Academic Dishonesty Faculty Checklist
How does GSU Define Academic Dishonesty?
Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own, including paraphrasing or summarizing the works of another person without acknowledgement or failing to indicate the extent and nature of one’s reliance on other sources
Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during or after an examination, examples of unauthorized help include: notes, texts, or crib sheets.
It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once. Turnitin report may be submitted as evidence if applicable.
Unauthorized collaboration means working with someone or getting assistance from someone without specific permission from the instructor on any assignment that is turned in for a grade.
It is a violation of academic honesty to misrepresent material or fabricate information in an academic exercise (misleading citation of sources, falsification of results or experiments, false or misleading information in an academic context in order to gain an unfair advantage).
Step 1: Determine the Appropriate Documents Needed to Process Charge
* Paper in Question (with the plagiarized section clearly identified)
* A copy of at least one source that was not cited. Indicate which section was copied.
* Copy of Turnitin report if applicable.
* An explanation on how the class was informed of what constituted plagiarism for the assignment in question and the possible penalties.
* In cases when improper formatting of a citation is in question, please consult with Rene Mondy at ASPolicies@gsu.edu for guidance on how to proceed
* Tests from all students involved. Clearly indicate how the assignments are similar.
* Detailed statements from witnesses.
* A copy of the charges for the other student(s) involved and an explanation as to why the other student(s) was not charged.
* An explanation on how the class was informed of what constituted plagiarism for the assignment in question and the possible penalties.
* Don’t – Take screenshots or take pictures of evidence without the student’s permission.
* Don’t – Take the test away, or dismiss the student before the student has finished taking the test.
* Paper in Question
* Explanation of why the Document is Problematic
* Academic Dishonesty directives AND/OR assignment instructions
* Documents in question with the similarities between the two identified.
* Evidence of collaboration, i.e. text messages or e-mail exchanges if student turns this over willingly (optional)
* Charges for each student involved
* Academic Dishonesty directives AND/OR assignment instructions
* Falsified or edited document in question
* Explanation of why the document is problematic
* Academic Dishonesty directives AND/OR assignment instructions
Step 2: Discuss the Incident with the Student in Person or by E-mail
When speaking to a student about Academic Dishonesty, the following guided conversation can help in making this process easier for you and the student in question. We recommend that this be done in person. The following has been taken from http://academicintegrity.ucsd.edu/take-action/reportcheating/talk-student.html
Preparing for the conversation
Be mindful of using the three C’s
• Be clear about the behavior you find questionable.
• Be compassionate to the student who may experience significant distress but also great learning from this incident.
• Be candid about your interpretations of the behavior and your feelings about the incident.
Engaging student in a conversation
1. Begin your intervention with a statement. Example:
”I have some concerns about your recent [paper or exam], and would like to engage in a dialogue with you about it. When can you come in to see me?”
2. Start the conversation by asking the student a question. This way, the student can tell his or her story rather than hearing your interpretation first. Examples:
- “Why don’t we start by you telling me how you’re feeling about the class/ this assignment?”
- “What was your process for studying/ completing the assignment?”
- “Are you satisfied with your learning/ progress in the course?”
3. After listening to the student’s story, express your concerns about the assignment or work in question. Example:
-“I’m concerned because the information I have suggests that you may have _________________. Is that an accurate assessment? Why not?”
4. Tell the student what you’re planning to do next. This could include:
1. Considering his or her answers and thinking further about your next step
2. Reporting the incident to Georgia State University’s Office of Academic Assistance
Remain Confident
Student reactions may vary. Your student may cry, get angry, accuse or offend you, calmly admit to the misconduct, or deny the misconduct outright. In any event, proceed using your best judgment, knowing that the University will back you up as long as you follow policy.
Step 3: Share Evidence with Department Chair
Step 4: If Instructor and Chair Agree to Charge the Student, Forward the Academic Dishonesty Notice to the Dean's Office
Step 5: Complete the Notice of Academic Dishonesty Based on Consultation with Chair in Previous Steps
* Fill out the Academic Dishonesty Notice
* Obtain ALL signatures (including Department chair)
* Complete ALL requested information
* Disguise/remove the names of any other students involved. Instead, list them as Other Student (OS) for FERPA compliance
* Be mindful that any supporting material received by ASPolicies will be forwarded to student receiving charge
* Department Chair or Academic Dishonesty Designee Forward Academic Dishonesty Notice to aspolicies@gsu.edu