Student Conduct
Academic Dishonesty
This page is divided into two parts, definitions and process for handling complaints. Both sections are taken from the Standards of Conduct for Students and are excerpted here for an overview. Student conduct suggests students and faculty become familiar with the entire code.
WAC 504-26-010 Definitions
(3) The term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Use of any unauthorized materials in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations, or giving or receiving unauthorized assistance by any means, including, talking, copying information from another student, using electronic devises, or taking an examination for another student.
(b) Use of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments.
(c) Acquisition or possession of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university faculty or staff when acquired without the permission of the university or staff member.
(d) Fabrication, which is the intentional invention or counterfeiting of information in the course of an academic activity. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to:
(i) Counterfeiting data, research results, information, or procedures with inadequate foundation in fact;
(ii) Counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences;
(iii) Submitting a false excuse for absence or tardiness or a false explanation for failing to complete a class requirement or scheduled examination at the appointed date and time.
(e) Engaging in any behavior for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage specifically prohibited by a faculty member in the course syllabus or class discussion.
(f) Scientific misconduct. Falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, or other forms of dishonesty in scientific and scholarly research are prohibited. Complaints and inquiries involving cases of scientific misconduct are managed according to the university's policy for responding to allegations of scientific misconduct. A finding of scientific misconduct is subject to sanctions by the office of student conduct. The policy for responding to allegations of scientific misconduct may be reviewed by contacting the vice-provost for research.
(g) Unauthorized collaboration on assignments.
(h) Intentionally obtaining unauthorized knowledge of examination materials.
(i) Plagiarism. Presenting the information, ideas, or phrasing of another person as the student's own work without proper acknowledgement of the source. This includes submitting a commercially prepared paper or research project or submitting for academic credit any work done by someone else. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
(j) Unauthorized multiple submission of the same work.
(k) Sabotage of others' works.
(l) Tampering with or falsifying records.
WAC 504-26-202 Acts of dishonesty.
Acts of dishonesty, include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Academic integrity violations including, but not limited to, cheating as defined in WAC 504-26-010.
(2) Knowingly furnishing false information to any university official, faculty member, or office.
(3) Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any university document or record, or instrument of identification whether issued by the university or other state or federal agency.
WAC 504-26-404 Procedure for academic integrity violations.
(1) Initial hearing.
(a) When a responsible instructor finds that a violation of academic integrity has occurred, the instructor shall assemble the evidence and upon reasonable notice to the student of the date, time, and nature of the allegations, meet with the student suspected of violating academic integrity policies. If the student admits violating academic integrity policies, the instructor assigns an outcome in keeping with published course policies and notifies the office of student conduct in writing of the allegations, the student's admission, and the sanctions imposed.
(b) If the instructor is unable to meet with the student or if the accused student disputes the allegation(s) and/or the outcome proposed by the instructor, the instructor shall make a determination as to whether the student did or did not violate the academic integrity policy. If the instructor finds that the student was in violation, the instructor shall provide the student and the office of student conduct with a written determination, the evidence relied upon, and the sanctions imposed. The student has twenty-one days to request a review of the instructor's determination and/or sanction(s) to the academic integrity hearing board.
(2) Review.
(a) Upon timely request for review by a student who has been found by his or her instructor to have violated the academic integrity policy, the academic integrity hearing board shall make a separate and independent determination of whether or not the student is responsible for violating the academic integrity policy and/or whether or not the outcome proposed by the instructor is in keeping with the instructor's published course policies.
(b) The academic integrity hearing board is empowered to provide an appropriate remedy for a student including arranging a withdrawal from the course, having the student's work evaluated, or changing a grade where it finds that:
(i) The student is not responsible for violating academic integrity policies; or
(ii) The outcome imposed by the instructor violates the instructor's published policies.
(c) Students who appear before the academic integrity board shall have the same rights to notice and to conduct a defense as enumerated in WAC 504-26-403 except:
(i) Notice of hearing and written orders shall be sent to the address provided by the student in the student's request for review; and
(ii) The written decision of the academic integrity hearing board is the university's final order. There is no appeal from findings of responsibility or outcomes assigned by the university or college academic integrity hearing boards.
(3) If the reported violation is the student's first offense, the office of student conduct ordinarily requires the student to attend a workshop separate from, and in addition to, any academic outcomes imposed by the instructor. A hold is placed on the student's record preventing registration or graduation until completion of the workshop.
(4) If the reported violation is the student's second offense, the student is ordinarily required to appear before a university conduct board with a recommendation that the student be dismissed from the university.
(5) If the instructor or academic integrity hearing board determines that the act of academic dishonesty for which the student is found responsible is particularly egregious in light of all attendant circumstances, the instructor or academic integrity hearing board may direct that the student's case be heard by the university conduct board with a recommendation for dismissal from the university even if it is the student's first offense.
(6) Because instructors and departments have a legitimate educational interest in the outcomes, reports of academic integrity hearing board and/or conduct board hearings shall be reported to the responsible instructor and the chair or dean.