What is academic dishonesty?

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. The following conduct is specifically cited:

• Supplying or using work or answers that are not one's own.
• Providing or accepting assistance with completing assignments or examinations.
• Interfering through any means with another's academic work.
• Faking data or results.

No university policy requires such a statement, but instructors may consider the following:

Academic Honesty: Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states: “The student shares with the faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards.” In addition, (insert name of unit offering course) adheres to the policies on academic honesty specified in General Student Regulation 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide and/or the MSU Web site www.msu.edu.)

Therefore, unless authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not submit course work you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course.  Also, you are not authorized to use the www.allmsu.com Web site to complete any course work in this course. Students who violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including but not limited to a failing grade on the assignment or in the course.

First, it’s important to meet with the student as soon as possible to explain what led you to suspect the student may have cheated. If the situation involves cheating during a test, exam or a lab session, avoid in-class confrontations, which are apt to disrupt classroom decorum and potentially disrupt other students taking the test. For the same reason, do not ask a student who you suspect is cheating to move to another seat or desk in the classroom.  Instead, if you have a proctor, ask him or her to observe the student you suspect is cheating. If you don’t have an assistant, document the student’s actions that led you to believe s/he is cheating. As an alternative, some instructors will stand for a short time near the suspect student to stop the perceived cheating.  Immediately after the test, exam or lab session, ask the student to remain in the classroom to speak to you privately. If that’s not possible, ask the student to visit you during office hours or at a mutually convenient time—the sooner the better. 

If the cheating involves plagiarism or some other act of academic dishonesty, also invite the student to meet with you in your office at a mutually convenient time. It’s best to extend this invitation in person (e.g., before or after class). 

What do I say to the student when we meet?

In a non-adversarial tone, explain to the student what you observed and why you suspect the student had cheated. Remember, at this stage of the process, you  are seeking information and should not have formed an iron-clad conclusion about the academic misconduct.  Leave the door open for the possibility that you might be wrong. Then give the student an opportunity to explain his or her actions.  Some students will quickly confess; others will deny the allegation—some more vociferously than others. Still others will be flabbergasted and unable to respond coherently.  Allow them time to compose themselves, even if that means meeting again ASAP. 

What should I do if the student convinces me I was wrong?

Advise the student that although you no longer believe an act of academic dishonesty has occurred, he or she may want to avoid the specific behavior that led to your allegation, lest she or he revisit this experience. Then assure the student that the issue is closed.

What should I do if I can’t decide on a course of action?

If you are undecided about what to do following the conversation with the student, tell the student you will consider his or her comments and will get back to him or her after you consult with anyone of the following:  the test proctor; your department chair/school director; your supervisor, if you are a TA; and the Ombudsman.  With the exception of the proctor, you should not  identify the student. Following your conversations, notify the student of your decision.  If you decide to issue a penalty grade in  the  course, follow the steps outlined below. 

How much evidence is needed to accuse a student of academic dishonesty?

The standard of evidence at Michigan State University is "the preponderance of evidence" (that which is more convincing, more credible, and of greater weight).

If a student formally appeals a penalty grade, the faculty member must be prepared to make his or her case on the basis of the preponderance of evidence. The burden of proof is on the faculty member. Suspicions of cheating are not enough evidence. For example, moving a student during a test based on a suspicion of cheating is an implicit accusation of cheating. This action, however, places the student in a position of being unable to appeal an implicit charge, since no actual charge has been made; that is, no penalty grade has been issued.

What do I do if I'm certain the student has committed an act of academic dishonesty?

If your discussion with the student confirms your position that the student has cheated, tell the student that you plan to proceed with the allegation. (You can refer to General Student Regulation 1.00 - - Protection of Scholarship and Grades.) Tell the student that you will consider an appropriate penalty grade and notify him or her after making your decision.  A penalty grade may be a failing grade on the assignment or in the course, depending on the severity or recurrence of the academic misconduct.

Inform the student of his or her right to appeal the allegation. You also can refer the student to the University Ombudsman for a review of MSU policies and procedures regarding academic dishonesty and the appeal process.

If you decide to assign a failing grade in the course for academic dishonesty, and the student decides to contest the allegation via the formal hearing process, the student may continue to attend class and complete all assignments.  You also can expect the student to make an appointment to revisit the matter with you, as part of the formal appeal process.  Remember, too, that if the student requests a hearing to contest the allegation, you will have to share the evidence upon which you are basing your allegation with the student.  In cases involving plagiarism, you should make a copy of the student’s work for your files.  This will be especially helpful should the student appeal your allegation to a departmental hearing board. 

What do I do if I decide to fail the student in the course?

If you decide to give the student a failing grade in the course, you are required to send the student’s dean a letter explaining the circumstances that led to the penalty grade. If this decision occurs before the middle of the semester, your letter to the student's dean should request that the dean call on the Registrar's Office to place a hold on the student's academic records.  That will prevent the student from dropping the course before the failing grade is recorded.  After the hold has been placed, notify the student of your decision to issue a failing grade in the course and his/her right to appeal your decision.  Students who are given a failing grade in the course for an act of academic dishonesty may appeal the charge and may continue to attend class and complete all course work.

If the act of academic dishonesty is particularly egregious,  you also can request the student's academic dean to call for an academic disciplinary hearing to consider additional sanctions, or the dean, upon receipt of your letter, can independently call for a disciplinary hearing as well. In either situation, the dean will contact the Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education, who, in turn, will schedule a meeting with the undergraduate student to offer the options of having an administrative disciplinary hearing or a disciplinary hearing conducted by the college hearing board in the college in which the academic misconduct occurred. Additional sanctions could include suspension from the University.

The call for a disciplinary hearing involves a graduate student, the student's dean will refer the case directly to the college hearing board in the college in which the academic misconduct occurred.

If the disciplinary hearing board finds no basis for additional sanctions, a student may then request a hearing to remove the penalty grade.  This hearing takes place before the department/school hearing board in the department/school in which the alleged academic misconduct occurred.

If I'm sure a student has cheated, what are the university-approved penalties?

As discussed above, if you are certain one of your students has committed an act of academic dishonesty, you then need to decide if you want to issue a “penalty grade,” generally defined in the AFR and GSRR as  a grade based on a charge of academic dishonesty. A penalty grade can be a failing grade in the course or on the assignment – or any other grade that “penalizes” the student for his or her academic misconduct. The Integrity of Scholarship and Grades policy authorizes the failing grade in the course or on the assignment, but it does not require such a grade. It’s your choice.

Also, if you issue a failing grade in the course based only on academic dishonesty, you are required to send a letter to the student's academic dean to explain the circumstances.  If the academic misconduct is especially egregious or a repeat offense, you or the student's dean can request a disciplinary hearing to consider sanctions in addition to the failing greade in the course. (See Integrity of Scholarship and Grades policy.)

If you decide to give the student a penalty grade on an assignment for academic dishonesty, you need not send any letters to anyone, but you must inform the student of the reason for the penalty grade. 

If I decide issue a failing grade in the course, can I instruct the student to stop attending class? 

No, but as you know, once you inform a student that he or she will flunk the course, that student isn’t likely to return to your classroom - - unless he or she plans to appeal the allegation of academic dishonesty. If that’s the case, the student has a right to complete the course without prejudice. If the hearing board supports your position, the failing grade will stand, but the student also has a right to appeal that decision. If the hearing board supports the student’s position, it will ask for a reassessment of the student’s grade. You can appeal this decision, however. (Note: Normally, the initial hearing to contest an allegation of academic dishonesty takes place in the department/school that offers the course.  Appeals of a department/school hearing board decision take place at the college level. The instructor bears the burden of proof at the initial level. Students also have a right to appeal an allegation of academic dishonesty in which they receive a penalty grade on the assignment. For more information about academic hearings, see http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/grievprocedures.html.)

What do I do if I suspect a student has cheated after the final exam session?

If you first suspect a student has cheated after the end of the semester but before you submit your grades, immediately try to contact the student by phone or e-mail. If that fails, you have the option of issuing the student an I-Incomplete grade, as opposed to issuing a penalty grade on the assignment or in the course. When the student discovers the unexpected “I” on the transcript, s/he will try to contact you.

What should I know about cheating in online courses?

The following Web site addresses academic dishonesty in online courses.  (The bibliography is extensive.)

http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/summer72/rowe72.html

Talk to your department chair/school director or call the Office of the Ombudsman (353-8830).

For university policies and regulations on academic dishonesty, see Policies.

Questions? Contact the Ombudsman.