Academic
Integrity
Module
The Student Honor Process
Any member of the Maryland community (from students to faculty to staff and everyone in between) can report academic integrity violations to the Office of Student Conduct and they are expected to report it whenever they find out about it.
Below is a step-by-step guide to the Academic Misconduct process.
If you have any questions or are interested in getting involved, go to the Student Honor Council's website.
If you need representation, check out the Student Legal Aid's website.
The XF
Upon review by a Student Honor Board the standard, first-time punishment for a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity is THE DREADED XF.
First off, you fail the class. But also, you get a notation on your transcript that states the failure was due to academic dishonesty. As long as the X is in place, you may not represent the University in any extracurricular activity (like playing on one of our NCAA teams) nor can you be an officer of any University club or organization.
Nonetheless, the notation on the transcript can be removed after 12 months if you complete an Academic Integrity Seminar (through the Office of Student Conduct) and successfully petition the Student Honor Council to remove the “X.” The "F" will remain on your transcript forever, though.
Depending on the situation, your history, and the instructor's recommendation, a less severe sanction than the “XF” can be given. For example, if you present sound mitigating factors that help explain why the dishonesty took place you can get a plain, old-fashioned F for the class, or receive no credit for the assignment. Also, if you turn yourself in for a violation in a written statement to the Office of Student Conduct, you may be able to avoid getting an XF.
But, a more severe sanction, like suspension or expulsion from the University, is also possible. These are only for when you have a prior history of an academic or non-academic offense, or if the act of dishonesty demonstrates planning, conspiring, or inflicting harm on others.
FAQ's
Do you only get an XF if you cheat on a big assignment?
No. You can get an XF if you cheat on any academic assignment - including extra credit and things that don't count toward your grade.
Are professors the only people who can report cheating?
Any member of the University of Maryland community can report an act of dishonesty - especially TA's, who submit the vast of majority of referrals.
Correct work is supposed to look the same, anyway. Can instructors really tell if you are copying?
Yes, they certainly can. Every student has a unique way of solving problems, and your instructors can easily tell when you are doing something suspiciously different from how you usually do it. Some also have computer programs that can scan documents to check for similarities.
If I plagiarize just a sentence, would I be better off than someone who plagiarizes an entire 20 page paper?
No. Plagiarism is plagiarism, and you can get an XF for it, no matter how much or how little you do it.
Someone caught me trying to cheat before I actually cheated. Am I still in trouble?
Yes. Attempts at academic dishonesty are still considered to be acts of academic dishonesty.
I didn't realize what I was doing would be considered cheating. Am I still in trouble?
Yes. As a member of the University of Maryland community, you are responsible for knowing the University's policies - including the Code of Academic Integrity - and upholding them.
My professor never said what is or isn't appropriate. Should I just use my own judgment?
No. Every professor has different ideas of what constitutes academic dishonesty, so you shouldn't try to guess what they are. No matter what though, they all have their own specific idea of what academic dishonesty is, and they deeply care about it. Never take the risk of assuming what is or isn't appropriate, and be sure to ask your professor whenever you need clarification.
