CSU Global's courses are entirely online with no set class times or locations. However, just because you are studying online, that does not mean that you are not held to Colorado State University's standards of academic integrity. Once you are matriculated into Colorado State University's Global Campus, you are bound by its Student Code of Conduct. Academic integrity is at the very heart of university studies, and this code explicitly prohibits any kind of academic dishonesty. Colorado State University takes academic misconduct on its global, online campus every bit as seriously as an on-campus offense. Even for minor infractions, the consequences can be severe. Reports of academic misconduct can remain on your academic record and threatening your academic career and professional prospects. If you have been accused of academic misconduct, the best chance you have of clearing your name and defending your future is with the help of an experienced attorney advisor. A legal professional who is experienced in school disciplinary proceedings can help you reach a favorable outcome so you can move on with your education and your life.
Colorado State University-Global Campus Code of Conduct
All CSU Global students must adhere to the Student code of conduct. One of the student responsibilities the school outlines is, “To maintain academic excellence and practice academic integrity in all its shapes and forms. This includes submitting original work supported by research and citing references as required.”
If the school finds that students have violated the Student Conduct Code by a preponderance of the evidence, they will issue disciplinary sanctions. The preponderance of the evidence is a standard of evidence where the school just has to prove that it is more likely than not that you are guilty. To meet the burden of proof to punish you, they have to find that there is a greater than 50% chance that you have violated school policy.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Academic misconduct includes any kind of dishonesty in the process of completing and submitting academic work. Academic misconduct offenses include the following:
- Cheating: Intentionally using or unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic work. Students may not have other individuals conduct research or prepare work for them without advance authorization from the instructor. This includes commercial vendors, family members, friends, or fellow students.
- Fabrication: Inventing or falsifying any information or citation your work. Falsifying documentation meant to excuse or justify an absence or noncompletion of work.
- Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping another student commit an act of academic dishonesty.
- Plagiarism: Adopting or reproducing ideas, words, or statements of another person as one's own either knowingly, carelessly, or without acknowledgment. Colorado State University has a plagiarism policy that guides the specific process for handling plagiarism. There is more information on this below.
- Unauthorized Collaboration: Sharing information or working together in an academic exercise, without permission. Though you may study together, all work you submit for credit must be your own, unique work.
- Reusing and Repurposing One's Own Work: Colorado State University has a reuse and repurposing policy that governs the use of previous course work in future courses. Your assignment cannot be made up of more than 20% of quoted material. That includes both external sources and your own previously submitted content. If you are repeating a course, you must submit newly created work.
Disciplinary Process
Academic misconduct is handled at Colorado State University by the responsible course instructor, the Office of Student Affairs, and the Office of the Provost. If the college suspects you of academic dishonesty, they will notify you through your course instructor.
Typically you will have a private discussion with your course instructor about your academic integrity. You may choose to have a witness present. In some circumstances, an appointed representative might have an informal meeting with the instructor instead of the student.
Generally, your instructor will assess the offense and then report the concern to the Assistant Provost to discuss an appropriate penalty. Your instructor will notify you in writing to inform you what academic penalty you will receive. They will also explain the basis for their decision.
Colorado State University advises that most academic dishonesty violations are resolved in an agreed resolution between instructor and student. However, depending on the severity of the incident, the school might resolve the violation at the instructor, program, or school level.
The Office of Student Affairs will send information regarding suspected academic dishonesty to the appropriate Program Chair or the Office of the Provost. Colorado State University will hold on to these records for at least one year after you leave the university.
Sanctions
Students found to be in violation of the code of conduct at Colorado State University may be penalized in one or more of the following ways:
- a failing grade for the work in question,
- a failing grade for the course,
- loss of credit,
- warning,
- degree revocation,
- probation,
- suspension,
- revocation of admission or permanent expulsion
In reality, the consequences can be more far-reaching. Graduate schools or employers with access to your academic records may use these violations to deny you a position. If you hope to work in academia, law, or government, for instance, a record of academic misconduct could hamper or completely destroy your career prospects.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism offenses are handled by the Office of Student Affairs, according to the rules set out in the CSU Global Plagiarism Policy.
Faculty must report all suspected plagiarism to the Office of Student Affairs, who is then responsible for investigating reports, maintaining records, providing remediation resources, and communicating investigation results to faculty and students.
The Office of Student Affairs records all plagiarism offenses in your academic record. This penalty alone could be disastrous for aspirations towards graduate school or admission to certain professions.
Otherwise, the proceedings and consequences depend on how many offenses for which the school has previously found you guilty. The consequences are as follows:
- After a first offense, you will have the option to resubmit the assignment in question within five days of the first offense email notification from the Office of Student Affairs.
- After a second offense, you will have the option to resubmit the assignment with a 10% penalty in points within 3 days.
- After a third offense, you will receive a grade of zero for the assignment with no opportunity to resubmit.
- After a fourth offense, you will be given a Disciplinary Warning and be awarded an “F” in the course. You could also face immediate dismissal at the discretion of the Provost. Any subsequent confirmed plagiarism offense may similarly result in dismissal from the university.
Experienced Academic Misconduct Advisor
A finding against you for academic misconduct or plagiarism can jeopardize all your academic and professional goals. You have invested in your education, so to avoid seeing your professional goals upended, it is vital that you contact a skilled student defense attorney. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has unparalleled experience defending students against academic misconduct charges in schools across the country. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686.
