Academic Integrity
Academic integrity means that students are honest and truthful in their studies by taking credit for only their own work. Stress and pressure can sometimes lead to taking short cuts that compromise academic integrity because of the lack of time or the desire to get top grades.
My message is to always take the high road: do your best in classes and teamwork, no matter what grade you receive. Each student has likely heard at some point that what is learned is more important than what grade is achieved. The gains of academic dishonesty are short-term and shallow while the gains of true learning are long-term and deep.
At CSULB, information on plagiarism and cheating can be found online: CSULB Cheating and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons as if they were one's own, without giving credit to the source. Acknowledgment of an original author or source must be made through appropriate references, i.e., quotation marks, footnotes, or commentary.
Cheating is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain or aiding another to obtain academic credit for work by the use of any dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to: copying, discussion of answers or ideas relating to the answers on an examination, using or displaying notes and "cheat sheets," or other information or devices inappropriate to prescribed test conditions.
The following actions are available to faculty members who find students have been cheating or plagiarizing:
- Review – no action.
- An oral reprimand with emphasis on counseling toward prevention of further occurrences.
- A requirement that the work be repeated.
- Assignment of a score of zero (0) for the specific demonstration of competence, resulting in the proportional reduction of the final course grade.
- Assignment of a failing final grade.
- Referral to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development for possible probation, suspension, or expulsion.
Information on standards for student conduct can be found online: REGULATION XVI Standards for Student Conduct
Sincerely,
Mark M. Suazo
Dean, College of Business
