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Academic integrity violations are categorized into four levels with appropriate sanction guidelines for each.

Level One Violations

  • Reasonable to conclude that the student's behavior was a result of inexperience with academic integrity principles and policies (for example, a first-semester student).
  • Violation was minor or occurred on an assignment that was worth a small portion of the student's course grade.

View examples of Level One violations and sanctions.

Level Two Violations

  • Actions are dishonest in character.
  • Impact a more significant amount of the assignment or course grade.

View examples of Level Two violations and sanctions.

Level Three Violations

  • Actions are more flagrantly dishonest in character.
  • Impact a major or essential portion of the course work.
  • Involves planning and deliberation.

View examples of Level Three violations and sanctions.

Level Four Violations

  • Actions are flagrantly dishonest.
  • Serious breaches of profession and personal integrity.

View examples of Level Four violations and sanctions.

Examples of violations and sanctions

Level One

Examples include, but aren't limited to:
  • Scholarly negligence, or an incorrectly executed citation in an otherwise properly cited paper.
  • Copying one answer on a minor homework assignment.
  • Engaging in collaboration on an assignment even when the rules weren't clear.
Sanctions 

Students are likely to:

  • receive an official warning
  • write a reflection paper
  • have one assignment's grade reduced by one letter grade
  • or be mandated to attend an Academic Integrity Seminar or another educational workshop.

Level Two

Examples include, but aren't limited to:
  • Copying homework, assignments or labs from others.
  • Collaborating with others on an independent assignment when guidelines explicitly forbid it.
  • Submitting a portion of the same material in more than one course without prior authorization.
  • Possession of unauthorized materials for assignments.
  • Providing another student with one’s own assignment, paper, exam or quiz.
  • Signing in another student for class attendance or participation marks.
  • Making lab data available to a student who did not attend the lab.
  • Plagiarism, or limited copying and pasting from secondary sources without citation.
  • Possession or provision of unauthorized aids (for example, cheat sheets, cell phone, class notes) when it cannot be determined if used.
  • "Panic" copying of one answer from another student during an exam or quiz.
  • Allowing another student to copy during an exam.
Sanctions 

Students are likely to:

  • write a reflection paper
  • have their grade reduced for an assignment or the course
  • be mandated to attend an Academic Integrity Seminar or another educational workshop
  • or another sanction as deemed appropriate under the circumstances.

Level Three

Examples include, but aren't limited to:
  • Copying a significant portion of or an entire assignment.
  • Splitting up independent assignments with others and copying parts from each other.
  • Providing another student with an assignment or homework when provision was explicitly prohibited by course or university policies.
  • Submitting substantially (for example, a larger percentage of the paper/assignment) the same material in more than one course without prior authorization.
  • Plagiarism, or extensive copying and pasting from secondary sources without attribution.
  • Possession and use of unauthorized aid during a test or assignment.
  • Extensive copying during an exam or quiz.
  • Allowing another student to extensively copy during an exam or quiz.
  • Altering a grade exam or test for re-grade.
  • Fabricating a citation in a paper.
  • Fabricating data for a lab or research paper.
  • Presenting a false excuse to miss an assignment, test or exam, class, etc. or to receive unfair accommodation.
Sanctions

Students are likely to:

  • be suspended for at least six months
  • be placed on academic conduct probation
  • be mandated to attend an Academic Integrity Seminar or some other educational workshop
  • write a reflection paper
  • have their course grade reduced with option that grade cannot be replaced by retaking class
  • receive a failing grade or reduction of course grade
  • or another sanction as deemed appropriate under the circumstance.

Level Four

Examples include, but aren't limited to:
  • Any second violation of the policy, especially after a student has already been suspended.
  • Any level of violation committed by a graduate student.
  • Taking an exam for another person (or vice versa).
  • Stealing or fraudulently obtaining answers or an advance copy of an exam.
  • Changing/helping to change any record assignment or course grade on instructor or university record.
  • Submitting an entire paper or assignment written by another person.
  • Replacing the name on another's assignment and handing it in as one's own.
  • Forging documentation, for example, medical or government document.
  • Selling or distributing previously administered/taken exams, papers and other assignments.
Sanctions

Students are likely to:

  • be suspended for at least one calendar year
  • be expelled, which is permanent separation from institution
  • be placed on academic conduct probation
  • have their course grade reduced with option that grade cannot be replaced by retaking class
  • receive a failing grade with option that grade cannot be replaced by retaking class
  • be mandated to attend an Academic Integrity Seminar or another educational workshop
  • write a reflective paper
  • be denied their degree
  • be barred from readmission
  • have their degree or diploma revoked
  • or another sanction as deemed appropriate under the circumstances.

 

Contact

Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
936.468.2703
Fax: 936.468.7144
sco@sfasu.edu

Physical Address:
Rusk Building, Third Floor Lobby

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 13020, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962-3020