Frequently Asked Questions

What goes on my record if I violate the Academic Integrity Policy?
Your transcript is marked with a flag (X) when you fail a course for an academic integrity violation. It will be removed upon your completion of the required tutorial and full compliance with all consequences associated with the violation.

If the (X) is applied for a second violation, the flag will be permanently retained on the transcript.Your transcript will be marked with “violation of academic integrity policy” if you are suspended or expelled from the University because of a violation. This designation will be permanently retained on the transcript.

What happens if I have a second violation?
A second violation automatically requires a hearing—whether or not you appeal the charge. If the instructor sanction includes an F in the course, your transcript will be marked with a flag (X) that will be permanently retained on your transcript. Suspension and expulsion are not considered unusual sanctions for a second violation.

Is there an advisor with whom I can discuss my violation?
Each school and college has a specially trained advisor with whom you can discuss your violation, whether or not you should appeal, and other issues. Link to Academic Integrity Advisors

What does a hearing involve?
If you have a hearing, you appear before a hearing panel that typically includes two faculty members, two students at the same program level as you (i.e. undergraduate or graduate), and one administrator from the school or college in which the violation occurred. If that is not your home school or college, a representative from your home school or college will also be on the panel. The hearing is chaired by a University Academic Integrity Representative (UAIR).
See the Academic Integrity Hearing Guide for Students for a detailed description of a hearing.

What are the grounds for appealing a hearing decision?
You may appeal a school/college hearing panel decision to a University Appeal and Review Panel (UARP) on four grounds:

• New evidence not reasonably available at the time of the original hearing, the absence of which can be shown to have had a detrimental impact on the outcome of the hearing
• Procedural error that can be shown to have had a detrimental impact on the outcome of the hearing
• Errors in the interpretation of University policy so substantial as to deny either party a fair hearing
• Grossly inappropriate sanction having no reasonable relationship to the charge. (V.A. 2. pp. 14–15 Academic Integrity Policy)

What is the Academic Integrity seminar?
First time offenders are assigned to an academic integrity seminar. The seminar — based on honors seminars taught at SU and elsewhere — consists of short, thought-provoking readings students are asked to discuss and evaluate. To schedule your tutorial, send an email to: aio@syr.edu.

When do I have to cite information?
The short answer is whenever you use any ideas or information that you obtain from other sources, including the Internet. If you quote the material or even if you put the ideas or information into your own words, you still must cite it.

For more information, go to:
Citation information - http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/citation/
The Purdue Online Writing Lab - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Writing consultant help - http://wc.syr.edu/

How can I sign up for help with writing a paper?
Writing consultant help - http://wc.syr.edu/

How can I get a tutor?

Tutoring - tutoring.syr.edu

What is Turnitin?
Turnitin is the plagiarism prevention system that SU is using. When a paper submitted to this system, an originality report is produced that shows any matches between your paper and the sources you used in writing the paper. It can also be used to determine if your paper has similarities to other papers submitted in your class or other sections.

Can I serve on a hearing panel?
If you are interested in serving on a hearing panel, contact the Academic Integrity Coordinator in your school or college.
Academic Integrity Coordinators (AICs) and The Academic Integrity Office

What is the process for reporting a violation?
As you explore a suspected violation, it is strongly recommended that you discuss the matter with the student. If you determine that there is a violation, send a Violation Report Form (called Instructor Resolution in the Policy) describing the violation and your decision regarding a sanction to the Academic Integrity Coordinator in your school or college. To be in compliance with the Policy, you must submit this report within five days of your decision.

What sanctions can I impose?
You may impose a course-related sanction, up to and including course failure. You may require additional or alternative work in substitution for the rejected work, but you have no obligation to do so.

Where are the forms for reporting a violation?
Instructor Violation Report form (Instructor Resolution)(MS Word)

Hearing Request form (MS Word)

Can I request a hearing for a violation?
Yes, an instructor or a member of the University community can request a hearing.

Where can I get information about using Turnitin?
Blackboard Users
Internet Users

What are some resources I could use?

B. Davis. (2002).
“Preventing Academic Dishonesty” Tools for Teaching.
University of California-Berkeley - http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/prevent.html

This online chapter includes general strategies for estab-lishing a climate for academic integrity; what to do if you suspect cheating or plagiarism; information on plagiarism, paraphrasing, and quoting; developing written assignments and exams; and administering exams.

Indiana University Writing Tutorial Services
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Indiana University Tutorial on Recognizing Plagiarism
http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/

Can I serve on a hearing panel?
If you are interested in serving on a hearing panel, contact the Academic Integrity Coordinator in your school or college or the Academic Integrity Office.
Academic Integrity Coordinators (AICs) and The Academic Integrity Office

What types of hearings are there?
There are two levels of hearings. School/college hearings are held when a student requests a hearing for a reported violation, when an instructor or member of the university community requests a hearing, or when a student has committed a second violation. University-Level Appeal and Review hearings are held under the following circumstances:

• The student charged, or an instructor, administrator, or staff member who participated in the hearing as the complaining party may appeal a school/college hearing panel decision to a University Appeal and Review Panel.
• Grounds for an appeal
  • New evidence not reasonably available at the time of the original hearing, the absence of which can be shown to have had a detrimental impact on the outcome of the hearing
  • Procedural error that can be shown to have had a detrimental impact on the outcome of the hearing
  • Errors in the interpretation of University policy so substantial as to deny either party a fair hearing
  • Grossly inappropriate sanction having no reasonable relationship to the charge. (V.A. 2. pp. 14–15 Academic Integrity Policy)