Academic Integrity

A degree from Samford University is evidence of achievement in scholarship and citizenship. Activities and attitudes should be consistent with high academic standards and Christian commitment, and should be in keeping with the philosophy and mission of the university. When a student is found guilty of dishonesty in academic work, for a first offense, the student will be placed on probation, and the professor will receive a recommendation that the student receive an “FX” in the course. Any student already on probation who is found guilty of dishonesty again automatically will be suspended.

Faculty Statement on Academic Dishonesty

Students, upon enrollment, enter into voluntary association with Samford University. They must be willing to observe high standards of intellectual integrity; they must respect knowledge and practice academic honesty. Those who cheat on an examination or class assignment are not only academically dishonest, but also completely deficient in the scholarly maturity necessary for college study.

Value Violations

An academic integrity value violation is defined as the act of lying, cheating or stealing academic information to gain academic advantage for oneself or another. As a Samford University student, one is expected neither to commit nor assist another in committing an academic integrity value violation. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to report observed academic integrity violations. Violations of the Academic Integrity Values Statement include, but are not limited to:

Academic Dishonesty

• Copying graded assignments
• Working together on a take-home test or assignments when specifically prohibited by the professor
• Looking at another student’s paper during an exam
• Looking at your notes when prohibited
• Acquiring a term paper written by someone else
• Taking an exam out of the classroom when prohibited
• Removing resource material from the University Library without authorization
• Giving your work to another to be copied
• Giving someone answers to exam questions during the exam
• After taking an exam, informing a person of questions that appeared on the exam
• Giving or selling a term paper or class work to another student

Plagiarism

• Copying homework answers from your text and handing them in for a grade
• Quoting text or other works on an exam, term paper or homework without citing the source
• Submitting a paper purchased from a term paper service or acquired from any Internet source
• Submitting another’s paper/project as your own
• Taking a paper from an organization’s files and handing it in as your own

Conspiracy

• Planning with one or more students to commit a violation of the Academic Integrity Values Statement
• Giving your term paper/project to another student who you know will plagiarize

Misrepresentation

• Having another person do your computer program, course project or lab experiment
• Lying to a professor to increase your grade