Academic integrity violations encompass any act that compromises or subverts the integrity of the educational or research processes. These offenses include, but are not limited to:

Academic Integrity Violations:

A. Plagiarism, Misrepresentation, and Fabrication. These violations include, but are not limited to, activities that misrepresent one’s ideas, abilities, or background.

1. Plagiarism. Plagiarism refers to representing another person’s words or ideas as one’s own in any academic exercise. Examples include:
   • Copying information word for word from a source, without using quotation marks and giving proper acknowledgment/citation.
   • Paraphrasing (i.e., putting into one’s own words) a source’s text, without providing proper acknowledgment/citation. This violation occurs when the ideas or arguments of another are paraphrased in such a way as to lead the reader to believe that these ideas originated with the writer.
   • Presenting as one’s own any work (or portion thereof) that which has been prepared in whole or in part by someone other than oneself. This includes using unauthorized assistance in preparing one’s work, and acquiring written work from an outside source. Outside sources include other persons, commercial organizations, electronic sources, and other sources.
   • Reproducing (without proper citation) any other form of work of another person, such as a graphic element, a musical phrase, a proof, experimental data, experimental results, data, or laboratory reports, in full or in part. This includes turning in work of another student as one’s own work.
     
     It is the responsibility of all students to understand the methods of proper attribution and to apply those principles in all written, oral, and electronic submissions. This information should be conveyed in all EN 101 and 102 classes, and is also available from instructors and in the library.
   
   
2. Misrepresentation. Examples include, but are not limited to:
   • Arranging for another student to substitute for oneself during an examination session or in the completion of course work.
     
   • Taking credit for work not done, such as taking credit for a team assignment without participating or contributing to the extent expected.
     
   • "Double Dipping" (Multiple Uses of the Same Work) or presenting the same or substantially the same written work (or portion thereof) as part of the course requirement for more than one project or course, without the express prior written permission of the instructor(s) involved.
     
   • If a student does wish to use another assignment as a base for additional credit, faculty should give the student the opportunity to submit in writing an explanation of the unique educational benefits of the new project.
   
   
3. Fabrication. Fabrication refers to falsifying or misusing data in any academic exercise. Examples include, but are not limited to:
   • Falsifying data collected in the conduct of research.
     
   • Making up or presenting falsified data in papers, manuscripts, books, or other documents submitted for publication or as course or degree requirements.
     
   • Making up a source as a citation in an assignment.
     
   • Citing a source one did not use.
     
   • Falsifying material cited.
     
   • Attempting to deceive the instructor by altering and resubmitting for additional credit assignments, tests, quizzes, or exams that have been graded and returned.

B. Cheating and Stealing. Cheating refers to using (or attempting to use) unauthorized assistance in any academic exercise. It includes the stealing or unauthorized acquisition of a test or test answers, or impeding the fair process of examination in any way. Examples of this violation include, but are not limited to:

• Copying from someone else’s exam, paper, or assignment.
  
• Looking on someone else’s exam before or during an examination.
  
• Unauthorized use or possession of notes, supplemental notes, or comparable aids during an examination, quiz, or other assignment or evaluation.
  
• Possessing an electronic device that contains unauthorized information for a test or assignment (e.g. programming one’s computer or calculator inappropriately).
  
• Using unauthorized materials (e.g., notes, textbooks, calculators, computers) in the preparation of a test or assignment.
  
• Communicating or attempting to communicate answers, hints, or suggestions during an examination.
  
• Collaborating (without instructor permission) in the preparation and presentation of reports, laboratory reports, or take-home examinations, such as copying or giving aid, or otherwise failing to abide by the university’s or instructor’s rules governing the exercise or examination.
  
• Using another person’s answers for an assignment.
  
• Soliciting, obtaining, possessing, or providing to another person an examination or portions of an exam, prior or subsequent to the administration of the exam, without the authorization of the instructor. Unless the instructor has given permission, students may not provide test questions to other students in any form--oral, written, or electronic.
  
• Stealing, or attempting to steal, an examination or answer key from an instructor or proctor.
  
• Sharing answers for or collaborating on a take-home assignment or examination without explicit permission from the instructor.

C. Impeding fair and equal access to the educational and research process. Examples of this violation include, but are not limited to:

• Altering or changing an examination or comparable document so as to mislead other users or the reader.
  
• Infringing upon the right of other students to fair and equal access to any library materials and comparable or related academic resources, including tampering with or damaging any library materials or comparable academic resources.
  
• Attempting to prevent access by other users to the University’s computer system and its resources, to degrade its system performance, or to copy or destroy files or programs without consent.
  
• Intentionally disrupting the educational process in any manner.

D. Misrepresenting or misusing one’s relationship with the University. Examples of this violation include, but are not limited to:

• Falsifying, misusing, omitting, or tampering with information (in any form, including written, oral, or electronic) such as test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, or statements of purpose, to gain initial or continued access to the University’s programs or facilities.
  
• Altering, changing, forging, or misusing academic records or any official University form regarding oneself or others.
  
• Causing any false information to be presented at an academic proceeding or intentionally destroying evidence important to an academic proceeding.
  
• Failing to be fully cooperative and truthful if one has direct knowledge of an alleged violation of academic integrity.
  
• Reporting an academic integrity violation known to be false.
  
• Offering bribes (e.g., monetary remuneration, gifts, or favors) to any University representative in exchange for special consideration or waiver of procedures.

E. Facilitation. Facilitation refers to knowingly or intentionally assisting any person in the commission of an academic integrity violation. Students who engage in facilitation are also subject to discipline for integrity violations. Examples of this violation include, but are not limited to:

• Giving another student one’s assignment or paper (or a portion thereof) to copy.
  
• Giving another student answers to a test or assignment.
  
• Letting another student copy one’s answers during an examination.
  
• Creating unfair opportunities for students in all sections of a class to do well on tests. Thus one may not give any test (or assignment) information, questions, or answers to students in another class, or other sections of the same class because it gives students in later sections an unfair advantage. Instructors also may explicitly ask students not to share information with students in other classes regardless of semesters. In those cases, the sharing of information is also a violation.

F. Exceptions

On occasion, a faculty member may allow a student to participate in some of the activities listed in Sections A and B. That is, collaboration or exam assistance may be allowed by the instructor in some instances. For example, sometimes an instructor may permit a student to bring notes to an exam, or may allow students to prepare notes together for bringing to an exam for individual exam help. In such cases, it is the responsibility of students to make sure they understand and follow the instructions of the faculty member. Students should also keep a written record of the authorization granted by the instructor. The faculty member should be clear and explicit, in writing, about the variation permitted. These are always exceptions—do not assume that these permissions apply to all coursework.

Academic Integrity Sanctions:
Academic Integrity Sanctions, Revised Feb.13, 2003

(Sanctions are repeated from Academic Judicial Procedures, Section. C.4.f.)

If the student is found responsible for the violation(s), the Hearing Board has full and unique authority to determine the sanction(s), how and for how long the record of the sanction will be maintained on the student’s permanent record, and the conditions that must be met for the record to be removed, if any. If any permanent record is made of the violation, the student has the right to petition that the record be expunged based upon his or her personal growth, even after graduation.

Below are guidelines for the Hearing Board to consider in this deliberation. However, the Hearing Board may deem alternate sanctions appropriate in individual cases.

1) First offense may result in probation as well as failure on the exam/assignment and/or failure in course, but could lead to immediate suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.
2) Repeat offenses will result in increasingly severe sanctions, including suspension, dismissal, and expulsion.
3) In addition to above, the Hearing Board has the right to require the student to attend an Academic Integrity Seminar, complete academic integrity projects, write letters of apology, or any alternate sanction deemed appropriate for any violation.
4) Any sanction of dismissal or expulsion will automatically appear on a student’s transcript.  The student has the right to appeal to have this notation removed.