Undergraduate Students | Academic Integrity

Jul 08, 2018

Scope: Who is Covered by this Policy?

Undergraduate and Prospective Students

Policy

Introduction

Miami University is a scholarly community whose members believe that excellence in education is grounded in qualities of character as well as of intellect. We respect the dignity of other persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of others to hold and express disparate beliefs. We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct. We defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and combine that freedom with the exercise and the acceptance of personal responsibility.

Miami demands the highest standards of conduct from its students, faculty, and staff. As a community of scholars, our fundamental purpose is the pursuit of knowledge. Integrity in academic study is based on sound disciplinary practices and expectations as well as a commitment to the values of honesty and integrity.

As stated in the Statement of Good Teaching Practices (MUPIM, Section 5.4), a responsibility of the faculty is to “…demonstrate respect for students as individuals, and adhere to their proper roles as intellectual guides and counselors. Professors make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that their evaluations of students reflect students’ true merit.” Faculty also have the responsibility for “assuming the positive obligation to confront students suspected of academic dishonesty.”

All Miami students are expected to be of the highest character and to behave honestly in their learning and in their behavior outside the classroom. Academic and other forms of dishonesty violate the spirit of the values espoused by Miami University and undermine the value of a Miami education for everyone, especially for the person who is dishonest. Therefore, students are encouraged to hold one another accountable and report suspected academic dishonesty to their instructors. Additionally, when students err in their academic conduct, they are expected to accept responsibility for and learn from their actions. As such, the process outlined in this policy is intended to be educational in nature and provide learning opportunities for students in maintaining personal and academic integrity.

Students are responsible for knowing and understanding these standards; misunderstanding of the appropriate academic conduct will not be accepted as an excuse for academic dishonesty. If a student is in doubt about appropriate academic conduct in a particular situation, he or she should consult with the instructor of the course, the department chair/program director, the academic dean in the appropriate division, or the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity in order to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.

Criteria

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is defined as engaging or attempting to engage in any activity that compromises the academic integrity of the institution or subverts the educational process, including as a means to complete or assist in the completion of an academic assignment.

An academic assignment is defined as the submission or presentation of any student work for evaluation, grade, or academic credit. This includes, but is not limited to, assignments in courses, proficiency waiver exams, and portfolios of research submitted to earn academic credit. This definition applies to work submitted face-to-face or through on-line or electronic means and work submitted for face-to-face, hybrid, and on-line courses affiliated with any of Miami University’s campuses and divisions.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following acts.

Acts of academic dishonesty

  1. Cheating: using or attempting to use or possessing any aid, information, resources, or means in the completion of an academic assignment that are not explicitly permitted by the instructor or providing such assistance to another student. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:
    • Possessing, referring to, or using in any way unauthorized textbooks, notes, study aids, websites, crib/cheat sheets, or other information during an academic assignment, in paper, electronic, or other format;
    • Possessing, referring to, or using in any way unauthorized electronic devices or other materials during an academic assignment;
    • Looking at or using information from another student’s work during an academic assignment;
    • Receiving answers, information, or materials from another individual in any academic assignment when not explicitly permitted by the instructor;
    • Utilizing or soliciting another person to complete any portion of an academic assignment in place of oneself or submitting the work of another person as one’s own;
    • Submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment or portions thereof to fulfill the requirements for two or more courses without approval of the instructors involved, including when repeating a course; or submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment or portions thereof from a previously completed course to fulfill the requirements for another course without the approval of the instructor of the latter course; or submitting the identical or substantially the same assignment or portions thereof to fulfill the requirements for two or more academic assignments within a course without the approval of the instructor;
    • Completing or participating in the completion of any portion of an academic assignment for another student to submit as his or her own work, including taking a quiz or an examination for another student;
    • Providing answers, information, or materials to another student in a manner not authorized by the instructor, including one’s own completed coursework.
  2. Plagiarism: presenting as one’s own the work, the ideas, the representations, or the words of another person/source without proper attribution. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to: 
    • Submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one’s own work without accurate and appropriate citations and attribution (including appropriate use of quotation marks); 
    • Using the words, ideas, or structure/sequence of another person or source without accurate and appropriate citation and attribution (including the appropriate use of quotation marks);
    • Submitting material using translation software/devices without permission from the instructor.
  3. Fabrication: falsification, invention, or manipulation of any information, citation, data, or method. Examples of fabrication include, but are not limited to: 
    • Changing material on a graded academic assignment and requesting re-grading for that assignment;
    • Presenting false or invented information in any academic assignment;
    • Presenting false claims regarding how information or data was collected or generated;
    • Providing an inaccurate account of how information or data was collected or generated;
    • Inventing, inaccurately presenting, or manipulating data and/or its outcomes;
    • Inventing or inaccurately presenting citations or sources.
    • Changing or manipulating any grade or evaluation.
  4. Unauthorized collaboration: working with another individual or individuals in any phase of or in the completion of an individual academic assignment without explicit permission from the instructor to complete the work in such a manner. 
  5. Misrepresentation: falsely representing oneself or one’s efforts or abilities in an academic assignment. Examples of misrepresentation include, but are not limited to: 
    • Utilizing another person to complete any portion of an academic assignment in place of one’s self; 
    • Having another individual sign-in for a course or use an iClicker or other electronic device to record one’s presence or participation in a class.
    • Signing another student’s name or using an iClicker or other electronic device to record another’s presence or participation in a class or on an academic assignment;
    • Including another student’s name on a group project for credit when that student did not contribute to the work;
    • Including one’s own name on a group project when one did not contribute significantly to the work or thereby claiming credit for work completed by another group member.
    • Including unacknowledged sources or citations in an academic assignment
  6. Gaining an unfair advantage: completing an academic assignment through use of information or means not available to other students or engaging in any activity that interferes with another student’s ability to complete his or her academic work. Examples of gaining an unfair advantage include, but are not limited to:
    • Retaining, possessing, using, distributing or making public previous or current academic assignment materials when the instructor has indicated that those materials are not to be retained or shared or are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the academic assignment or course (including originals, copies, reproductions, pictures and electronic or hard copy formats, or uploading to websites or providing for sale);
    • Taking pictures of, making copies of, or reproducing any academic assignment materials when the instructor has indicated that those materials are not to be copied or reproduced in any form;
    • Obstructing or interfering with another student’s academic work or ability to gain access to information to be used in the completion of an academic assignment;
    • Taking or using another student’s work without his or her knowledge;
    • Removing academic assignment materials from an instructor’s office, classroom, computer, or any other University space (physical or virtual/electronic);
    • Violating the procedures described to maintain the integrity of an academic assignment, including any procedures associated with online proctoring.

Attempts to engage in any of the above actions will be treated the same as completed acts.

Students may be held responsible for committing academic dishonesty while enrolled even if the student withdraws from the course.

Procedures for Reporting and Adjudicating Cases of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty weakens the quality of education and the academic culture for all members of the Miami University community. All members of the Miami University community are expected to uphold the principles of academic integrity and to deter and report academic dishonesty.

Procedures for reporting alleged academic dishonesty

If academic dishonesty is suspected to have occurred within a course, the course instructor who suspects that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall report the alleged incident to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity in a timely manner. If academic dishonesty is suspected to have occurred on an academic assignment that is not within a course (e.g., proficiency waiver examination, portfolio or research submitted for credit), the person in charge of the academic assignment shall report the alleged incident to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity.

 

Other persons, including students, who believe they have knowledge of academic dishonesty, should report the alleged dishonesty to the instructor of the course or person in charge of the academic assignment in which the dishonesty is alleged to have occurred.  If, after reasonable inquiry, the course instructor or person in charge of the academic assignment finds the report credible, he or she will report the alleged incident to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity.

In report the alleged incident to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity, the course instructor or person in charge of the academic assignment (herein referred to as the instructor) shall provide a report of the incident and include the relevant documentation. The instructor is encouraged to communicate to the student suspected of committing academic dishonesty that he or she has been reported to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity.

Once a report has been submitted to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity, the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity may meet with the instructor to discuss the criteria for academic dishonesty, hearing procedures, the nature of the information, or to request more information.

Notice and Procedural Review

Upon receipt of a referral, the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity will notify the student of the report and schedule a procedural review with the student.

The notice will include a copy of the instructor’s report with all supporting documentation; the date, time, and location of the procedural review, which will be held no sooner than five university class days from the date of the notice; and the Student Guide to Academic Dishonesty.

The purpose of the procedural review is to review the report from the instructor, provide an explanation of the academic integrity process, discuss the reported student’s options, and advise the student regarding the proposed sanctions for the alleged violation(s).

If the student fails to appear at the procedural review, the case will be referred to the appropriate department chair/program director for a hearing. Procedural reviews may be rescheduled at the discretion of the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity.

Selection of a Hearing/Outcome Option.

The student must, no later than two university class days from the date of the procedural review, select one of two resolution options and return the signed Academic Integrity Resolution Option form to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity.

The options are:

  1. Accept responsibility for committing academic dishonesty as alleged and the proposed sanction or
  2. Request a hearing with the department chair/program director of the department/program in which the alleged violation arose.

If the student accepts responsibility, the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity will notify the instructor and appropriate department chair/program director of the student’s decision. The Assistant Director for Academic Integrity will impose the sanction(s). If the student accepts responsibility, the finding is final, and the student may not appeal. If the reported student requests a hearing, the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity will notify the student and the appropriate department chair/program director of the student’s decision. The department chair/program director has the right to require a single hearing for cases involving multiple students.

Hearing Notice

If the student elects to have a hearing or fails to notify the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity of the option selected within two university class days from the date of the procedural review, a hearing will be scheduled and the student will be notified, of the date, time, and location of the hearing. The hearing will be scheduled no sooner than five university class days from the date of notification.

Hearing Procedures

The hearing will be conducted by the department chair/program director (herein referred to as the hearing officer). A student may request that a designee conduct the hearing. (Refer to Section 1.5.I)

Hearings will be held with all parties physically present. In the event not all parties are  able to be physically present,  hearings may be held via video, phone, teleconferencing or other means.. Students may bring an advisor of their choice and up to two persons for support to the hearing. However, the advisor or support person may not speak on behalf of the student. If an advisor or support person is determined to be unreasonably interfering with the hearing, they may be asked to leave.

At the hearing, the instructor will present the information supporting the allegation of academic dishonesty, including any supporting factual witnesses or information.  The  student will be afforded the opportunity to respond by submitting a written statement, with any supporting factual witnesses, and to ask questions of the instructor and witnesses called by the instructor. The hearing officer may ask questions of all parties involved in order to understand the full nature of the situation and the evidence presented by both parties.

To the extent possible or necessary, the hearing should serve as an opportunity to have an educational conversation with the student about academic integrity.

If the student fails to attend the hearing, the hearing may be held in the student’s absence.

Sanctioning

Following the hearing, the hearing officer shall review all of the documentation and testimony and determine whether the student has committed an act of academic dishonesty. The greater weight of the  available information is sufficient for the hearing officer to conclude the student committed academic dishonesty.

If the hearing officer concludes that the student is not responsible for committing academic dishonesty, the hearing officer will inform, the student, the instructor, and the dean of the division in which the violation was alleged to have occurred, and the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity of this finding. If the hearing officer determines that no violation of the Academic Integrity Policy has occurred, but that the student may benefit therefrom, the hearing officer may direct the student to successfully complete an educational seminar conducted by the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity within a specified period of time.

If the hearing officer concludes that the student is responsible for committing academic dishonesty, the hearing officer, after conferring with the instructor, will impose one or more sanction(s)

  1. The hearing officer will first determine whether the student has been found responsible for any previous act of dishonesty (to include academic dishonesty violations and dishonesty violations of the Code of Student Conduct).    
  2. If the student has not previously been found responsible for an act of dishonesty, the hearing officer will impose one or more of the following grade-related sanctions:
    • A letter grade of F, the numerical grade of zero, a percentage grade of zero (0) percent, or a reduced grade or receipt of zero credit for any academic assignment on which academic dishonesty was found to have occurred, or any other portion of the course;
    • A reduced grade for the entire course, including the possible specification of a course letter grade of F or Y (no credit) for a course taken credit/no credit;
    • A letter grade of F for the entire course with transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty (class)” and the recording of a grade of either ADF for F or ADY for credit/no credit.
  3. The following sanctions also may be imposed:
    • Participation in an online academic integrity workshop. The student will be required to pay for the workshop. Failure to complete the workshop will result in a hold being placed on a student’s ability to register for subsequent semesters, to change a class schedule, or eligibility to graduate.
    • Completion of an educational seminar other than the online academic integrity workshop, listed above. Failure to complete the workshop will result in a hold being placed on a student’s ability to register for subsequent semesters, to change a class schedule, or eligibility to graduate.
    • In extraordinary circumstances, the recommendation for suspension or dismissal may be recommended for a first offense.
  4. If the hearing officer determines that the student has previously been found responsible for an act of dishonesty, the minimum sanction will be suspension for at least one semester.
  5. If the student has previously been suspended for dishonesty, the minimum sanction will be dismissal from the University.
  6. The hearing officer will provide the decision to the student, the instructor, and the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity.
    • The decision will include the name of the student, the student’s identification number, full details of the case, and the sanction(s).
    • The decision will include a statement of the student’s right to appeal the decision of the hearing officer as outlined in Section 1.5.D and include the instructions for submitting an appeal.
    • No sanctions will be imposed until after the appeal deadline has passed or an appeal that has been submitted is fully resolved.
    • Once the appeal deadline has passed and if no appeal has been submitted, the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity will send a copy of the final sanction letter to the student, instructor, the hearing officer, and the Office of the University Registrar if action by this office is required.

Appeals

A student found responsible for an act of academic dishonesty may appeal the decision or sanction(s) in writing within five university class days following the student’s receipt of the decision. Students who are studying abroad at the time of the notice may be given extended time to submit an appeal based on ability to communicate via electronic means. The appeal submitted by the student should state the basis for the appeal, include all supporting documents, and be submitted by the student to the Assistant Director for Academic Integrity. The Assistant Director for Academic Integrity will forward the student’s appeal documents and all case materials to the appropriate dean  for consideration, the dean of the division in which the matter arose. The Assistant Director for Academic Integrity also will notify the reporting instructor and hearing officer that an appeal has been submitted. The hearing officer may elect to write a response to the student’s appeal to be considered by the dean when deciding upon the appeal.

  1. Appeals may be filed for the following reasons:
    1. inappropriate sanction;
    2. procedural defects in the adjudication of the matter sufficiently substantial to have affected the outcome of the hearing; or
    3. new evidence sufficiently substantial to have affected the outcome of the hearing.
  2. If the dean concludes that procedural defects occurred or new evidence is available, either or both of which is sufficiently substantial to have affected the outcome of the hearing, the dean will order a new hearing. The dean shall appoint a new hearing officer.
  3. If the dean concludes the sanction was inappropriate, the dean will impose the appropriate sanction.

The dean will send copies of the final decision letter to the student and the hearing officer, as well as any other appropriate persons.

Sanctions

If the sanction is failure for the course with transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty (class)” and the recording of a grade of either ADF for F or ADY for credit/no credit, the Office of the University Registrar will record the grade of ADF or ADY for the course with a transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty (class).” If the student officially drops or withdraws from the course, and the sanction is failure of the course, a grade of ADF or ADY will be imposed with a transcript notation of “Academic Dishonesty.” A student may not change his or her grading option after the date of the academic dishonesty occurrence.

If the sanction is suspension, the Office of the University Registrar will place the notice “Academic Suspension” on the student’s academic record. Similarly, dismissal for academic dishonesty will be noted on the student’s academic record as “Academic Dismissal.”

  1. Suspension may begin either immediately or at the close of the current academic semester or term as provided in the final decision. A sanction of dismissal will take effect immediately.
  2. Suspensions will not be for less than the remainder of the current academic semester nor more than the remainder of the current academic semester plus up to two succeeding semesters. (Note that a student may not be suspended solely for either winter and/or summer term.) Suspended students may not attend any term or semester at Miami during a period of suspension. Dismissals permanently separate the student from the University without any opportunity to re-enroll in the future.
  3. Academic credit earned elsewhere during a period of suspension will not be accepted in transfer. Incomplete grades may not be removed during periods of suspension or dismissal.

Withdrawal

Should a reported student be academically dismissed or withdraw from Miami University before an academic integrity case has been fully resolved or sanctions completed, the matter may proceed in the absence of the student, and/or a comment may be placed on the student's official transcript indicating “academic misconduct action is pending at the time of withdrawal.”

Academic Dishonesty Records

The Assistant Director for Academic Integrity, on behalf of the Office of the Provost, is responsible for maintaining records of any adjudication of academic dishonesty. Records of these hearings are kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

  1. Records of hearings regarding academic dishonesty resulting in a finding of not responsible will be maintained in the Office of the Provost until the end of the academic year in which the finding is made at which time they may be destroyed.
  2. Records of actions resulting in a finding of responsible and sanctions other than suspensions or dismissals are maintained for seven academic years following the date the finding is made at which time they may be destroyed.
  3. Records of actions resulting in a finding of responsible and a sanction of suspensions or dismissals are maintained indefinitely. A notation of suspension or dismissal is reflected on the student’s official University academic record (transcript) maintained by the Office of the University Registrar.

Graduation

All Miami University academic dishonesty charges against a student must be resolved and sanctions completed before a student is eligible to graduate.

Interpretation of the Academic Integrity Policy

Any question of interpretation or application of the Academic Integrity Policy shall be referred to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee for final determination.

Any reference to university class days in this policy does not include final exam week or winter or summer terms unless the matter arises during one of these terms.

Any reference to a particular office holder is to be read as including any person serving in an acting or interim capacity for the office and any person designated by the office holder to serve in place of the office holder. The designee must be a full-time tenured faculty member or academic administrator but need not be from the department/program in which the matter originates.

 

Related Form(s)

Not Applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Not Applicable.

FAQ

Not Applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2023

Responsible Officer

  • Provost & Executive Vice President
  • Associate Provost
  • Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

Legal Authority

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Revision History

Amended July 2019

Reference ID

Student Handbook 1.5

Reviewing Bodies

  • Miami University Senate
  • Administrative