Central Campus

Academic Honesty

English Department faculty (as well as the College) expect you to be honest in all course work. Your academic work must exemplify your own thought, research, and/or self-expression. Breaking the code of academic honesty includes cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, bribery, and the unauthorized possession of exams, papers, or other class materials that have not been formally released by your instructors.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty

Cheating. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying homework assignments from another student; working with someone on a take-home test or homework when it is specifically prohibited by the instructor, and looking at a test, notes, or someone else's paper during an exam. Cheating also includes giving work or information to someone to be copied and/or used as his/her own. This type of cheating includes, but is not limited to, giving someone answers to exam questions either during an exam or after taking an exam; informing someone of specific questions that appear or have appeared on an exam in the same academic term; and giving or selling a term paper, report, or other restricted written materials.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is an attempt to claim someone else's work as original thoughts, regardless of whether that work has been published. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, quoting improperly or paraphrasing text or other written materials without proper citation on an exam, term paper, homework, or other written materials submitted to an instructor as your own work. Plagiarism also includes handing in a paper (or portion of a paper) that was bought from a term-paper service or downloaded from the Internet and presenting someone else's academic work as yours. Individual academic departments may provide additional examples in writing of what does and does not constitute plagiarism, provided that these examples do not conflict with the intent of this policy. (Check here for a more detailed description of plagiarism )

Misrepresentation. Misrepresentation, an act or omission committed with intent to deceive, includes, but is not limited to, lying about family circumstances, employment conflicts, or other personal problems to gain academic advantage for yourself or others; changing answers on graded materials; and having someone else complete an assignment or take an exam for you.

Bribery. Bribery is offering anything of value to achieve an academic advantage. Bribery includes, but is not limited to, offering or giving money or any item of service to a Faculty member, College employee, or any other member of the College staff to attempt to obtain help that would not otherwise have been provided. This definition does not include your right to obtain a tutor.

Consequences of Academic Dishonesty

Breaking the College's policy on academic honesty may result in academic penalties and/or disciplinary action. Faculty members determine what academic penalties may be. These may include, but are not limited to, a failing grade for an assignment or for the whole course. Additionally, the instructor or another College employee may refer you to the Dean of Student Affairs for disciplinary action.