Academic Misconduct: Cheating, Plagiarism, and Other Forms

Most students understand, in a general way, that their academic achievements are premised on academic integrity: honesty, fairness, trust, respect, accountability, and responsibility. The academic community thrives when all members adhere to these habits of integrity, and GSIs have an important role in fostering students’ commitment to academic integrity.

Academic misconduct is, fortunately, the exception rather than the norm. However, it does occur. Most GSIs will encounter it in some form in their teaching careers. For that reason, it is important to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and of the procedures for addressing it. It is no less important to know the most common causes of academic misconduct so that, with appropriate instruction, it can be avoided.

The University of California is a community of scholars committed to maintaining an environment that encourages personal and intellectual growth. It is a community with high standards and high expectations for those who choose to become a part of it, including establishing rules of conduct intended to foster behaviors that are consistent with a civil and educational setting. Members of the University community are expected to comply with all laws, University policies, and campus regulations, conducting themselves in ways that support a scholarly environment. In this context, faculty are guided by the Faculty Code of Conduct, Section 015 of the Academic Personnel Manual, and students by the UC Berkeley Campus Code of Student Conduct, articulated here.
— UC Berkeley Campus Code of Student Conduct

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