Plagiarism & Academic Integrity

There are many types of academic dishonesty - some are obvious, while some are less obvious.

• Cheating;
• Bribery;
• Misrepresentation;
• Conspiracy;
• Fabrication;
• Collusion;
• Duplicate Submission;
• Academic Misconduct;
• Improper Computer/Calculator Use;
• Improper Online, TeleWeb, and Blended Course Use;
• Disruptive Behavior;
• and last, but certainly not least, PLAGIARISM.

We will discuss each of these types of academic dishonesty in more detail below. Plagiarism is the most common type of academic dishonesty, and also the easiest type to commit on accident! See the plagiarism page for more info about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it in your work.

Cheating is taking or giving any information or material which will be used to determine academic credit.

  Examples of cheating include:

• Copying from another student's test or homework.
• Allowing another student to copy from your test or homework.
• Using materials such as textbooks, notes, or formula lists during a test without the professor's permission.
• Collaborating on an in-class or take-home test without the professor's permission.
• Having someone else write or plan a paper for you.

 Bribery takes on two forms:

1. Bribing someone for an academic advantage, or accepting such a bribe (i.e. a student offers a professor money, goods, or services in exchange for a passing grade, or a professor accepts this bribe).
2. Using an academic advantage as a bribe (i.e. a professor offers a student a passing grade in exchange for money, goods, or services, or a student accepts this bribe).

Misrepresentation is any act or omission that is intented to deceive an instructor for academic advantage. Misrepresentation includes lying to an instructor in an attempt to increase your grade, or lying to an instructor when confronted with allegations of academic dishonesty.

Conspiracy means working together with one or more persons to commit or attempt to commit academic dishonesty.

Fabrication is the use of invented or misrepresentative information. Fabrication most often occurs in the sciences, when students create or alter experimental data. Listing a source in your works cited that you did not actually use in your research is also fabrication.

Collusion is the act of two or more students working together on an individual assignment.

A duplicate submission means a student submits the same paper for two different classes. If a student submits the same paper for two different classes within the same semester, the student must have the permission of both instructors. If a student submits the same paper for two different classes in different semesters, the student must have the permission of their current instructor.

Academic misconduct is the violation of college policies by tampering with grades or by obtaining and/or distributing any part of a test or assignment. For example:

1. Obtaining a copy of a test before the test is admisistered.
2. Distributing, either for money or for free, a test before it is administered.
3. Encouraging others to obtain a copy of a test before the test is administered.
4. Changing grades in a gradebook, on a computer, or on an assignment.
5. Continuing to work on a test after time is called.

Improper computer/calculator use includes:

1. Unauthorized use of computer or calculator programs.
2. Selling or giving away information stored on a computer or calculator which will be submitted for a grade.
3. Sharing test or assignment answers on a calculator or computer.

Improper online, teleweb, and blended course use includes:

1. Accepting or providing outside help on online assignments or tests.
2. Obtaining test materials or questions before the test is administered.

Disruptive behavior is any behavior that interfers with the teaching/learning process. Disruptive bahavior includes:

• Disrespecting a professor or another student, in class or online.
• Talking, texting, or viewing material unrelated to the course during a lecture.
• Failing to silence your cell phone during class.
• Posting inappropriate material or material unrealted to the course on discussion boards.