Academic Integrity

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the use of unauthorized materials, information, or aids in any academic exercise or coursework; dishonest or unfair acts to gain academic advantage; or the failure to observe the expressed procedures or instructions for an academic course.

Examples of Cheating include but are not limited to:

• Copying from others.
• Having another person attend, and/or participate, and/or complete coursework on your behalf.
• Tampering with coursework after it has been graded, and then returning it in an attempt to earn a higher grade.
• Failing to abide by the expressed instructions for the coursework.
• Using unauthorized materials, prepared answers, notes, or other information during an examination or quiz.

Dishonest conduct includes, but is not limited to, fabricating information, or knowingly furnishing false information.

Examples of Dishonest Conduct include but are not limited to:

• Stealing or attempting to steal an examination or answer key from the instructor.
• Submitting the same coursework for credit in more than one course without consulting all instructors involved.
• Falsifying attendance records by signing-in for students not present in the class.
• Creating fake lab data.
• Falsifying or forging documents.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of the work of another or an entity (including words, ideas, designs, or data) without giving appropriate citation and/or attribution. This includes, but is not limited to, representing part or all of a Student’s work obtained by purchase or otherwise as their own work; the omission of or failure to appropriately acknowledge the source of the work; or representing the work of another person, entity, or the Student’s own previous work as if it were the Student’s new work. Unless otherwise specified by the Instructor, all submissions to meet course requirements (including a paper, project, exam, computer program, oral presentation, or other work) must either be the Student’s own original work or appropriately acknowledge the source.

Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:

• Using work created by ChatGPT and failing to include appropriate citation.
• Failing to correctly cite sources referenced and/or used.

Any student who is complicit, assists, or seeks assistance from another person to complete coursework, beyond the expectations or without express permission from the Instructor.

Examples of Collusion include:

• Having another person attend, participate, or complete coursework on your behalf.
• Providing coursework in spaces for others to use, including but not limited to Chegg and CourseHero.
• Giving previously completed coursework to another for them to use.
• Having a translation service/tool edit coursework.
• Allowing others to do the research and writing of an assigned paper (including use of the services of a commercial term-paper company).
• Allowing another student to copy one’s own work.
• Taking an examination or completing course work for another student.
• Communicating exam answers to other students during an examination or communicating examination questions to students who will take the same examination later.

When students resort to dishonest means, it is often because they are stressed and feeling pressed for time. This is not an excuse for violating UCI’s Academic Integrity Policy. Be aware of the deadlines for your assignments and exams, and set benchmarks for yourself so that you stay on top of the assignments. Do not procrastinate! When planning out your study time and your drafts, make sure that you also block off time for your non-academic needs. UCI’s Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion has excellent online resources for managing stress and maintaining balance in your life.

UCI’s LARC office offers free workshops and academic coaching and study tips & tools to enhance your study skills. Using good study habits reduces your overall workload, reduces stress, and helps you to learn more effectively and efficiently.

Plagiarism is one of the most common forms of academic misconduct at UCI, and it can easily be avoided. Plagiarism occurs when you submit an assignment, a part of an assignment, or a creative work as your own when it was originally created by someone else or by generative AI. Self-plagiarism occurs when you submit your own work for more than one class without permission from the instructors. UCI’s Writing Center can provide support and resources to assist with effective writing and communication.

Please review these additional resources to learn how to correctly paraphrase and cite others’ work in your own assignments:

• UCI Library Introductory Guide to Citations
• Online Writing Lab (OWL) @ Purdue
• Indiana University Plagiarism Tutorials
• Modern Language Association (MLA) (including guidance on how to cite generative AI)
• American Psychological Association (APA) (including guidance on how to cite ChatGPT)

Your instructors and TAs want to see you succeed in your education! If you are uncertain about the requirements for an assignment or for the course as a whole, don’t be afraid to attend office hours and/or email your instructor or TAs to ask questions. Never turn to cheating as a last resort; discuss the situation with your instructors and/or TAs, and you may be able to find a solution.

There are many more campus resources available to support students and their needs.