CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRINCIPLE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Absolute integrity is expected of every Cornell student in all academic
undertakings. Integrity entails a firm adherence to a set of values, and the
values most essential to an academic community are grounded on the concept of
honesty with respect to the intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Academic
integrity is expected not only in formal coursework situations, but in all
University relationships and interactions connected to the educational process,
including the use of University resources. While both students and faculty of
Cornell assume the responsibility of maintaining and furthering these values,
this document is concerned specifically with the conduct of students.
A Cornell student's submission of work for academic credit indicates that the
work is the student's own. All outside assistance should be acknowledged, and
the student's academic position truthfully reported at all times. In addition,
Cornell students have a right to expect academic integrity from each of their
peers.
GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS
General Responsibilities
A student shall in no way misrepresent his or her work.
A student shall in no way fraudulently or unfairly advance his or her academic
position.
A student shall refuse to be a party to another student's failure to maintain
academic integrity.
A student shall not in any other manner violate the principle of academic
integrity.
Examples of Violations
The following actions are examples of activities that violate the Code of
Academic Integrity and subject their actors to proceedings under the Code. This
is not a definitive list.
Knowingly representing the work of others as one's own.
2. Using, obtaining, or providing unauthorized assistance on examinations,
papers, or any other academic work.
Fabricating data in support of laboratory or field work.
4. Forging a signature to certify completion of a course assignment or a
recommendation to graduate school.
5. Unfairly advancing one's academic position by hoarding or damaging library
materials.
6. Misrepresenting one's academic accomplishments.
Specific Guidelines for Courses
Examinations. During in-class examinations no student may use, give, or receive
any assistance or information not given in the examination or by the proctor. No
student may take an examination for another student. Between the time a
take-home examination is distributed and the time it is submitted by the student
for grading, the student may not consult with any persons other than the course
professor and teaching assistants regarding the examination. The student is
responsible for understanding the conditions under which the examination will be
taken.
Course Assignments. Students are encouraged to discuss the content of a course
among themselves and to help each other to master it, but no student should
receive help in doing a course assignment that is meant to test what he or she
can do without help from others. Representing another's work as one's own is
plagiarism and a violation of this Code. If materials are taken from published
sources the student must clearly and completely cite the source of such
materials. Work submitted by a student and used by a faculty member in the
determination of a grade in a course may not be submitted by that student in a
second course, unless such submission is approved in advance by the faculty
member in the second course. If a student is submitting all or part of the same
work simultaneously for the determination of a grade in two or more different
courses, all faculty members in the courses involved must approve such
submissions.
Academic Misconduct. A faculty member may impose a grade penalty for any
misconduct in the classroom or examination room. Examples of academic misconduct
include, but are not limited to, talking during an exam, bringing unauthorized
materials into the exam room, and disruptive behavior in the classroom.
o The faculty member must promptly notify the student of the reason for the
imposition of a penalty for academic misconduct and the degree to which his
or her grade will be affected.
o Academic misconduct is not a violation of academic integrity. The student may,
however, seek review by the Academic Integrity Hearing Board on the basis either
that the finding of guilt is arbitrary and capricious or that the penalty for
academic misconduct is excessive or inappropriate to the circumstances involved.
("Arbitrary and capricious" describes actions which have no sound basis in law,
fact, or reason or are grounded solely in bad faith or personal desires. A
determination is arbitrary and capricious only if it is one no reasonable mind
could reach.)
Principles for Computer Use and Network Systems
The use of computers and network systems in no way exempts students from the
normal requirements of ethical behavior in the Cornell University community. Use
of a computer and network system that is shared by many users imposes certain
additional obligations. In particular, data, software and computer capacity have
value and must be treated accordingly.
Although some rules are built into computer and network systems, such
restrictions cannot limit completely what students can do. In any event students
are responsible for their actions whether or not rules are built in, and whether
or not they can circumvent them.
Standards of behavior include:
Respect for the privacy of other users' information, even when that information
is not securely protected.
Respect for the ownership of proprietary software. For example, unauthorized
copies of such software for one's own use, even when that software is not
protected against copying is inappropriate.
Respect for the finite capacity of the system and limitation of use so as not to
interfere unreasonably with the activity of other users.
Respect for the procedures established to manage the use of the system.