Northwestern University Principles Regarding Academic Integrity

Definition of Violations
Academic integrity at Northwestern is based on a respect for individual achievement that lies at the heart of academic culture. Every faculty member and student, both graduate and undergraduate, belongs to a community of scholars where academic integrity is a fundamental commitment.

This statement broadly describes principles of student academic conduct supported by all academic programs and faculties of the University, both undergraduate and graduate (post-baccalaureate). More detailed standards of academic conduct, procedures, and sanctions are set forth by each of the schools. It is the responsibility of every member of the academic community to be familiar with the specific policies of his or her own school, and to bear in mind relevant policies governing activities not directly addressed herein, such as internships, specific graduate programs, and University research. Students are responsible for knowledge of the information provided by the Undergraduate Academic Conduct Committee on their Web page at www.northwestern.edu/uacc/.

Basic Standards of Academic Integrity
Registration at Northwestern requires adherence to the University's standards of academic integrity. These standards may be intuitively understood, and cannot in any case be listed exhaustively; the following examples represent some basic types of behavior that are unacceptable:

Cheating: Using unauthorized notes, study aids, or information on an examination; altering a graded work after it has been returned; allowing another person to do one's work and submitting that work under one's own name; submitting identical or similar papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from the course instructors.

Plagiarism: Submitting material that in part or whole is not entirely one's own work without attributing those same portions to their correct source.

Fabrication: Falsifying or inventing any information, data or citation; presenting data that were not gathered in accordance with standard guidelines defining the appropriate methods for collecting or generating data and failing to include an accurate account of the method by which the data were gathered or collected.

Obtaining an Unfair Advantage:

• Stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining access to examination materials prior to the time authorized by the instructor
• Stealing, destroying, defacing or concealing library materials with purpose of depriving others of their use
• Unauthorized collaborating on an academic assignment
• Retaining, possessing, using or circulating previously given examination materials, where those materials clearly indicate that they are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the examination
• Intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student's academic work
• Otherwise undertaking activity with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair academic advantage over other students' academic work

Aiding and Abetting Academic Dishonesty:

• Providing material, information, or other assistance to another person with knowledge that such aid could be used in any of the violations stated above
• Providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity
  

Falsification of Records and Official Documents: Altering documents affecting academic records; forging signatures of authorization or falsifying information on an official academic document, grade report, letter of permission, petition, drop/add form, ID card, or any other official University document.

Unauthorized Access to Computerized Academic or Administrative Records or Systems: Viewing or altering computer records or systems; viewing or altering computer records, modifying computer programs or systems, releasing or dispensing information gained via unauthorized access, or interfering with the use or availability of computer systems or information.

Breaches in Academic Integrity
When a breach of academic integrity occurs in a School of Continuing Studies class, the administration takes a hard line and the sanctions imposed are severe-often including dismissal from the University. Each student is urged to be informed on this subject and avoid being implicated in any incident where his/her integrity might be questioned.

The School of Continuing Studies adheres to the principles of academic integrity adopted by Northwestern University. Students may also find it helpful to consult the University document, (Some Notes on Plagiarism and How to Avoid It,) which is available in both School of Continuing Studies offices.