Scholastic Dishonesty

 

What is Scholastic Dishonesty?

Collin College's Expectations


As stated in the Student Code of Conduct, "Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted for credit is expected to be the student's own work" (2023-2024 Collin College Student Handbook, p. 109).

What is Cheating?


At Collin College, cheating "includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally having access to and/or using unauthorized materials identified by the faculty member, including, but not limited to, material generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs and content generators, or electronic, digital media, telecommunication, and/or wearable devices (e.g., laptops, phones, smartwatches, Fitbits, Bluetooth devices, tablets) to complete a quiz, examination, or class assignment; receiving information in an unauthorized manner during a quiz or examination or to complete an assignment; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance; using information about exams posted on the internet or in any electronic medium; violating a faculty member’s and/or the Testing Center’s testing policies and procedures; leaving a test site without permission; failing to secure test materials; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; using someone else’s work for an assignment in whole or in part as if it were one’s own (e.g., turning in a copy of someone else’s work as one’s own work, or incorporating text generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs or content generators as one’s own writing); submitting academic work in whole or in part for more than one (1) assignment, class, or institution without the faculty member’s permission (i.e., recycling an assignment or self-plagiarism); using annotated texts or teacher’s editions; making false statements or omissions related to applications for enrollment, credit or classwork, research, or the award of a degree; falsifying academic records or documents; and attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course through any other dishonest means" (2023-2024 Collin College Student Handbookp. 109-110).

 

Watch this video to learn more about cheating, and then test your knowledge with this quiz.

What is Collusion?


At Collin College, collusion "includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty; failing to secure academic work; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; collaborating with or communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or course assignment without the faculty member’s permission; and allowing a classmate to copy answers" (2023-2024 Collin College Student Handbook, p. 110).

 

Watch this video to learn more about collusion, and then test your knowledge with this quiz.

What is Plagiarism?


At Collin College, plagiarism "includes, but is not limited to, intentionally or unintentionally failing to quote and cite words, information, and/or ideas taken from a source(s) in accordance with a citation style approved by the faculty member and/or inadequately paraphrasing" (2023-2024 Collin College Student Handbookp. 110).

 

Watch this video to learn more about plagiarism, and then test your knowledge with this quiz.

 

Click here to view the Plagiarism and Citation Guide.

What Happens When a Student is Reported for Scholastic Dishonesty?


Once the completed Student Incident Report form is received, it will be assigned to a District Dean of Students Office case adjudicator. The case adjudicator will conduct an investigation and instruct the student to schedule an appointment for a notification conference to discuss the allegation(s). No matter what the circumstances, the incident will be considered an alleged offense until an administrative decision is reached through the student disciplinary process. A student found responsible for violating the Student Code of Conduct will receive an appropriate disciplinary penalty or penalties.

 

To learn more about the Student Disciplinary Process, see the Student Disciplinary Process Flowchart and the Student Code of Conduct located in the current Collin College Student Handbook.

When Can a Grade be Assigned in a Scholastic Dishonesty Case?


When a faculty member submits a Student Incident Report alleging scholastic dishonesty (i.e., cheating, collusion, and/or plagiarism), the assignment in question should not be graded and the final course grade should not be entered until the disciplinary case is resolved and the faculty member is notified by the case adjudicator that the case is closed. If the student is found responsible for committing scholastic dishonesty, the faculty member may then assign an appropriate Scholastic Penalty in accordance with their scholastic dishonesty syllabus policy. The faculty member will determine the appropriate Scholastic Penalty, which may range from a grade of 0 on the assignment to failing the course.