Academic integrity is a fundamental value for our university. Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty in their graduate work. Cheating, forgery, and plagiarism are serious violations of academic integrity, as is any effort that aids another person in academic dishonesty. Students found guilty of any violation of academic integrity are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion. Ignorance of the academic integrity policies does not constitute a defense. It is the student's responsibility to understand and to adhere to this policy.

If an undergraduate student is suspected of an academic integrity violation, the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy will be followed regardless of the level of the course. However, if the violation occurs in a graduate course, then the resolution of that adjudication will be communicated to the Office of Graduate, Professional & Interdisciplinary Studies to be maintained in the student’s graduate studies record, regardless of whether the student is matriculated in a combined Bachelor’s/Master’s program or not.  If a matriculated graduate student is suspected of an academic integrity violation, this graduate adjudication process will be followed regardless of the level of the course.

Cheating

Cheating is defined as giving or obtaining information by improper means when meeting any academic requirements. This includes, but is not limited to: 1) the use of any non-authorized assistance in taking exams, tests, or quizzes, 2) the use of any non-authorized aid in writing papers or reports, solving problems, or otherwise carrying out any course assignments, 3) the use of any non-authorized materials, 4) the non-authorized reuse for academic credit of any work previously submitted in whole or in part for academic credit, 5) accepting credit for work that you have not personally contributed to as directed in the assignments, and 6) purchasing or selling academic assignments for the purpose of submission in fulfillment of a course or program requirement.

Forgery

Forgery is defined as the alteration of college forms, documents, or records, or the signing of such forms or documents by someone other than the proper designee.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the representation, either intentional or unintentional, of someone else's words, ideas, or images as one's own. Since works are the property of an author or publisher, plagiarizing is a form of larceny punishable by a fine. When using another person's words in a paper, students must place them within quotation marks or clearly set them off in the text and give appropriate citation. When students use only the ideas and change the words, they must clearly identify the source of the ideas with appropriate citation. Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is a violation of the property rights of the plagiarized author. It is implied that assignments submitted by students are their own work.

Aiding in Academic Dishonesty

Aiding in academic dishonesty includes knowingly participating in or facilitating another student’s act of academic dishonesty. Examples include, but are not limited to, unauthorized sharing of answers to a test or exam or unauthorized sharing of a paper or completed assignment for submission by another student.

Misuse of Artificial Intelligence.

Although some courses or assignments may allow or require specific or general uses of AI, for many courses in many programs, AI-generated content is not authorized and is, therefore, “cheating”.  Moreover, in many courses or programs, use of AI is considered not to be “one’s own” words, ideas or images and is, therefore, considered “plagiarism”. All Graduate students are required to follow any College/School, program, course, or assignment instructions related to the use of AI and will be held accountable under the applicable published guidelines.  

Academic Penalties

Academic penalties and procedures may include any one or more of the following: 

Warning

Notification that the conduct is an academic integrity violation and that, if repeated, more serious consequences will follow.  The original notification and the meeting may serve that purpose. 

Revision and resubmission 

Notification that the student may revise and resubmit the assignment in which the academic integrity violation occurred with guidance regarding the requirements for revision and resubmission.  The student’s failure to resolve the academic integrity issue satisfactorily through revision and resubmission may result in a higher penalty.   

Remediation 

Notification that the student must engage in some effort to remediate their understanding of academic integrity standards (ex: by taking the Preparation for Graduate Student Success course or by preparing a remediation plan for the student) with guidance regarding the requirements for such remediation efforts.  If the student fails to successfully complete the remediation activity as directed, then a more severe penalty may apply.   

Grade reduction (assignment or course)   

Notification that the grade on a specific assignment or the final grade in the course will be reduced by a specific amount as a result of the violation (e.g. the assignment may receive a zero, the overall course grade will be reduced by a letter grade, etc.) 
NOTE: Grades that result from Academic Integrity determinations may not be appealed using the Grade Appeal process but may only be appealed by using the Academic Integrity Appeals Process.  

Course Failure   

Notification that as a result of the violation the student will fail the course. 
NOTE: Grades that result from Academic Integrity determinations may not be appealed using the Grade Appeal process but may only be appealed by using the Academic Integrity Appeals Process.  

Dismissal 

Notification of an academic integrity violation so significant or repetitive that the student is recommended for dismissal.
NOTE: Only the Office of Graduate, Professional & Interdisciplinary Studies can formally dismiss a graduate student. Formal dismissal will only occur after the window for appeal of the Academic Integrity violation has closed and the student has not appealed or an appeal of the Academic Integrity decision has concluded and the decision to dismiss has been upheld.   

Process

  • Graduate faculty should consult their program coordinator, chair, Academic Dean (or designee), and the Office of Graduate Studies for guidance in all cases where academic integrity concerns arise.  Each of these offices will consult to share possible approaches for evaluating and addressing the concern and will review any records they have for the student in question to determine whether there have been any prior Academic Integrity concerns that might impact any penalty decisions.   

  • For course-based integrity violations, faculty members are responsible for: 

  • compiling appropriate evidence materials (the course syllabus, assignment, and evidence of the academic integrity violation),  
  • making the initial determination of the grade for the assignment and any additional academic penalty to be imposed based on the degree of severity of violation, 
  • summarizing and otherwise documenting communication with the student about the violation and penalty through official university email. 

  • The grade for the assignment and the academic penalty are generally within the faculty member’s decision-making purview, following consultation with their program coordinator.  

  • The student will receive written notification of the penalty. The person to communicate that decision depends upon the penalty (see below).  In all cases, the written notification should be copied to Graduate, Professional & Interdisciplinary Studies so that a record can be maintained in the student’s file.

Appeals

Students wishing to appeal an academic integrity penalty must follow the Graduate Academic Appeals Process.