Academic Dishonesty Defined

The [link deleted] was developed with significant input from teachers, students, campus administrators, and legal council. It defines academic dishonesty as any activity involving

•  Cheating
•  Falsification
•  Plagiarism 

Cheating

The USU policy lists the following as examples of cheating. This list is not conclusive.

1. Using Unauthorized Assistance: 
   Using or attempting to use or providing others with any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, or in any other academic exercise or activity, including working in a group when the instructor has designated that the quiz, test, examination, or any other academic exercise or activity be done 'individually'. 
2. Using Unauthorized Sources:
   Depending on the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments. 
   
   This includes opening webpages or online course pages or files during a closed book exam, whether they are opened on the same computer the test is taken on or on a mobile device.
3. Substitution Work:
   Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself, in taking an examination or preparing academic work
   
   This includes allowing roommates or significant others complete a test. It can also include taking a paper that another has written previously and modifying it somewhat before turning it in.
4. Acquiring Unauthorized Materials: 
   Acquiring tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty member, staff member, or another student without express permission.
   
   This includes printing out quiz results and other feedback and sharing them with students who have not yet completed the test or assignment.
5. Ignoring Time Limits: 
   Continuing to write after time has been called on a quiz, test, examination, or any other academic exercise or activity.
   
   This includes falsifying technical difficulties to obtain another attempt on an exam or to gain more time to turn in an assignment.
6. Same Work in Multiple Classes: 
   Submitting substantially the same work for credit in more than one class, except with prior approval of the instructor.
7. Engaging in any form of research fraud 
   including fabricating results, using manipulative research methods, etc.

Falsification

USU defines falsification as "altering or fabricating any information or citation in an academic exercise or activity." This includes making up references in a research paper, misrepresenting or misquoting a reference, or similar activities.

Plagiarism

Lastly, USU defines plagiarism as "Representing, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person as one's own in any academic exercise or activity without full and clear acknowledgement." In other words, if you attempt to pass of someone else's work, in any form, as your own without giving proper credit, you are guilty of plagiarism.

For more information on plagiarism, including tips on citing sources, see [link deleted] Tutorial in Canvas.

In short:

The definitions and examples above do not address all of the ways a student can be dishonest. Remember that the honor pledge you have taken suggests that you will be careful not to justify actions that are, at their root, dishonest, even in high pressure situations when opportunities for dishonesty present themselves. 

Reference for this page: Student Code of Conduct, Section VI-1