Academic Integrity Policy

Last updated: 2026

The Importance of Academic Integrity

Academic integrity furthers the central purpose of the university: to foster high-quality learning, teaching, and research which arises from the intellectual and creative work of our entire academic community. Just as faculty are expected to follow the fundamental values of academic integrity in their own scholarship, so too are students. When students put forth their best efforts and act with integrity, they gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence that come from earned success and ultimately develop the habits of mind needed to become lifelong learners and educated citizens.

This policy is designed to cultivate an academic environment of honesty and integrity by ensuring that undergraduate and graduate students understand and adhere to ethical standards in their academic work. By maintaining high standards of academic integrity, Fitchburg State University protects the value of the educational process and the credibility of the institution and its graduates in the larger community. This policy outlines the academic integrity standards that apply to students and provides procedures to address alleged violations, fostering a fair and supportive educational environment.

Definition of Academic Integrity 

Academic integrity is the practice of honest, transparent, and ethical behaviors in all aspects of academic work. It requires a firm adherence by all members of our university community to fundamental values. These fundamental values include honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility, respect, and courage (International Center for Academic Integrity).

Fitchburg State University Academic Community Responsibilities

Our scholarly community flourishes when all members are committed to upholding the values of academic integrity. Through our daily practices, students, faculty and administrators have responsibilities to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. 

Student Responsibilities:

To uphold academic integrity, students shall:

  • Produce work that results from their own thought and study.
  • Complete and submit academic work that is an honest and fair representation of their knowledge and abilities at the time of submission.
  • Be responsible for knowing and following the academic integrity standards as outlined in course syllabi. This includes course policies for the use, disclosure, and citation of artificial intelligence and other tools. 
  • Actively seek clarification from your faculty member if uncertain about academic integrity standards in their course or in this academic integrity policy. A lack of understanding of the academic integrity standards and policy is not a valid defense if charged with an academic integrity violation. 

No student shall engage in an activity that undermines their own academic integrity or facilitates academic integrity violations by others. This includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Using others’ (human or machine/artificial intelligence) ideas, words, research, or artistic creations without giving credit.
  • Citing source material improperly or inadequately
    • Using facts, data, or specific ideas without citing the source.
    • Using inaccurate or incomplete citation of sources.
    • Quoting another’s work without indicating it is a quotation.
    • Using artificial intelligence generated material without proper citation.

Seeking credit for the same work in more than one course includes, but is not limited to:

  • Submitting the same work, or significant portion of the same work, to two or more different courses without getting permission from the faculty member(s).
  • Using one’s own ideas, words, research, or artistic creations from prior work submitted in a course without proper citation to the previous work (self-plagiarism).

Misrepresentation or falsification of information includes, but is not limited to:

  • Intentionally misrepresenting information, including misquoting or purposefully taking ideas out of context.
  • Falsifying data, its collection or its interpretation in a research project. 
  • Fabricating sources including through artificial intelligence
  • Fabricating data or research findings using artificial intelligence.
  • Intentionally failing to include an accurate account of the method by which data was gathered or collected.
  • Presenting information or data not collected in accordance with standard applicable ethical guidelines, including the Institutional Research Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

Cheating includes, but is not limited to the following acts:

  • Possessing, using, or attempting to use in any academic exercise (such as an examination, paper, or other assignment) unauthorized materials, information, or technology, including cell phones or artificial intelligence tools. 
  • Copying another student’s work.
  • Taking sole credit for work produced by joint efforts.
  • Sharing or receiving answers for either a take-home or in-class examination unless explicitly permitted by the faculty member
  • Engaging (whether paid or unpaid) another person or commercial service to take an exam or prepare assigned work. 
  • Working on an examination outside the time limits specified by the faculty member unless an accommodation from Disability Services is documented. 

Facilitation includes but is not limited to:

  • Assisting another student to commit an act of academic dishonesty (for example, taking an examination for another student, knowingly allowing another student to copy your work).
  • Disseminating course assessment materials (for example, online exams, homework assignments, pictures of exams).
  • Collaborating with others on an assignment when individual work is required unless explicitly permitted by the faculty member. 

Faculty Responsibilities:

  • Applying this academic integrity policy fairly and consistently.
  • Promoting academic integrity through clear expectations on syllabi for all aspects of the course, including homework, collaborative assignments, research papers, and exams. 
  • Indicating whether artificial intelligence is permitted to be used in a course. 
  • If artificial intelligence is permitted, providing clear expectations on how and when it may be used, including in homework, assignments, research papers, and exams. 
  • Offering guidance to students who have questions about standards of academic integrity in the course or in the academic integrity policy.

Administrator Responsibilities:

  • Promoting a culture of academic integrity for all members of the academic community.
  • Ensuring that students who have allegations of violations of academic integrity against them receive due process by addressing the alleged violation in a fair and timely manner. 
  • Reviewing and revising the academic integrity policy regularly in accordance with university governance and inclusive of all voices. 
  • Supporting faculty, students, and staff who follow the policies and uphold standards.

Glossary of Terms

  • Academic Conduct Record - The electronic record which includes the Academic Integrity allegation letter provided to the student by the faculty member and the decision letter by the Academic Integrity Review Board, if there is a hearing. If the student is found not responsible, the documentation will be removed. If a case dismissal letter is issued, that will be placed in the Academic Conduct Record. No information will be released from the Academic Conduct Record outside of the academic integrity process unless prior consent is given by the student or a court order is issued requesting the information.
  • Academic Integrity - The honest, transparent, and ethical behaviors in all aspects of academic work. It requires a firm adherence by all members of our university community to fundamental values. These fundamental values include honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility, respect, and courage (International Center for Academic Integrity)
  • Academic Integrity Review Board and Process - A board consisting of a Chair who is an Academic Affairs administrator, two faculty members and one student member who review cases of academic integrity allegations for both undergraduate and graduate students. 
  • Advisor - An individual who provides support and/or advice to a student or faculty member during the academic integrity hearing process. During an academic integrity hearing, an advisor may observe, advise, or pass notes to the party but may not ask questions, speak, or directly participate in the process.
  • Artificial Intelligence - computer systems capable of performing complex tasks that historically only a human could do. Two types of artificial intelligence that may be associated with academic dishonesty include: 
    • Generative artificial intelligence (genAI) uses large language models and datasets to create human-like content, such as text, images, audio, and code.
    • Natural language processing (NLP) assists or automates the writing process. It goes beyond spellchecking and uses machine learning tools to provide suggestions for grammar, tone, clarity, and style.
  • Plagiarism - Intentionally or knowingly presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., without proper acknowledgment of the source). Ideas and information that are common knowledge is the sole exception to the requirement of acknowledging sources.
  • Sanction - A requirement a student must abide by or complete when found responsible for violating the Academic Integrity policy. A sanction can range from redoing the assignment to failing the class to suspension from the university depending upon the severity of the incident and the history of violations by the individual student.