Academic Dishonesty and its Consequences

As a student at San Jose State University, you are expected to pursue your coursework with integrity and honesty. Incidents of academic dishonesty are taken very seriously. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing, a process is begun is begun which may result in severe consequences for you. It is vitally important to your academic career that you know what constitutes academic dishonesty.

Academic dishonesty occurs when a student attempts to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill which he or she does not possess. The two most common kinds of academic dishonesty are "Cheating" and "Plagiarism." Cheating is the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means. Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements.

It is your responsibility to know what constitutes academic dishonesty. If you are unclear about a specific situation, speak to your instructor. The following list exemplifies some of the activities defined as academic dishonesty.

• Copying, in part or in whole, from someone else's test.
• Submitting work presented previously in another course, if contrary to the rules of either course.
• Altering or interfering with grading.
• Using or consulting, during an examination, any sources or materials not authorized by the instructor.
• Committing other acts which defraud or misrepresent.

• Incorporating the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs, or parts of another person's writing, without giving appropriate credit, and representing the product as your own work.
• Representing another's artistic/scholarly works (such as musical compositions, computer programs, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures) as your own.
• Submitting a paper purchased from a research or term paper service.

• Purposely allowing another student to copy from your paper during a test.
• Giving your homework, term paper or other academic work to another student to plagiarize.
• Having another person submit any work in your name.
• Lying to an instructor or university official to improve your grade.
• Altering a graded work after it has been returned, then submitting the work for regrading.
• Removing tests from the classroom without the approval of the instructor.
• Stealing tests.
• Having a typist correct work for spelling or grammar, if contrary to the rules of the course.
• Forging signatures on drop/add slips or other university documents.

Academic and/or administrative sanctions may be applied in cases of academic dishonesty. Depending on the seriousness of the infraction, you may:

• Receive a failing grade on the test, paper, or exam;
• Have your course grade lowered;
• Receive an "F" for the course;
• Be placed on disciplinary probation;
• Be placed on disciplinary suspension;
• Be expelled.

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs maintains a record of students who have engaged in academic dishonesty. This information is used to identify and discipline students who have been reported for academic dishonesty more than once.

The Academic Senate passed the University Policy on Academic Dishonesty in the fall of 1987. You can direct any questions concerning SJSU's Policy on Academic Dishonesty to the Judicial Coordinator at (408) 924-5900. Copies of the policy are available in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Administration Building, Room 242.