Academic integrity can be defined as responsible citizenship in all courses and work done for credit at the University. We have specific expectations for what it means to be responsible in academic work, and those are described in detail in the University’s Academic Integrity Code. At the heart of the Code is the assumption that all students are submitting authentic work that represents what they’re capable of doing in response to an assignment, and all instructors provide evaluation based on that agreement. Plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, and inappropriate use of resources are among the concerns addressed in our Code. 

After a concern is brought to our office, students will receive a notification letter of a potential academic integrity concern. They will receive a time and date to meet with our Academic Integrity Coordinator, where they will be provided with all of the necessary information about their case and what they need to do next. Students then have five business days to submit a student statement, where they will accept or deny responsibility for the concern, explain what occurred, and choose who they would like to resolve their case. They can choose to meet with our AIC administrator, to submit their statement without a meeting, or have a panel hearing comprised of two faculty members and one student. 

More information about the process can be found on the Student Resources page on Sharepoint. AU login is required.

First, read the Code itself. Parts of it appear on syllabi across the University, and students are responsible for understanding the Code’s expectations. Ask questions of your professors and advisors. 

One way to practice responsible academic citizenship, and avoid potential Code violations, is plan ahead in your work. There are many resources on campus that can help students – with, for example, making a plan of action for completing assignments, getting more confident with citations, and developing strategies for organizing your research. 

It’s also important to ask questions of your instructors, as guidelines in different classes will vary. Ask about when it’s okay to collaborate with others, when it’s not, and what responsible collaboration looks like. Ask what kinds of help resources are acceptable, and which are not. Ask if a test is “closed book” (no resources are allowed) or “open book” (any resources or limited resources are allowed). 

When you’re taking a test that’s “closed book,” keep your phone somewhere else, don’t use wearable technology to keep track of the time (use a classroom’s wall clock, or ask the instructor to provide regular updates), and don’t communicate with others.

For submitting written work, account for all the sources you use and research you do with appropriate citation, as directed in the course. Don‘t include sources you haven’t read or consulted! If you’re using any approved digital tools – including AI tools that might be permitted in the course, such as ChatGPT or tools that find or manage research – find and verify those sources, and read them, before including them in your submission. Make sure you’ve appropriately accounted for any help you may have received from AI tools, if they’re permitted in your class. Ask your professor about specific AI tools you’d like to use before doing so.

Faculty can report concerns about academic integrity matters to the Office of Academic Integrity’s Assistant Director, Chris Halsne (halsne@american.edu) or at academicintegrity@american.edu. Faculty are asked to submit the course syllabus, assignment instructions, and details about their concern. Faculty should not enter grades for work that’s raised concerns.

Students should know that faculty are required to report concerns, and that the Office of Academic Integrity communicates with students to share information with them, organize the process, and allow them opportunities to respond. If a student receives a letter from our office to notify them that a case has been opened, the student should continue attending the class and doing the coursework until the case is resolved. Students with questions can contact academicintegrity@american.edu

Students receive a letter from the Office of Academic Integrity to notify them that their instructor has submitted a concern and we have opened a case to examine it further. Students are encouraged to read the letter, respond to confirm they’ll attend the meeting, and review the Academic Integrity Code. Students should continue attending class and doing coursework, and should not talk with the professor about the concern, since the OAI manages the process. Dropping the course or changing the grade option is not permitted when an academic integrity concern is raised. 

Students involved in the process are advised to read the Code and check their email regularly, to continue attending the class until the case is resolved, and to reach out to academic advisors for further support and questions.

From the text of the Academic Integrity Code, outcomes for students found responsible for violating the Code may include one or more of the following:

a. A failing grade for the course.

b. A failing grade, along with a notation of the Code violation on the student’s permanent record.

c. Suspension for one or more academic terms, including the term in which the offense occurred. A notation of the Code violation will be entered on the student's permanent record.

d. Dismissal (for a specified term or permanently) from the university. A notation of the Code violation will be entered on the student's permanent record.

e. Other sanctions as appropriate, including, for example, remedial work, a lower course grade, and so on.

Undergraduate students found responsible for violating the Academic Integrity Code may not use the grade replacement option for the course in which the violation occurred. The impact on academic progress will vary depending on the outcome and on an individual student’s situation. Students should consult with their academic advisor to specifically address this question for their own academic circumstances.

Students are entitled to a support person in the academic integrity process. A support person is defined as a member of the AU community. Support people are allowed to attend meetings with both the coordinator and AIC administrator, but do not have a say in the process. A support person might take notes, give the student support in writing their statement, help the student understand the process, and offer advice. Private consultation with a support person during any part of the process is permitted. Most commonly, students will reach out to their academic advisor as their support person. Information about supporting a student in the process is available on our Sharepoint site. AU login is required.

You may be asked to be a support person for a student involved in an academic integrity case. If so, we have resources you can consult on our Sharepoint page (AU login required). 

The Academic Integrity Code and the Undergraduate Academic Rules and Regulations do not permit a student to replace a grade in a course in which an Academic Integrity Code violation has occurred. If you’re an advisor and you receive a request for grade replacement, please check with our office before fulfilling it. We have a form for you to indicate the student’s information and the course number – it's available on our Sharepoint site.

No. These are two separate processes and two separate offices on campus. The Office of Academic Integrity handles all academic integrity concerns, while the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practice handles concerns about student conduct. There are two separate policies that govern each – the Academic Integrity Code, and the Student Conduct Code.