The following suggested sanctioning guidelines for academic integrity violations are for use by Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty when completing an Academic Integrity Form. Please visit the Academic Integrity Forms and Documents page to obtain the necessary paperwork.
Overview
This document is designed to aid faculty in their consideration of sanctions for academic integrity violations. These are intended to be considered as guidelines. There may be some mitigating factors that will influence the sanction that the faculty member chooses to assign. The University’s academic integrity policy provides for two types of sanctions: academic and disciplinary. All violations will result in an academic sanction, but only those that are most severe will be considered for disciplinary sanction.
Academic sanctions range from a warning or reduced grade on a single assignment to failure for the course. In all instances, a faculty member should submit an Academic Integrity Form. When a faculty member believes that the student's behavior raises questions about the student's involvement in the academic department, consultation should occur with the academic college's associate dean for undergraduate education or graduate education as appropriate. Removal from the academic program may be used as a sanction when appropriate. Instructors may wish to consult with the college/campus Academic Integrity Committee to determine the appropriateness of an academic sanction.
In recommending a proposed sanction for an academic integrity violation, the faculty member should take into account the severity of the infraction. The chart below contains guidelines that instructors may find useful as they determine their recommended sanctions. The sanctions recommended are based on the assumption that the violation is the student's first offense. The chart describes “minor,” “moderate,” and “major” offenses. The definitions listed below for these terms were originally developed by Behrend College, and are used here with the College's permission:
MINOR OFFENSES
In general, minor offenses involve errors in judgement without a clear intent by the student to violate academic integrity.
MODERATE OFFENSES
In general, moderate offenses are unpremeditated dishonest acts that direct affect only one student.
MAJOR OFFENSES
In general, major offenses are premeditated dishonest acts or dishonest acts that directly affect the grade of other students.
Another consideration would be the student's level of study. A first-year student may not be expected to have the same depth of understanding as a student preparing to graduate. In addition, when a graduate student is involved in an alleged violation, consideration may also be given to the Graduate School guidelines addressed in Appendix III and Appendix IV of the Graduate Degree Programs University Bulletin to determine if additional actions should be considered.
On rare occasions a faculty member may feel that the student's behavior is so egregious that an academic sanction is not sufficient. In these cases, the faculty member should consult with the college/campus associate dean for undergraduate education or graduate education, as appropriate, and the unit's Academic Integrity Committee to discuss the merit of recommending a disciplinary sanction. Disciplinary sanctions are ultimately reviewed and assigned by the Office of Student Conduct or Student Conduct designee. However, the recommendation for the sanction comes to the Office of Student Conduct via the unit's Academic Integrity Committee. Disciplinary sanctions range from a disciplinary warning to disciplinary probation to expulsion. For more information, visit the website of the Office of Student Conduct.
Possible Violations
Copying
Examples include a student looking at another student's work during an exam, a student copying an assignment from another student, and students exchanging color-coded exams for the purpose of copying.
Considerations
In determining severity, consider the weight of the exam or the assignment as related to total percentage of course grade, the frequency of copied answers or amount of copied material, whether or not it was premeditated or spontaneous, and any other significant factors.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Reduced exam or assignment grate to 0 for assignment or exam.
Moderate: 0 for assignment or exam to reduced course grade.
Major: F for course.
Submitting another person's work as your own, or submitting another person's work without proper citation
For example, a student submits work created by another person as his/her own; a student presents information indicating it is not the student's own work, but fails to properly cite the source. These are commonly referred to as plagiarism.
Considerations
In determining severity, consider the weight of the assignment as related to the total percentage of course grade, whether or not the fabrication or plagiarism was a substantive portion of the assignment, and attempt to determine whether this was a clear case of intentional dishonesty or careless scholarship.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Redo the assignment with reduction in grade to 0 for assignment with or without redo of assignment.
Moderate: Reduction in final course grade in addition to 0 for assignment.
Major: F for course.
Unauthorized test possession, purchase, or supplying
For example, when a student possesses an exam without the instructor's permission; a student purchases or steals an exam; a student fails to return an exam which was requested to be returned; a student makes a copy of an exam; or sells an exam.
Considerations
With rare exception, this form of misconduct is premeditated and deceptive with the intent to defraud. The manner in which the exam was obtained is critical in determining appropriate action. A student may access old exams and not be aware viewing the exam is a violation. In other instances, a student may have stolen an exam or is found in possession of an exam knowing it is not permitted.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: 0 for exam.
Moderate: Reduction in course grade to F for course.
Major: F for course.
Ghosting
For example, a student takes a quiz or exam, or completes an exercise or assignment on behalf of another student.
NOTE: It is possible that students involved in such violations may not be enrolled in the instructor's class and there is not an option to assign an academic sanction. In such instances the instructor should notify the Office of Student Conduct or Student Conduct Designee.
Considerations
Although this form of misconduct is inherently premeditated and deceptive, severity should be assessed based on the percentage of the course grade the violation entails. Faculty may also consider the nature of the deception - for example, signing in for another student in order to gain class participation points vs. having another student complete an assignment or take an exam for a student.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor (primarily used when ghosting was for participation points or in-class low credit assignment): 0 for participation points; 0 for assignment to reduced grade for course participation credits.
Moderate: 0 for quiz or exam and reduction in course grade.
Major: F for course.
Altering exams or assignments
For example, a student changes incorrect answers and requests a favorable grade adjustment when instructor returns graded assignments/exams for review; a student changes the letter and/or numerical grade on an exam/assignment after the instructor has assigned the final grade.
Considerations
This form of misconduct is deceptive with the intent to defraud, and may also affect the credibility of an instructor. Consideration should be given to whether the act was premeditated or spontaneously committed out of panic. In determining severity, consider the extent to which the exam or assignment was altered, the weight of the exam as related to total percentage of course grade, and other significant factors.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: 0 for exam or assignment.
Moderate: Reduced course grade to F in course.
Major: F for course.
Improper use of technology
For example, a student possesses and/or uses a cell phone when one is not permitted; a studennt uses software or electronic aides such as calculators, computers, handheld devices, etc. when not permitted by the instructor.
Considerations
When sanctioning, consider if the technology was used for misconduct. Also consider whether the misconduct was premeditated, the impact it potentially has on student's course grade, and the level of dishonest activity in which the student engaged.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Warning to reduction in assignment or exam grade. (Note: When student possess an unauthorized electronic device but there appears no evidence of intended use, a faculty member may issue a warning and not reduce the student's course grade.)
Moderate: Reduced course grade.
Major: F for course.
Facilitating academic dishonesty by others
For example, a student permits another student to copy an exam or assignment; a student provides a completed assignment to another student and allows the student to submit it as his or her own a student writes another student's paper or completed another student's assignment and then provides it to the student so they may receive credit; a student shares information about an exam with another student who has not yet taken the exam.
NOTE: it is possible that students involved in such violations may not be enrolled in an instructor's class and the instructor may not have the option to assign an academic sanction. In such instances the instructor should notify the Office of Student Conduct or Student Conduct Designee.
Considerations
For students who are enrolled in the class, consider the impact their actions has on the grade of the student they were assisting in measuring the severity of the violation.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Reduced assignment grade for what the student submitted.
Moderate: 0 for assignment student submitted.
Major: Reduced grade in course.
Submitting work previously used without permission
For example, a student submits work completed previously for another course or assignment without the instructor's permissions. This violation assumes that the work submitted is the student's own work, submitted on more than one previous occasion.
Considerations
Student appear to be less informed regarding this form of academic dishonesty, and in some cases you may find that this breach occurs, to some degree, in an inadvertent manner as compared to other forms of academic dishonesty.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Warning and redo assignment to redo assignment and reduced grade for assignment.
Moderate: Redo assignment with reduced grade to 0 for assignment.
Major: 0 for assignment to F in the course.
Unauthorized collaboration
For example, working with another student on an assignment or exam.
Considerations
When sanctioning, consider whether or not the misconduct was premeditated, the impact it potentially has on the student's course grade, and the level or dishonest activity in which the student engaged. Faculty may wish to consider a more serious sanction when students were explicitly instructed not to collaborate.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Redo assignment, reduced assignment grade or exam grade.
Moderate: 0 for assignment or exam.
Major: 0 for assignment or exam and reduction in course grade.
Unauthorized use of study aids
For example, a student uses a crib sheet; a student pre-programs an electronic device to provide solutions; a student uses notes, texts, etc. without the permission of the instructor.
Considerations
When sanctioning, consider whether or not the misconduct was premeditated, the impact it potentially has on student's course grade, and the level of dishonest activity in which the student engaged.
Academic Sanction Range
Minor: Reduced exam grade if determined use is limited to failure of exam.
Moderate: Failure of exam to reduced course grade.
Major: F for course.