UCR Official Policy and Procedures for Academic Dishonesty
The faculty of the University of California, Riverside, believe that the
vast majority of our students maintain high standards of academic honesty.
However, occasional incidents of academic dishonesty do occur. Many such
acts are committed through ignorance. Often, a student accused of cheating
will vehemently deny the charge, claiming that he/she did not know the act
violated established policy. The following statement is intended to clarify
what constitutes academic dishonesty and to describe the procedures and
consequences if a student is accused of and found guilty of breaking the
rules that apply to all UC Riverside students. At UCR, academic dishonesty
is a serious offense and will not be tolerated.
Policy
University of California, Policies applying to Campus Activities, Organizations,
and Students, Section 102.01 (1996): Academic dishonesty requiring discipline
is defined as "All forms of academic misconduct, including but not limited to,
cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty as may
be further specified in campus regulations." (The complete policy is published
each quarter in the Schedule of Classes.)
Academic Honesty Defined
Cheating: It is cheating to copy from another student's examination,
quiz, laboratory work, or homework assignment. The use of pre-prepared notes
or other resources, in any form, during an examination, unless such use is
expressly authorized by the instructor, also constitutes cheating. If a student
knowingly allows someone else to copy from their homework, laboratory work, or
examination, they are in violation of section 102.01. Revising a work after
its final evaluation and representing the revised version as being the original
work is cheating. Forging or otherwise unauthorized changing of an earned grade
is also academically dishonest. Arranging for someone else to take an examination
under your identification also constitutes an act of cheating. In this last
instance, both parties are liable.
Plagiarism: According to Webster's Dictionary, plagiarism is the act of stealing
and passing off as one's own the ideas or words of another. Please note that the
instructor will pay attention not to whether you meant to plagiarize, but whether
you did plagiarize. Additionally, submitting the same paper twice or fulfilling
the requirements of two subjects with one paper is academically dishonest. In
short, one can plagiarize oneself and be sanctioned for the violation. You may
use the ideas and words from other sources, but you must document their use with
citations, usually in the form of footnotes, endnotes, or textnotes. By citing
your sources, you indicate the extent of your research, thereby improving your
paper.
Unauthorized Collaboration: Collaboration occurs when a student works with other
students to study, do lab work, review books or develop a presentation or report.
Students must receive very clear permission from the instructor to participate in
collaborations. Unauthorized collaboration is an example of an academically
dishonest act. What one instructor may view as a collaboration may be seen as
cheating by another. The important thing to note is that if the limits of
collaboration are not clear, it is the student's responsibility to ask the
instructor for very clear and specific direction.
Manufacture of Data: It is academically dishonest to manufacture or deliberately
alter data submitted in connection with laboratory reports, term papers or
written material. Not only is this practice dishonest, it undermines the entire
academic process.
Procedures and Sanctions
The sanctions for violation of student code 102.01 are clear cut:
If an instructor suspects a student has cheated or plagiarized, the faculty
member will arrange to meet with the student to discuss the circumstances. If
the student admits violating section 102.01, then the faculty member will issue
the appropriate grade (usually an "F") and notify the Vice Chancellor of Student
Services for additional disciplinary action.
If the student denies that he/she has committed an act of academic dishonesty
then the instructor will forward all relevant information to the Student
Discipline Coordinator (DC). The DC will review these facts and interview the
student, instructor and an witnesses to determine if section 102.01 has been
violated.
If the facts support the charge, the DC will levy an appropriate administrative
disciplinary sanction. The student may appeal this decision to the Student
Conduct Committee (through the office of the DC). However, if the student does
not appeal within one week, the DC will report to the faculty member that the
student has not appealed and the faculty member will then notify the Registrar
of the appropriate course grade (again usually an "F") to be posted to the
student's grade report.
If the DC reports that there is insufficient evidence of academic dishonesty
and the student does not acknowledge misconduct, the faculty member also has the
right to request a hearing of the case before the Student Conduct Committee for
further review and resolution.
For a second violation of section 102.01, a student will receive an F for the
course and a one-quarter suspension - provided the student admits guilt or if
the Student Conduct Committee finds the student in violation of 102.01. The
suspension shall be effective immediately. If the student does not admit guilt,
then the normal procedure outlined above will take place.
A third infraction will result in the student's permanent dismissal from the
University - provided the student admits guilt or if the Student Conduct
Committee finds the student in violation of 102.01. If the student does not
admit guilt, then the normal procedure outlined above will take place.
The above information is not designed to threaten or intimidate the student.
Rather, it is presented to inform the individual of the consequences. The
important thing to remember is that if there is any doubt in one's mind that an
act is in violation of section 102.01, then the prudent response would be not
to do the act. It is a simplistic approach, to be sure, but one that will
benefit both the student and the university community as a whole.
For additional information please contact:
Rene Rodriguez
Student Affairs Officer
Student Judical Affairs
234 Costo Hall
(909) 787-4563
I have read the above handout and understand the seriousness of cheating. I
will comply with honest activity and I know that any violation can result
in an "F" in the class. If I have any questions regarding authorized or
unauthorized collaboration, I will ask the instructor for clarification.
Print Name __________________________________________
Signature ___________________________________________
Student ID Number ___________________________________
Course and Quarter __________________________________
Lab Section Number __________________________________
Primary Email Address _______________________________