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Academic Integrity
 Academic
integrity defines a university and is essential to the mission of education.
At Columbia students are expected to participate in an academic community
that honors intellectual work and respects its origins. In particular,
the abilities to synthesize information and produce original work are
key components in the learning process. As such, academic dishonesty is
one of the most serious offenses a student can commit at Columbia and
can be punishable by dismissal.
Think Before You Cheat
Students rarely set out with the intent of engaging in academic dishonesty.
But classes are challenging at Columbia, and frequently the workload and
grading standards greatly exceed students’ high school experiences.
Students will often find themselves pressed for time, unprepared for an
assignment or exam, or feeling that the risk of earning a poor grade outweighs
the need to be thorough. Such circumstances lead some students to behave
in a manner that compromises the integrity of the academic community,
disrespects their instructors and classmates, and deprives them of an
opportunity to learn. In short, they cheat. If you ever find yourself
in such circumstances, you should immediately contact your instructor
and your adviser for advice. Just keep in mind how hard you have worked
to get to this point in your academic career, and don’t jeopardize
your Columbia education with a moment of unwise decision making.
The easiest way to avoid the temptation to cheat in the first place
is to prepare yourself as best you can. Here are some basic suggestions
to help you along the way:
- Be sure that you understand what your instructors deem as academic dishonesty
and their policy on citation and group collaboration.
- Clarify any questions or
concerns that you might have about assignments with your instructors
as early as possible.
- Develop a timeline for drafts and final edits of
assignments and begin preparation in advance.
- Avoid plagiarism and acknowledge people’s opinions and theories
by carefully citing their words and always indicating your sources.
- Utilize the campus’ resources,
such as the Advising Centers and Counseling and Psychological Services,
if you are feeling overwhelmed, burdened, or pressured.
- Assume that collaboration in the completion of assignments
is prohibited unless specified by the instructor.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited
to deceitfulness in academic assignments or in
dealing with University officials, including faculty
and staff members.
Here are the most common types of academic dishonesty:
- plagiarism (copying word for word or paraphrasing without proper
citation or acknowledgment from a written or electronic source)
- cheating
on examinations
- collaborating on assignments
- receiving unauthorized assistance on
an assignment
- copying computer programs
- forgery
- submitting work for one course that has already been used
for another course
- selling of notes, exams, papers, etc.
- lying to a professor or University
officer
- obtaining advance knowledge of exams or other assignments without
permission
Plagiarism, which is the use of words or ideas belonging to others without quotation marks
or proper citation, is considered one of the most serious violations of academic integrity
and is a growing problem on university campuses. One of the most prevalent forms of plagiarism
involves students using information from the Internet without proper citation. While the Internet
can provide a wealth of information, sources obtained from the Web must be properly cited just
like any other source. If you are uncertain how to properly cite a source of information that
is not your own, whether from the Internet or elsewhere, it is critical that you do not hand
in your work until you have learned the proper way to use in-text references, footnotes, and
bibliographies. Faculty members are available to help as questions arise about proper citations,
references, and the appropriateness of group work on assignments. You can also check with the
Undergraduate Writing Program. Ignorance of proper citation methods does not exonerate one
from responsibility.
Sanctions
A student charged with academic dishonesty shall be informed of the allegation in writing
and summoned to a formal hearing. Based on the severity of the infraction, the student’s
previous record, and the evidence presented at the hearing, possible outcomes include, but
are not limited to:
- Not guilty (no sanction)
- Warning
- Disciplinary probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
Students found responsible of academic dishonesty face reports of such offenses on future
recommendations for law, medical, or graduate school. The parents or guardians of students
found guilty will also be notified.
Personal Responsibility, Finding Support, and More Information
 A
student’s education at Columbia University is comprised of two complementary
components: a mastery over intellectual material within a discipline and
the overall development of moral character and personal ethics. Participating
in forms of academic dishonesty violates the standards of our community
at Columbia and severely inhibits a student’s chance to grow academically,
professionally, and socially. As such, Columbia's approach to academic
integrity is informed by its explicit belief that students must take full
responsibility for their actions, meaning you will need to make informed
choices inside and outside the classroom. Columbia offers a wealth of
resources to help students make sound decisions regarding academics, extracurricular
activities, and personal issues. If you don’t know where to go,
see your class dean.
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