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What is Academic Misconduct?

The Integrity of Scholarship and Grades policy at MSU defines academic misconduct as any one of the following: academic dishonesty, violations of professional standards, and falsification of academic or admission records.

Academic dishonesty at Michigan State University is defined by the General Student Regulations as conduct that violates the fundamental principles of truth, honesty, and integrity. This could encompass everything from cheating on an exam, using another person’s work without proper attribution, or collaborating with other students on an assignment without an instructor’s permission.

How does MSU define academic misconduct?

INTEGRITY OF SCHOLARSHIP AND GRADES

(Note: This policy is not applicable to students in the MSU College of Law degree programs. The Law College follows American Bar Association requirements and the Law Students Rights and Responsibilities document. http://grad.msu.edu/lsrr/)

The following statement of university policy addresses principles and procedures to be used in instances of academic dishonesty, violations of professional standards, and falsification of academic or admission records, herein after referred to as academic misconduct. [See General Student Regulation 1.00, Protection of Scholarship and Grades.]

  1. The principles of truth and honesty are recognized as fundamental to a community of scholars. The university expects both instructors and students to honor these principles and, in so doing, to protect the validity of university education and grades. Practices that maintain the integrity of scholarship and grades include providing accurate information for academic and admission records, adherence to unit-approved professional standards and honor codes, and completion of original academic work by the student to whom it is assigned, without unauthorized aid of any kind. To encourage adherence to the principles of truth and honesty, instructors should exercise care in planning and supervising academic work, and implement proctoring standards appropriate to the design of the course.
  2. If an instructor alleges a student has committed an act of academic misconduct, the instructor is responsible for taking appropriate action. Depending on the instructor’s judgment of a specific instance, the instructor may give the student a penalty grade. A penalty grade may be a reduced score or grade for the assignment or a reduced grade for the course. [For a definition of “penalty grade”, see Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) 11 and Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities (GSRR) 8.1.18.]
  3. When an instructor gives an undergraduate or graduate student a penalty grade for academic misconduct, the instructor must complete and submit an Academic Dishonesty Report (available on the Registrar’s Form Menu under Instructor Systems). The report will be sent to the student, the student’s dean, the Dean of the Graduate School (for graduate students) or Dean of Undergraduate Studies (for undergraduate students) and be added to the student’s academic record provisionally. It will remain in the student’s record unless: a) the student successfully grieves the allegation; b) the instructor filing the report requests it be removed; or, for undergraduates only, c) upon conferral of their degree if only one report has been filed, the student has successfully completed the required course on academic integrity, and no additional sanctions were requested.
  4. When completing the Academic Dishonesty Report, if the instructor gives a failing grade in the course, the instructor may request the student’s academic dean to impose sanctions in addition to the failing grade.
  5. When in the judgment of the student’s academic dean, a sanction in addition to a penalty grade is warranted (e.g., dismissal from a unit or program), the dean may call for an academic disciplinary hearing. In calling for an academic disciplinary hearing, the student’s academic dean may act independently or in response to a request by the instructor. [See SRR 7.V., GSRR 5.5., and Medical Student Rights and Responsibilities (MSRR) 5.3.]
  6. A student accused of academic misconduct may request an academic grievance hearing to contest the allegation before the appropriate hearing board. In cases involving academic misconduct, no student may be dismissed from a course or program of study without an academic disciplinary hearing.
  7. On the first offense of academic misconduct, the student must complete an educational program on academic integrity and academic misconduct provided by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies for undergraduate students or the Dean of the Graduate School for graduate students.
  8. In cases involving undergraduate students in which the student’s academic dean, or designee, calls for an academic disciplinary hearing, the student’s academic dean will refer the case to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies will notify the student in writing of the call for a disciplinary hearing and will invite the student to a meeting to determine the appropriate judiciary for the hearing. [See SRR 7.V.]
  9. In cases involving graduate students in which the student’s academic dean, or designee, calls for an academic disciplinary hearing, the student’s academic dean will inform the student and then refer the case to the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School will notify the student in writing of the call for a disciplinary hearing and will invite the student to a meeting to discuss the hearing process. [See GSRR 5.5.]
  10. Either party may appeal a decision of an administrative disciplinary hearing or a disciplinary hearing board to the appropriate appellate board. [See SRR 7.VII., GSRR 5.4.12., and MSRR 5.8.]

GENERAL STUDENT REGULATIONS

1.00 PROTECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP AND GRADES The principles of truth and honesty are fundamental to the educational process and the academic integrity of the University; therefore, no student shall:

  • 1.01 claim or submit the academic work of another as one’s own.
  • 1.02 procure, provide, accept or use any materials containing questions or answers to any examination or assignment without proper authorization.
  • 1.03 complete or attempt to complete any assignment or examination for another individual without proper authorization.
  • 1.04 allow any examination or assignment to be completed for oneself, in part or in total, by another without proper authorization.
  • 1.05 alter, tamper with, appropriate, destroy or otherwise interfere with the research, resources, or other academic work of another person.
  • 1.06 fabricate or falsify data or results.

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MSU ORDINANCE

17.00 EXAMINATIONS

  • 17.01 Unauthorized attainment of
  • 17.02 Unauthorized transfer of
  • 17.03 Prima facie evidence
    • .01 No person shall procure in any unauthorized manner any examination question or answer related to any course of study offered at Michigan State University, regardless of the form or format in which such question or answer may originally have been maintained.
    • .02 No person shall furnish to any unauthorized person any examination question or answer related to any course of study offered at Michigan State University, regardless of the form or format in which such question or answer may originally have been maintained.
    • .03 The unauthorized possession of any of the aforesaid examination documents shall be considered prima facie evidence of an attempt to violate the provisions of this section.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (SRR)

See especially SRR Articles:

  • 2.III.B.2 The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.
  • 7.V.C The student shall have ten class days to request an academic grievance hearing to contest a penalty grade based on a charge of academic dishonesty. If the student files a request for a grievance hearing, the student will not meet with the Associate Provost until the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board has heard the student’s academic grievance and all appeals, if any, are final. If the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board determines that the student did not commit academic dishonesty, the student will not face any additional sanctions based on that charge.

GRADUATE STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (GSRR)

See especially GSRR Articles:

  • 2.3.7 The graduate student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.
  • 5.3 through 5.5.

MEDICAL STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES (MSRR)

  • 5.1.3.1 A medical student who receives a penalty grade based on a charge of academic dishonesty and who is not referred for additional disciplinary action may contest the penalty grade by filing a grievance under this section. Instructors seeking sanctions for academic dishonesty other than or in addition to penalty grades must file a complaint under Article 5.2.2 of this document.