Introduction

Definitions

Causes and Solutions

Additional Solutions

Plagiarism

Other Forms

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing Exercises

Formal Procedures

Citation Style Guidelines

Resources

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ACADEMIC HONESTY
Definitions


These definitions are excerpted from the "'Instructors' Guide for Addressing Student Academic Dishonesty" [rtf] (April 1999), published by the Office of Student Life.

Cheating

Cheating is defined as fraud, deceit, or dishonesty in an academic assignment, or using or attempting to use materials, or assisting others in using materials which are prohibited or inappropriate in the context of the academic assignment in question. Here are some examples:

  • Copying or attempting to copy from others during an exam or on an assignment.
  • Communicating answers with another person during an exam.
  • Preprogramming a calculator to contain answers or other unauthorized information for exams.
  • Using unauthorized materials, prepared answers, written notes, or concealed information during an exam.
  • Allowing others to do an assignment or portion of an assignment for you, including the use of a commercial term-paper service.
  • Submitting the same assignment for more than one course without prior approval of all the instructors involved.
  • Collaborating on an exam or assignment with any other person without prior approval from the instructor.
  • Taking an exam for another person or having someone take an exam for you.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as use of intellectual material produced by another person without acknowledging its source, for example:

  • Wholesale copying of passages from works of others into your homework, essay, termpaper, or dissertation without acknowledgment.
  • Using the views, opinions, or insights of another without acknowledgment.
  • Paraphrasing another person's characteristic or original phraseology, metaphor, or other literary device without acknowledgment.

Academic Misconduct

Examples of academic misconduct include:

  • Removing, defacing, or deliberately keeping from other students library materials that are on reserve for specific courses.
  • Contaminating laboratory samples or altering indicators during a practical exam, such as moving a pin in a dissection specimen for an anatomy course.

False Information

Examples of academic misconduct include:

  • Furnishing false information in the context of an academic assignment.
  • Failing to identify yourself honestly in the context of an academic obligation.
  • Fabricating or altering information or data and presenting it as legitimate.
  • Providing false or misleading information to an instructor or any other University official.

Theft or Damage of Intellectual Property

Examples of theft or damage of intellectual property include:

  • Sabotaging or stealing another person's assignment, book, paper, notes, experiment, project, electronic hardware, or software.
  • Improper access to, or electronically interfering with, the property of another person or the University via computer or other means.
  • Obtaining a copy of an exam or assignment prior to its approved release by the instructor.

Disturbances in the Classroom

Examples of disturbances in the classroom include:

  • Interference with the course of instruction to the detriment of other students.
  • Disruption of classes or other academic activities in an attempt to stifle academic freedom of speech.
  • Failure to comply with the instructions or directives of the course instructor.
  • Phoning in falsified bomb threats.
  • Unnecessarily activating fire alarms.

Alteration of University Documents

Examples of alteration of University Documents include:

  • Forgery of an instructor's signature on a letter of recommendation or any other document.
  • Submitting an altered transcript of grades to or from another institution or employer.
  • Putting your name on another person's exam or assignment.
  • Altering a previously graded exam or assignment for purposes of a grade appeal or of gaining points in a regrading process.

Distribution of Lecture Notes

Selling or distributing course lecture notes, handouts, readers, or other information provided by an instructor, or using them for any commercial purpose without the express permission of the instructor.