Oklahoma State University is ranked as one of the top research universities in the country. It ranked among the top 100 colleges in the United States in U.S. News and World Report, and its honors system is one of the top 10 in the country. Oklahoma State University clearly holds students at its main Stillwater campus and its Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses to a high standard. The university expects students to act in a way that positively reflects the school's solid reputation.
Oklahoma State University takes academic integrity very seriously, and students accused of violating university policies can face serious disciplinary action. Unfortunately, school administrators often act too quickly when imposing punishments such as suspension or expulsion, often before students have even had a chance to defend themselves.
If you were accused of academic dishonesty at OSU's main Stillwater campus or its Oklahoma City or Tulsa campuses, you might find it confusing to navigate the sanction and appeals processes on your own. A college academic misconduct advisor can help you defend your case and protect your future.
Academic Integrity at Oklahoma State University
Academic integrity is considered a core value at Oklahoma State University campuses. The school refers to their expectations for student behavior as Cowboy Character, which involves maintaining honest academic practices and handling infractions fairly.
The school's Board of Regents-approved Academic Integrity Policy applies to all OSU campuses including the main Stillwater campuses and the Oklahoma City and Tulsa campuses. The policy states that all students and faculty members are expected to abide by policies regarding this issue. Section 1.03 states: “All members of the OSU community are entrusted with academic integrity, which encompasses the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, and responsibility.”
OSU's Oklahoma City campus has an additional summary of student disciplinary policies with similar prohibitions on academic misconduct and similar procedures, supplementing the Board of Regents-approved Academic Integrity Policy. OSU's Tulsa campus, rather than having its own supplemental policy like the Oklahoma City campus, instead refers directly to the university-wide, Board of Regents-approved Academic Integrity Policy.
College administrations often say they resort to serious disciplinary measures only when necessary, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. If you were accused of academic misconduct, you need an attorney-advisor to ensure faculty adhere to the school's policies during the sanction and appeals processes.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty at OSU
Academic integrity at OSU campuses centers on the completion and submission of one's own assignments, exams, and papers. Unauthorized assistance of any kind, whether given or received, is strictly prohibited. Some examples of academic dishonesty that can result in punishment include:
- Working with other students on an independent assignment
- Plagiarizing another person's work
- Submitting multiple versions of the same assignment
- Making up sources or citations
- Cheating on exams or helping someone else cheat
- Accessing exam questions prior to the test
- Destroying the work of others
- Falsifying your academic records
If you're accused of committing one of these or another academic integrity infraction, you may receive not only a harsh sanction but also a permanent mark on your academic record that can make it difficult to further your academic or professional career.
OSU Policy for Handling Academic Misconduct
Under the university-wide, Board of Regents-approved Academic Integrity Policy, instructors initiate the academic misconduct sanction process by filling out an Academic Integrity Inquiry Form and emailing it to the student to arrange for a meeting. The instructor recommends a sanction based on the severity of the alleged infraction and whether the student has committed an infraction in the past.
The resolution meeting between the student and the instructor results in one of five decisions:
- The instructor and student agree that the issue was a misunderstanding and no violation occurred.
- The student admits to the violation and accepts the instructor's proposed sanction.
- The student admits to the violation but does not accept the instructor's proposed sanction, which results in the transfer of the case to the Academic Integrity Panel.
- The student denies the allegation and rejects the proposed sanction, which results in the transfer of the case to the Academic Integrity Panel.
- The student does not appear at the resolution meeting, so the instructor follows through with their proposed sanction and emails their decision to the student.
The school finalizes the sanction if the student fails to respond within five school days of receiving the decision.
Sanctions for Academic Integrity Violations at OSU
Under the university-wide, Board of Regents-approved Academic Integrity Policy, instructors use a tiered sanction system to decide on disciplinary action in academic misconduct cases. The system consists of an admonition option plus three levels of sanctions. Instructors may choose admonition if the offense is the first for the student. An admonition is usually a warning and a slight grade reduction. However, first offenses do not automatically result in admonition.
A level one sanction involves a failing grade for the assignment or test in question. Actions that result in level one sanctions include:
- Failing to cite a source
- Cheating on an assignment worth 10% or less of the course grade
- Receiving unauthorized assistance
- Making up a reason for a missed due date
- Not following exam rules
- Asking a student to lie for you on an attendance sheet or vice versa
Level two sanctions result in a grade of F, which means the student failed because they committed an academic integrity violation. Level two sanctions include, but are not limited to:
- Turning in a paper written by someone else
- Plagiarizing an entire assignment
- Getting information about an exam beforehand
- Using technology to cheat
- Helping someone else cheat
- Asking someone to cheat for you
- Altering a score on an assignment
- Submitting the same work in multiple classes
Level three academic sanctions are the most serious. They result in expulsion and a permanent notation on your college transcript. Actions that result in level three sanctions include:
- Plagiarizing a thesis or dissertation
- Falsifying lab research
- Altering academic transcripts
Appealing an Academic Dishonesty Sanction at OSU
Under the university-wide, Board of Regents-approved Academic Integrity Policy, a student must submit an appeal within five school days of the decision. They must submit an appeal form along with any supporting documents or evidence that may reverse the decision. The Academic Integrity Panel meets to determine if the student committed the violation and, if so, if the recommended sanction is appropriate. The panel may uphold the decision or request a new hearing.
A College Academic Misconduct Advisor Can Help You
If you've been accused of academic dishonesty at any Oklahoma State University campus, including the main campus in Stillwater or the campuses in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, your academic career and professional future may be on the line. You need the help of an experienced college academic misconduct advisor. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has spent many years helping students across the United States in your situation, and he can help you defend your reputation, too. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686.
