Maintaining academic integrity--scholarship free of fraud and deception--is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- cheating
- plagiarism
- fabrication of information or citations
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval
- tampering with the academic work of other students
In cases in which academic integrity is questioned, Penn State's policy on academic integrity requires that the instructor give the student notice of the charge as well as the recommended sanction. Procedures allow the student to accept or contest the charge through discussions with the instructor. If a student chooses to contest, the case will then be managed by the respective College/Campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Penn State Office of Judicial Affairs.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures, when academic dishonesty is suspected, vary by college.
For more information, contact us.
