Undergraduates

Academic dishonesty is defined as any activity that compromises the academic integrity of the institution or subverts the educational process. Students are expected to behave honestly in their learning and in their behavior outside the classroom. Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty undermine the value of a Miami education for everyone, and especially for the person who cheats.

The following actions are just a few examples of academic dishonesty:

• Conduct with respect to and during a quiz, examination, or similar evaluation
  • Possessing, referring to, or employing open textbooks or notes or other devices not authorized by the instructor.
  • Looking at or using information from another person's paper.
  • Using a copy of any unauthorized materials intended to be used in the preparation of a quiz or examination.
  • Taking a quiz or examination in the place of another person.
  • Utilizing another person to take a quiz or examination in place of oneself.
  • Changing material on a graded examination and then requesting a re-grading of the examination.
• Written and other assignments
  • Submitting an assignment purporting to be the student's original work that has been wholly or partly created by another person.
  • Presenting as one's own the work, ideas, representations, or words of another person without customary and proper acknowledgment of sources.
  • Knowingly permitting one's work to be submitted by another person as if it were the submitter's original work.
  • Submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment to fulfill the requirements for two or more courses without the approval of the instructors involved, or submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment from a previously completed course to fulfill requirements for another course without the approval of the instructor of the later course.
  • Violating procedures prescribed to protect the integrity of the assignment.

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This procedure includes the following steps:

1. An instructor or department chair notifies the accused student (in writing) of the charge of academic dishonesty.
2. The examination proctor (if appropriate), the instructor, and the chair or designee meet with the accused student.
3. Following the meeting, the department chair/program director or designee determines whether the student has committed an act of academic dishonesty. If the student is not found to have committed academic dishonesty, the student is informed in writing. If the student is found to have committed academic dishonesty, a recommended sanction is determined.

To learn about options for witnesses and/or other procedural assistance for both faculty and students, see Chapter 5 of the Miami Student Handbook (PDF 892KB).

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Penalties differ based on the circumstance in which the student is found responsible of the accused charge. These may include but are not limited to the following:

• Mandatory attendance at an academic integrity workshop conducted by Miami University. The student will be required to pay the fee for attendance.
• A letter grade of F, the numerical grade of zero, or a reduced grade for any project, paper, quiz, or interim or final examination, or any other portion of the course.
• A letter grade of F for the entire course.
• Suspension. In extraordinary circumstances, the recommendation for suspension may be forwarded.

It's important to note that additional penalties may apply should the student have any prior charges of academic dishonesty or if the case involves more than one student. For more information on procedures and penalties, see Section 1.5.C.4 of the Miami Student Handbook (PDF 892KB).

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Yes. A student found responsible for an act of academic dishonesty may appeal the decision in writing to the dean or his or her designee of the division in which the alleged violation occurred within five class days following the student's receipt of the notice of the findings.

Students who are suspended for dishonesty may also appeal to the university appeals board.

Appeals may be made on grounds of inappropriate sanction, procedural defects, or new evidence.

For more details on the appeal process, see Section 1.5.D through 1.5.F of the Miami Student Handbook (PDF 892KB).

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Cheating

Acting with intent to mislead or deceive.

Plagiarism

Quoting or closely paraphrasing the writings of others while leading the reader to believe that you are the author of the text.