Wayne State University

Academic Honesty Policy

All Wayne State University students must adhere to the University’s Student Due Process Policy.  Section 3.1 of that policy prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, which it defines as “any activity which tends to compromise the academic integrity of the institution or subvert the education process.”   Sections 3.3, 3.5 and 3.9 provide the following examples of academic dishonesty:  

1. Cheating, defined as “intentionally using or attempting to use, or intentionally providing or attempting to provide, unauthorized materials, information or assistance in any academic exercise.”  
2. Fabrication, defined as “intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation.”  
3. Plagiarism, defined as taking and using “another’s words or ideas as one’s own.”   
4. “Enlisting the assistance of a substitute in the taking of examinations.”   
5. “Violation of course rules as contained in the course syllabus or other written information provided to the student.”  

Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the violator’s attitude, and/or his/her prior infractions of the Student Due Process Policy, acts of academic dishonesty are subject to one or more of the following disciplinary sanctions as listed in Sections 5.1 through 5.6:  

1. Disciplinary Reprimand. Notification that the student has committed an act of misconduct, and warning that another offense may result in the imposition of a more serious sanction.   
2. Disciplinary Probation. A disciplinary status which does not interfere with the student’s right to enroll in and attend classes, but which includes specified requirements or restrictions (as, for example, restrictions upon the students representing the University in any extracurricular activity, or running for or holding office in any student group or organization) for a specific period of time as determined in the particular case.   
3. Suspension. A denial of the privilege of continuing or enrolling as a student anywhere within the University, and denial of any and all rights and privileges conferred by student status, for a specified period of time. At the termination of the suspension the student will be entitled to resume his/her education without meeting any special academic entrance requirements.  
4. Expulsion. A permanent denial of the privilege of continuing or enrolling as a student anywhere within the University, and permanent denial of any and all rights and privileges conferred by student status. 
5. Restitution. The requirement that a student make payment to the University or to another person or group of persons, or to a group or organization, for damage caused as a result of violation of this policy.   
6. Transcript Disciplinary Record. An entry onto the student’s transcript, permanently or for a specified period of time, in the following format:  

Section 5.7 of the Student Due Process Policy calls for other sanctions in place of, or in addition to, those listed above.  For example, Section 10.1 authorizes faculty members to “adjust the grade downward (including downgrading to a failing grade) for the test, paper, or other course-related activity in question, or for the entire course.”   

Students who commit academic dishonesty while employed by, receiving financial aid from, or taking classes offered by the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies may be subject to additional sanctions, including:  

1. Completion of an appropriate number of counseling sections, and/or attendance of a workshop, lecture, video presentation, or other appropriate activity centered on academic dishonesty. 
2. Writing a research paper on academic dishonesty. 
3. Losing their eligibility to receive Latino en Marcha scholarships for one or more academic terms. 
4. Getting written up, suspended or laid-off from their work-study jobs. 
5. Placed on probation from CBS-sponsored extra-curricular activities. 
6. Suspension from the CBS program for up to one year. 
7.  Expulsion from the CBS program. 
8. Other appropriate sanctions as determined by the affected CBS faculty or staff member in consultation with the program’s Director or his/her designee.  

If you are not certain about what is or is not academic dishonesty please contact the Ombudsperson’s Office or the University Judicial Officer.  To get help to improve your academic performance, please seek assistance from faculty members, the Academic Success Center, or the University Advising Center.