UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct:
Honesty, Fairness & Integrity

This Code of Academic Conduct exists to support high standards of behavior and to ensure fair evaluation of student learning. Students who violate the Code of Academic Conduct are subject to disciplinary sanctions that include censure, probation, suspension, deferred separation or dismissal from the University of California. Unless specifically authorized by the instructor in writing, misconduct includes, but is not limited to the following:

➤ Academic misconduct on exams or other coursework

• Copying or attempting to copy from another student, allowing another student to copy, or collaborating with another student on an exam.
• Displaying or using any unauthorized material such as notes, cheat-sheets, or electronic devices, or content generated by artificial intelligence
• Looking at another student’s exam
• Not following an instructor’s directions
• Talking, texting or communicating during an exam
• Altering assignments or exams for re-grading purposes
• Bringing pre-written answers to an exam
• Having another person take an exam for the student, or taking an exam for another student
• Theft of academic work
• Unexcused exit and re-entry during an exam period

➤  Plagiarism

• Taking credit for any work not created by the student; work includes, but is not limited to, books, articles, experimental methodology or results, compositions, images, lectures, computer programs, internet postings, and content generated by software or artificial intelligence
• Copying any work not created by the student without indicating that it is copied and properly citing the source of the work
• Using ideas that are not the student's without putting such work in their own words or form and/or failing to provide proper citation
• Using false citations that do not correspond to the submitted work
• Representing previous work as if it is original or new work
• Submitting the same or similar work in more than one course without prior permission of the instructor

➤  Unauthorized collaboration

• Working together on graded coursework without permission of the instructor
• Working with another student beyond the limits set by the instructor
• Providing or obtaining unauthorized assistance on graded coursework

➤  Misuse of an instructor’s course materials or the materials of others

• Posting, purchasing, obtaining, sharing, or copying any course materials of an instructor without the explicit written permission of that instructor
• Unauthorized use of another student’s work

➤  Lying or fraud

• Giving false excuses to obtain exceptions for deadlines, to postpone an exam, or for other reasons
• Forging signatures or submitting documents containing false information
• Making false statements regarding attendance at class sessions, requests for late drops, incomplete grades, or other reasons

➤  Intimidation or disruption

• Interfering with the orderly operation of the campus involving teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures or other university activities
• Pressuring an instructor or teaching assistant to regrade work, change a final grade, or obtain an exception such as changing the date of an exam, extending a deadline, or granting an incomplete grade
• Refusing to leave an office when directed to do so
• Physically or verbally intimidating or threatening an instructor, teaching assistant or staff person, including, but not limited to, invading personal space, or engaging in any form of harassment
• Repeatedly contacting or following an instructor, teaching assistant, or staff person when directed not to do so
• Misusing a classroom electronic forum by posting material unrelated to the course
• Interfering with an instructor’s or teaching assistant’s ability to teach a class, or interfering with other students’ participation in a class

➤  Misuse of University properties or resources

• Purchasing or selling (or attempting to) one’s registration in a class

Upholding the UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct

Students, faculty, and university administration all have a role in maintaining an honest and secure learning environment at UC Davis.

➤ Students

The success of our Code of Academic Conduct depends largely on the degree that it is willingly supported by students. Students:

• Are responsible to know what constitutes cheating. Ignorance is not an excuse.
• Are required to do their own work unless otherwise allowed by the instructor.
• Are encouraged to help prevent cheating by reminding others about this Code and hold each other accountable by reporting any form of suspected cheating to the university.
• Shall respect the copyright privileges of works produced by faculty, the university, and other copyright holders.
• Shall not threaten, intimidate or pressure instructors or teaching assistants, or interfere with grading any coursework.
• Shall not disrupt classes or interfere with the teaching or learning environment.

➤ Faculty

Faculty members and instructors are responsible for teaching courses and evaluating student work, and are governed by University of California and UC Davis policies and regulations. Regulation 550 of the Davis Division of the Academic Senate addresses academic misconduct. Faculty and instructors:

• Will provide students with a course outline containing information about the content of the course, amount and kind of work expected, examination and grading procedures, and notice of the Code of Academic Conduct.
• Should monitor examinations to help prevent academic misconduct.
• Shall report all suspected cases of cheating and other misconduct to the Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs.

➤  University Administration

The university has delegated authority and responsibility to the Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs (OSSJA) for the adjudication and resolution of academic misconduct cases. OSSJA maintains records of academic misconduct. The university:

• Shall educate faculty and students about the Code of Academic Conduct.
• Shall provide physical settings such as classrooms and labs for examinations that minimize opportunities for academic misconduct.
• Shall assist and train faculty and teaching assistants about how to prevent and address academic misconduct.

➤  Submitting Reports and Judicial Procedures

• The Code of Academic Conduct governs academic conduct at UC Davis.
• Faculty have sole authority, as granted by the Academic Senate, to evaluate a student’s academic performance and assign grades. If academic misconduct is admitted or is determined by adjudication to have occurred, instructors may assign a grade penalty no greater than “F” for the course in question. If a report is pending at the end of an academic term, instructors should assign a temporary grade of “Y” for the course until the report is resolved.
• A faculty/student panel, convened by OSSJA, shall conduct formal hearings to adjudicate contested cases of academic misconduct, unless the right to a formal hearing has been withdrawn. The right to a formal hearing may be withdrawn because of a prior finding of misconduct.
• Instructors and teaching assistants may direct a student to leave a class immediately if the student’s behavior is disruptive.
• Instructors, teaching assistants and staff persons should contact police (530-752-1230 or 911) if they feel physically threatened.

 

Edited by MLA on 4/28/2023