Code of Student Conduct - Article 11 - University Policy on Academic Integrity

View the complete list of articles of the Code of Student Conduct.

Section 1. Purpose

New Jersey Institute of Technology is an institution dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge through teaching and research. The university expects that its graduates will assume positions of leadership within their professions and communities.  Within this context, the university strives to develop and maintain a high level of ethics and honesty among all members of its community. Imperative to this goal is the commitment to truth and academic integrity. This commitment is confirmed in this NJIT University policy on Academic Integrity.

The essential quality of this Policy is that each student shall demonstrate honesty and integrity in the completion of all assignments and in the participation of the learning process. Adherence to the University policy on Academic Integrity promotes the level of integrity required within the university and professional communities and assures students that their work is being judged fairly with the work of others. This Policy defines those behaviors which violate the principles of academic integrity, describes a range of appropriate sanctions for offenses, and identifies a method for promoting the principle of academic integrity on campus.

 

Section 2. Definitions

Terms defined in the Student Code of Conduct also apply to the University Policy on Academic Integrity.

Academic Dishonesty

The list below contains some general parameters that define academic dishonesty. While the definitions include examples, the examples themselves cannot be listed exhaustively. Therefore, the list of examples is not all-inclusive.

Cheating is defined as:

Intentionally using, providing or attempting to use or provide unauthorized assistance, materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise, or preventing, or attempting to prevent, another from using authorized assistance and/or materials.

  • Copying answers from or looking at another student’s exam.

  • Using or possessing any material not expressly permitted during an exam, such as notes, books, prohibited calculators.

  • Using electronic devices such as cell phones, digital cameras, PDA’s, data storage devices, computers, internet, or other electronic devices unless expressly permitted.

  • Having someone else take an exam for you or asking someone for answers to a test/exam.

  • Possessing tests, notes, materials, or property belonging to or generating from faculty, staff, and students without permission.

  • Submission of purchased term papers or projects done by others.

Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another person commit an act of academic dishonesty.

  • Working with others on a take-home exam without instructor approval.

  • Selling papers or exams.

  • Taking an exam for someone else.

  • Offering answers or information related to tests, exams, or assignments without prior instructor knowledge.

Fabrication is defined as:

Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in any academic exercise.

  • Citing nonexistent or irrelevant works.

  • Making up citations on a bibliography or works cited page.

  • Skewing data in accord with what you think results should be.

  • Changing answers after an exam has been returned.

Plagiarism is defined as:

Using or attempting to use written, oral, or graphic work which was authored or prepared by another and submitting it as one’s own without appropriate citation or credit.  Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.

  • Copying from a source without quotations or appropriate documentation.

  • Copying from any source and altering a word or phrase to avoid exact quotation.

  • Cloning someone else’s ideas without attribution.

  • Having someone else write a paper for you.

  • Utilizing an image for a paper or project without attribution.

 

Section 3. Reporting, Investigation, and Adjudication Process

  1. Faculty members will refer any allegations of Academic Dishonesty to The Dean of  Students Office. If at any time, a student makes a charge of a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy concerning another student to an instructor, that instructor is obligated to report the matter to the Dean of Students without delay. If the maximum sanction for the alleged offense is below suspension, the Dean of Students reserves the right to appoint the Faculty member as the Investigator and/or Hearing Officer.

  2. Faculty members who observe any cheating will confiscate all materials used in the alleged violation.

  3. Dean of Students or designee will investigate the matter to determine whether a violation is likely to have occurred. While the initial report/allegation may be verbal, a signed written statement is required for adjudication.

  4. If a student refutes the academic integrity allegation, the Dean of Students or designee will initiate the adjudication procedures. A hearing will proceed as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

  5. Students who are accused of academic dishonesty will have the option to resolve the matter through an Administrative Hearing or a Hearing Board.

 

Section 4. Course Failure: XF Sanction System

  1. A student who fails a course due to academic integrity violations will be assigned a grade of "XF" in that course and placed on probation for a period to be determined by the sanctioning authority. The "XF" will be treated in the same way as an "F" for the purposes of Grade Point Average, course repeatability, and determination of academic standing.

  2. Once the probationary period has passed, the student may petition the Dean of Students Office to remove the "X" portion of the grade after successful completion of the Academic Integrity Seminar Series. The student will be assigned the series for the semester following the adjudication of the academic integrity allegation. A student will be permitted two attempts to successfully complete the Academic Integrity Series. If a student fails to successfully complete the Academic Integrity Series, the "X" will remain permanently.

  3. Notation on the student's transcript shall read, "Failure due to Academic Dishonesty".

  4. Students with the "XF" designation will be prohibited from officially representing the university, holding office in a student organization or representative body, and may be relieved from student employment at NJIT.

  5. Students receiving more than one "XF" grade may be expelled  from the university.

 

Section 5. Violation Levels and Sanctions

1. Violations Levels/Maximum Sanction

Level 1.  These are the most serious violations for which the sanction may result in expulsion from the university. Student organizations engaged in a violation(s) may face revocation of official recognition from the university. These violations of academic integrity generally, but don't necessarily have to, entail advanced planning, may include conspiring with others or involve a substantial part of credit awarded in the course (normally one third or more).

Examples may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Premeditated, conspiratorial cheating on any examination.

  2. Taking an examination for another student.

  3. Unauthorized obtaining or transmitting of examination material before an examination.

  4. Plagiarizing, in full or significant/substantial part written, oral or graphic work which was authored or prepared by another.

Maximum Sanction: Expulsion.

Level 2.  These are serious violations for which sanctions may result in a suspension for one or two semesters from the university. Student organizations may face temporary suspension from the university. These violations of academic integrity generally, but don't necessarily have to, entail advanced planning or involve a significant part of credit awarded in the course (normally one quarter to less than one-third). Examples may include, but are not limited to:

  1. Premeditated cheating on an examination.

  2. Plagiarizing, in part, written, oral or graphic work which was authored or prepared by another.

  3. Permitting one's work to be submitted by another student for his/her credit.

  4. Giving or receiving unfair aid in the completion of an assignment.

Maximum Sanction: Suspension and educational sanction.

Level 3. These are violations which may result in failure of the course and mandatory attendance to the Academic Integrity Workshop Series.

Examples may include but are not limited to:

  1. Cheating on an examination (not premeditated).

  2. Altering any work after it had been graded, and re-submitting it for further credit.

  3. Copying laboratory projects; falsely reporting, or tampering with laboratory data.

  4. Failing to acknowledge that the work submitted for credit is the work of a collaboration.

  5. Giving or receiving unfair aid in the completion of an assignment.

  6. Permitting another student to copy work during an examination.

  7. Submission of the same work for more than one course without the permission of the instructor(s).

  8. Using material prohibited from the examination, e.g. calculator when prohibited by Instructor.

Maximum Sanction: Failure in the course and/or suspension for one semester.

Level 4. These are violations which may result in the failure of the specific work submitted. These violations of academic integrity may occur because of ignorance or inexperience on the part of the individual(s) committing the violation and involve a minor part of the credit awarded in the course.

Examples include:

  1. Copying minor homework assignment(s) and submitting same for credit.

  2. Failure to properly acknowledge or document references on submitted work which represents a minor part of the credits to be awarded in the course.

  3. Impeding student access to reference material, i.e. keeping referenced material

  4. Giving or receiving unfair aid in the completion of an assignment.

Maximum Sanction: Failure in the specific work submitted and educational sanctions.

 

2.  List of Possible Sanctions 

Sanctions include, but are not limited to, one of more of the following and may, but need not, involve suspension or expulsion:

  • Failure of a course.

  • A grade of XF for the course.

  • Failure in specific work submitted.

  • Disciplinary probation.

  • Required attendance to the Academic Integrity Workshop Series.

  • Suspension for one or more semesters.

  • Permanent expulsion from the University with a permanent notation of disciplinary expulsion on the student’s transcript.

Sanctions for a given violation may be imposed differently on those with more or less experience as students. Thus, violations of academic integrity by graduate students may be penalized more severely than the same violations by inexperienced undergraduate students.

 

 

Updated 4.5.18