Academic integrity is an integral part of higher education institutions. When academic integrity declines, the quality of education does also. This is why colleges and universities prioritize enforcing rules to preserve academic integrity. In the event that students fail to comply with these rules, they may be subject to very serious consequences.
It's important for students accused of academic misconduct to seek the help of an attorney advisor. An experienced legal professional can help you clear your name, salvage your reputation, and avoid getting a record for your employer and outside institutions to see.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Colleges and universities in Michigan enforce guidelines for purposes of maintaining academic integrity. These rules are intended to keep students accountable and transparent when it comes to the formulation of their own academic works, and respect for the work of others. Any actions that break these rules constitutes academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct Violations
There are various forms of academic misconduct. Here are some of the most common definitions and examples of actions that might be punishable at your college:
Cheating: using dishonest, fraudulent, or deceitful tactics to gain academic merit.
- Having a stand-in take an exam for you, or standing in for someone else
- Copying from another student during an exam
- Sharing answers from a take-home exam (unless specifically authorized by an instructor)
- Using unauthorized materials, written notes, concealed information, or prepared answers to complete an exam or project.
- Allowing another person to write a paper for you
Fabrication/Falsification: inventing or modifying information in an academic exercise.
- Creating or altering citations within a paper
- Making up events, people, or interactions to complete an assignment
Plagiarism: using intellectual material created by another person in your work without acknowledging the source.
- Passing off the words, ideas, or concepts of others as your own
- Using portions or the entirety of another's work in your own work without acknowledging the source. This is known as citing the source. Citing must be done properly, and credit must be given for every direct quote, paraphrased ideas, summaries, or information that isn't considered common knowledge
Complicity: intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another student to perform academically dishonest acts.
- Allowing another student to copy answers from your exam onto theirs
- Letting another student use your identification to access restricted parts of campus
This list is general, and not intended to be restrictive or exhaustive. For a more detailed list of definitions and examples, please see your institution's code of conduct.
Consequences
Since administrators want to keep the quality of education high, they don't take kindly to academically dishonest acts. This is why the consequences for academic misconduct violations are almost always harsh. So harsh, that the effects of these repercussions extend beyond college sanctioning and into a student's professional life.
Job prospects with access to academic records will question the integrity of students with this violation. Government jobs, professions in law, careers in academia, for example, are prospects that may use this violation to justify denying people of employment.
Michigan Academic Misconduct Advisor
A finding of responsibility for academic misconduct can jeopardize the academic and professional goals you or your college student have set. If you value the investment you've made into your education and your professional future, contacting a skilled student defense attorney is a must. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped students who've acquired serious academic misconduct charges recover from these allegations, and he can do the same for you. Contact him today for more information.
Michigan colleges and universities where Joseph D. Lento can help as your or your student's academic misconduct advisor during investigations, hearings, and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following schools:
- Adrian College
- Albion College
- Alma College
- Alpena Community College
- Andrews University
- Aquinas College
- Baker College Center for Graduate Studies
- Baker College of Allen Park
- Baker College of Auburn Hills
- Baker College of Cadillac
- Baker College of Clinton Township
- Baker College of Flint
- Baker College of Jackson
- Baker College of Muskegon
- Baker College of Owosso
- Baker College of Port Huron
- Bay de Noc Community College
- Bay Mills Community College
- Calvin College
- Central Michigan University
- Cleary University
- College for Creative Studies
- Compass College of Cinematic Arts
- Concordia University Ann Arbor
- Cornerstone University
- Davenport University
- Delta College
- DeVry University Michigan
- Eastern Michigan University
- Ferris State University
- Finlandia University
- Glen Oaks Community College
- Gogebic Community College
- Grace Bible College
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Grand Valley State University
- Great Lakes Christian College
- Henry Ford Community College
- Hope College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Troy
- ITT Technical Institute Canton
- ITT Technical Institute Dearborn
- ITT Technical Institute Swartz Creek
- ITT Technical Institute Troy
- ITT Technical Institute Wyoming
- Jackson Community College
- Kalamazoo College
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College
- Kellogg Community College
- Kettering University
- Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
- Kirtland Community College
- Kuyper College
- Lake Michigan College
- Lake Superior State University
- Lansing Community College
- Lawrence Technological University
- Macomb Community College
- Madonna University
- Marygrove College
- Michigan Jewish Institute
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Technological University
- Mid Michigan Community College
- Monroe County Community College
- Montcalm Community College
- Mott Community College
- Muskegon Community College
- North Central Michigan College
- Northern Michigan University
- Northwestern Michigan College
- Northwood University Michigan
- Oakland Community College
- Oakland University
- Olivet College
- Rochester College
- Sacred Heart Major Seminary
- Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
- Saginaw Valley State University
- Sanford Brown College Dearborn
- Sanford Brown College Grand Rapids
- Schoolcraft College
- Siena Heights University
- South University Novi
- Southwestern Michigan College
- Spring Arbor University
- St Clair County Community College
- The Art Institute of Michigan
- University of Detroit Mercy
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan Dearborn
- University of Michigan Flint
- University of Phoenix Metro Detroit Campus
- University of Phoenix West Michigan Campus
- Washtenaw Community College
- Wayne County Community College District
- Wayne State University
- West Shore Community College
- Western Michigan University
- Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit
It is an unfortunate reality that academic misconduct charges can upend an accused student's life if not properly addressed, and Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have unparalleled experience passionately fighting for the future of his clients at colleges and universities in Michigan and throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a professional academic misconduct advisor for students facing disciplinary cases in Michigan and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Academic Misconduct Advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.
