Academic Dishonesty

Student Requirements and Procedures

The Standards for Student Conduct require that students who witness academic dishonesty notify their instructor, department chair, or the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities. Disciplinary sanctions can be imposed for “encouraging, permitting, or assisting another to do any act that could subject him or her to discipline” [Title 5, Article 2, Section 41301 (b) (20)]. Remember that the value of an academic degree is enhanced by the reputation of the university. Tolerating academic misconduct ultimately harms that reputation. 

Faculty Requirements and Procedures

Academic integrity is essential to the educational process.  Traditional academic practices require that faculty members address cases of academic dishonesty in the classroom. The final section of Executive Order 1006 insists that, in addition, CSU faculty members report any infractions to a central location so that a student can be held accountable for multiple academic dishonesty situations and the campus can understand problem trends.  The resolution of academic dishonesty cases seeks a balance between encouraging a student’s professional development and upholding the standards of the academic community. 

If the faculty member believes that discussions with the student have produced a satisfactory resolution of the incident, the faculty member can recommend that OSRR send the student a warning letter informing the student that his or her name has been added to the OSRR database and that any subsequent infraction will result in formal disciplinary charges.

If the faculty member believes that the resolution between faculty and student is insufficient due to either the serious nature of the offense or the student’s inability to understand accepted academic standards, the faculty member can recommend that OSRR initiate formal charges.  Disciplinary action depends upon the facts of a specific situation.

If OSRR records reveal prior situations of academic dishonesty, OSRR will initiate formal charges regardless of the faculty member’s recommendation.