Standards Committee and to the Provost’s office.
Stage 4 - Stage 4 is for a knowing and willful academic misconduct violation following a Stage 3 violation in the same or different course or an automatic escalation from Stage 3 as described above. The penalty is an “F” in the course and suspension or dismissal from the University - a matter that is recorded on the student’s transcript. Decisions on suspension or dismissal are made by the Admissions and Standards Committee. A suspension would become effective the semester following the decision from the Admissions and Standards Committee. Students suspended for academic misconduct may not be readmitted until one semester (as appropriate to their program of study) from the date of their suspension.
Academic Misconduct Appeals
There are two kinds of appeals of academic misconduct cases: appeals against the charge itself, and appeals against a Stage 4 sanction. If a student believes an academic misconduct charge is an unfair reflection of his or her performance on a given assignment within a given class, a review of the assignment within the course may be requested. An appeal must be made within 30 days of the date the final grade in the course was assigned and a decision reached by the end of the semester following the semester in which the appeal began. It is strongly encouraged to begin the appeal process as quickly as possible. It is highly recommended that students consult with their advisors when preparing academic misconduct appeals.
- The appeal of an academic misconduct charge begins with a conference with the professor of the course. If the professor’s explanation of the academic misconduct citation is satisfactory to the student, then the matter is resolved.
- If not resolved in the student/professor conference, the student must file a formal written appeal (including relevant documentation) to the chair of the department in which the class was offered.
- If the appeal is not resolved at the department chair level, it moves to the college dean.
- If the student is not satisfied with the recommendation from the College Dean, then the student may request that the appeal be forwarded, with accompanying documentation and additional commentary, if any, to the Admissions and Standards Committee. The Admissions and Standards Committee will render an opinion on such an appeal at the first meeting following receipt of the appeal. Decisions made by the Admissions and Standards Committee regarding appeals of academic misconduct charges are final.
Stage 4 sanctions made by the Admissions and Standards Committee must include either suspension for at least one semester or dismissal from the university. (If the minimum penalty of suspension for one semester from the university is assessed by the Admissions and Standards Committee, that decision cannot be appealed.) Appeals to decisions on Stage 4 sanctions (regarding an extended suspension or dismissal from the university) made by Admissions and Standards must be directed in writing to the Provost. Decisions made by the Provost regarding Stage 4 sanctions are final.
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