Academic Misconduct

Issues that stem from academic work at UW Oshkosh are considered Academic Misconduct. As a UW Oshkosh student, it is your responsibility to be informed about what constitutes academic misconduct, how to avoid it and what happens if you decide to engage in it.

Examples of academic misconduct include (but are not limited to):

plagiarism (turning in work of another person and not giving them credit)
stealing an exam or course materials
copying another student’s homework, paper, exam
cheating on an exam (copying from another student, turning in an exam for re-grading after making changes, working on an exam after the designated time allowance)
falsifying academic documents

Academic Integrity Statement

Academic Integrity is critical to the mission of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. All members of the University community play a role in fostering an environment in which student learning is achieved in a fair, just and honest way. Faculty and instructional staff set the tone in their classrooms by communicating clear expectations to their students and educating them on the consequences of engaging in academic misconduct while referring to campus resources. Students are expected to uphold the core values of academic integrity which include honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. These core values, combined with finding one’s purpose and passion and applying them in and out of classroom learning, produce students who become extraordinary citizens.

How to Avoid Academic Misconduct

Know how to cite sources in a paper, lab report or other assignments
Use the writing center for help with APA, MLA and other citation styles
Avoid copying and pasting directly into your paper from the internet
Understand the expectations and limitations when working in groups.
- For example: is collaboration allowed on the project and the written paper, or only the project and your written paper should be done alone?
Utilize other campus resources for assistance
- Center for Academic Resources
- Math Lab

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I engage in academic misconduct?

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh takes academic misconduct allegations very seriously. Your professor will contact you if they believe you have engaged in academic misconduct and ask you to explain your work. If they still believe you engaged in such an act after meeting with you, they will decide on a sanction, which may include a zero on the assignment or exam, a lower grade in the course or failure in the course. The Dean of Student’s Office is informed and will contact the student about their rights.

Repeated acts of academic misconduct may result in more serious actions such as probation or suspension. See UWS Chapter 14 for more information.

What should I do if I know a classmate is cheating?

If you know a classmate is cheating on an exam or other academic exercise, notify your professor, teaching assistant or proctor of the exam. If you see a classmate cheating during an exam, raise your hand and inform the professor, teaching assistant or proctor verbally or by writing a note in your exam book. You may not want to be a tattle tale; however, as a part of the university community, you are expected to uphold the standards of the university. Also, consider how your classmate’s dishonesty on the exam may affect the overall grading curve and your grade in the class.

Academic Misconduct Process

If you are believed to have engaged in academic misconduct, the process below will be followed to decide if further action must be taken by the Dean of Students office. Click here to download the Academic Misconduct Flow-chart.

Location

Dempsey Hall 125
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901