D08.0 Student Academic Integrity Policy

As members of an academic community, both students and faculty share responsibility for maintaining high standards of personal and professional integrity. If a student violates these standards, the Academic Integrity Process affords a fair resolution. The committee outlined herein may be called upon to hear cases where a breach of student academic integrity is alleged by instructor. In all cases, it is the responsibility of any university representatives to render fair and appropriate decisions reaffirming standards of integrity expected in the academic community.

The following sections outline the procedures for resolving allegations of a breach in student academic integrity.

At Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), academic integrity is a fundamental value that upholds the university’s educational mission. All members of the academic community—students, faculty, and staff—share the responsibility of maintaining high standards of honesty, professionalism, and ethical scholarship.

This policy establishes clear and consistent procedures for addressing suspected violations of academic integrity committed by students. The processes outlined in this document serve to:

• Ensure a structured and transparent approach to investigating and resolving alleged academic integrity violations.
• Provide an educational opportunity for students to understand why their actions were inappropriate and how to uphold academic integrity in the future.
• Maintain fairness and consistency in handling academic integrity cases across all university programs.
• Safeguard students’ rights by ensuring a fair resolution process, free from retaliation or bias.

If a student is found responsible for an academic integrity violation, appropriate disciplinary actions will be imposed up to and including failure of the course. Throughout the investigation and resolution process, confidentiality must be maintained by all parties involved, including faculty, staff, and students.

For faculty or staff violations of academic integrity—including aiding or abetting student misconduct—please refer to the applicable “C” or “E” policies, such as:

• C00.0 Code of Ethical Conduct and Compliance
• C02.0 Academic Misconduct in Research and Scholarship
• C03.2 Copyright Policy

This Academic Integrity Policy applies to all enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) main (Rochester, NY) campus.  This policy remains in effect even if a student withdraws from a course, or takes a leave while an academic integrity case is pending, ensuring that all matters are resolved in accordance with institutional standards.

The purpose of this policy is to:

1. Clearly define the university’s expectations for academic integrity and ethical student behavior.
2. Provide examples of academic integrity violations (though not an exhaustive list).
3. Outline the procedures for addressing and adjudicating academic integrity violations.

1. Academic Integrity

   Academic integrity refers to the commitment to honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility in all academic work. It requires that students, faculty, and staff uphold ethical principles in learning, teaching, research, and assessment.

2. Dean’s Designee

   Each college or academic unit shall designate an associate dean as designee to oversee and facilitate the academic integrity hearing process. The Dean’s Designee serves as a non-voting advisor to the Academic Integrity Committee and ensures that all the policy steps are conducted fairly, equitably, and in accordance with university policies and procedures.

3. Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) and Membership

   The Academic Integrity Committee shall hear cases involving an alleged breach in student academic integrity and consists of six members as determined below.  Faculty or student members must recuse themselves based on case involvement or bias and alternates will be appointed.  Should any question arise as to the nature of an allegation or the committee to hear the case, the Dean’s Designee (role defined below) shall be consulted for guidance.

   1. Three faculty members (senior or principal lecturers, tenured, or tenure-track instructors) and one alternate faculty member elected to the committee for staggered three-year terms. An instructor may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. 
   2. Three students, appointed by the Dean’s designee on a case-by-case basis to match the academic status (undergraduate or graduate) of the student involved in the case.

4. Academic Integrity Committee Chair

   The Dean’s Designee shall appoint the Committee Chair from among the three faculty members serving on the committee. The Chair is responsible for overseeing hearings and ensuring procedural fairness.

   In the case a committee cannot reach a majority agreement (i.e. a tie), the Dean's Designee will determine the final decision based on consultation with the committee.

5. Disciplinary Actions

   When an academic integrity violation is suspected, the instructor that discovers the alleged violation will recommend a disciplinary action which can include:

   1. A warning

   2. An Educational Action
   3. Reduced credit on the offending activity
   4. A grade of 0 on the offending activity
   5. An F grade in the course

6. Communication

   Email is considered the official form of communication for all correspondence related to alleged or confirmed breaches of academic integrity.

7. Advisor of Choice

   A student involved in an academic integrity case may be assisted by an Advisor of Choice, who must be a member of the RIT faculty, staff, alumni network, or student body. This individual may advise and support the student but may not serve in a legal capacity or act as legal counsel during the hearing.  A student’s designated Advisor of Choice may fully participate in the hearing in accordance with the provisions of this policy.

8. Business Day

   A business day is defined as Monday through Friday throughout each academic term including summer term, excluding official RIT holidays when the university is closed.

9. Meetings

   Academic integrity meetings and hearings may be conducted in person or via synchronous technology, such as video conferencing or teleconferencing, to accommodate accessibility and scheduling needs.

10. Cheating

    Cheating is any fraudulent or deceptive act that provides an unfair academic advantage. It includes, but is not limited to:

    1. Falsifying data, including tampering with graded materials to request a regrade without permission.
    2. Citing sources that were not actually used, including misattributing or fabricating citations.
    3. Having another person complete an assignment or exam on one’s behalf.
    4. Uploading, distributing, or contributing to unauthorized collections of completed work (e.g., sharing assignments on third-party websites for other students to use).
    5. Engaging in unauthorized communication during exams and quizzes including copying material from another student during a test, whether in-person or online.
    6. Sharing information on assignments when prohibited by the instructor—all involved parties will be held accountable. Examples include:
       • Copying work intended for individual assessment.
       • Paraphrasing another’s work and submitting it as one’s own.
       • Having someone else complete an assignment and submitting it as one’s own.
       • Allowing another student to copy and submit work meant for individual assessment.
    7. Using unauthorized materials, sources, or tools, including unapproved artificial intelligence (AI) methods for assignments, exams, or assessments.
    8. Hacking or tampering with academic systems to alter grades.

11. Duplicate Submission (Self-Plagiarism)

    Submitting the same or substantially similar work for multiple courses—including at different institutions—without the explicit prior approval of the current instructor(s).

12. Plagiarism

    Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or appropriation of another’s ideas, writings, artistic designs, code, or any form of intellectual property without proper attribution. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

    1. Presenting another person’s work or ideas as one’s own, without appropriate acknowledgment or citation.
    2. Inadequate citation of sources, including failure to give proper credit when paraphrasing.
    3. Copying direct text without quotation marks and a proper citation.
    4. Using AI-generated content without authorization or citation.

13. Fabrication

    Fabrication involves creating or altering false information in an academic setting. Examples include:

    1. Knowingly making false statements to faculty, staff, or fellow students.
    2. Altering academic records, data, or other materials to misrepresent performance or research results.
    3. Creating false research data or experimental results.
    4. Citing non-existent or incorrect sources.
    5. Altering academic records or transcripts.
    6. Falsifying attendance or participation in academic activities.

14. Misrepresentation

    Misrepresentation is the act of knowingly providing misleading or false information to an instructor regarding an academic exercise. Examples include, but are not limited to:

    1. Providing a false excuse for missing an exam, quiz, or assignment deadline, such as submitting forged medical documentation.
    2. Submitting an empty or corrupted digital file and later claiming that the assignment was submitted correctly.
    3. Submitting false medical or emergency documentation.
    4. Falsifying internship or service hours.
    5. Claiming false authorship on group projects or research papers.

15. Sabotage

    Sabotage is any intentional act that interferes with another student’s ability to complete academic work. Examples include, but are not limited to:

    1. Disrupting or tampering with another student’s lab experiment or project.
    2. Removing or hiding academic resources, such as moving materials from a reserved reading file to prevent others from accessing them.
    3. Engaging in unauthorized hacking or violating RIT's C08.2: Code of Conduct for Computer Use, in a manner that disrupts student learning.

16. Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty

    Helping others commit academic misconduct is also a violation. Examples include:

    1. Allowing someone to copy one’s work.
    2. Providing answers or solutions to another student.
    3. Selling or distributing academic materials (e.g., test answers, essays).
    4. Impersonating another student in an exam or online course.

17. Violations of Research Ethics

    In research-based courses or projects, ethical misconduct includes:

    1. Violating research protocols or ethical guidelines.

    2. Falsifying or misrepresenting research findings.

    3. Engaging in unethical experimentation or data manipulation.

Reporting Alleged Violations of Academic Integrity

Initial stages of the process are necessary to determine if an Academic Integrity Hearing is necessary.  These ensure cases are handled promptly, fairly, and consistently, following the steps outlined below.

1. The course instructor is responsible for assessing and assembling evidence, appropriate disciplinary action determination, and initiation of the integrity process through notification of the RIT Academic Integrity Online Reporting system (available through each College Portal).  Faculty unfamiliar with the process should seek counsel from more experienced colleagues and or the Dean’s designee of their college. 
2. The instructor submits the allegation to the RIT Academic Integrity Online Reporting system within 15 business days of discovery of the alleged incident.  After this time, an allegation may not proceed.  The Dean’s Delegate will be notified of the instructor’s submission by the Online system and create a case file in Online.  The Online system emails the student, instructor’s unit head, the instructor’s Dean’s Designee, and the Dean's Designee for the student's home college with the allegation and proposed consequences.  The notification will invite the student to a meeting (either in-person or remote) that can include any or all the following: the instructor, the instructor’s unit head, the instructor’s college Dean’s Designee and/or an advisor of choice (see Definitions section above).  The notification will include a copy of or link to the online version of this policy.
3. See section VII (X) if a student withdraws from a course with an alleged violation prior to the conclusion of the academic integrity process.
4. If the student does not acknowledge in writing the receipt of the initial email notification of the allegation, or meet with the instructor to discuss the allegation within 10 business days of receipt of allegation, the case will be considered closed as a violation, and the Online system will forward the initial email to the instructor’s academic unit head and Dean’s Designee.  
5. If there is mutual agreement on the allegation either during the meeting or in a written reply from the student, the matter will be documented within ten (10) business days from date of agreement and closed.   If the student and instructor agree that a violation has occurred, the Dean’s Designee will document this in the Online system which will forward the written notification of the violation to the student’s home college, instructor’s unit head, and the Office of Student Conduct. In cases involving graduate students, a copy will also be sent to the Graduate School.
6. If the meeting does not result in a mutual agreement, the Dean’s Designee will convene the Academic Integrity Committee and proceed with the formal hearing process within 30 business days of the student notification.

1. The Academic Integrity Committee Hearing Process is not a court of law, and legal rules of evidence and procedure do not apply. Hearings under this policy will be conducted in an impartial manner based on a preponderance of evidence standard.
2. Multi-student violations: For allegations involving more than one student, the Dean’s Designee, at their discretion, may permit hearings concerning each student to be conducted separately or collectively.
3. The Academic Integrity Committee of each college shall hear cases involving alleged violations of student academic integrity in their own courses. Should any question arise as to the nature of an allegation or the committee membership selected to hear the case, the Dean’s Designee shall be consulted for guidance. 
4. All participants involved in the Academic Integrity Hearing Process, including faculty, students, administrators, and witnesses, are required to maintain confidentiality regarding all aspects of the case including non-disclosure of information, records and identities of participants. 
5. Written notification of allegations and of a hearing date (RIT email is acceptable) to the student and instructor will be provided by the Dean’s Designee at least five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.  The notification will include the following:
   1. A restatement of the alleged breach of student academic integrity, including any relevant or contextual information added during the process leading up to the hearing.
   2. A copy of or link to the online version of this policy.
   3. Hearing date, place, and time at which the case will be heard by the Academic Integrity Committee.
   4. The names of committee members and advocates/advisors of choice expected to be present at the hearing.

6. Participants at an Academic Integrity Hearing are restricted to:

   1. Committee members
   2. Dean’s designee
   3. Involved parties (student and instructor)
   4. Student advocate/advisor of choice
   5. Witnesses involved in a particular case. 
   6. Other persons who might be present at the hearing include those providing necessary access services. 
7. Parents/guardians are not permitted to participate in or be present during the Academic Integrity Process unless the involved student is under the age of 18.  In those instances, the parent/guardian can observe the hearing process and give their child quiet counsel.  Witnesses called by either the student or the instructor will be permitted to speak during the hearing; however, no walk-in participants will be permitted to speak.
8. The committee maintains the right to limit the number of meeting presenters and attendees.  The chair of the committee along with the dean’s designee will conduct the hearing.  Students requesting accommodations for the Academic Integrity process must make the request in writing to the Dean’s Designee at least 3 business days in advance of the hearing. This written request will state the specific accommodations to be provided and the reason for the accommodations.

9. The chair of the Academic Integrity Committee will determine the range of testimony permitted by witnesses and items of information that will be considered by the AIC, based on principles of fundamental relevance and fairness.

10. Names and contact information for witnesses or meeting presenters must be submitted to the committee chair at least two days in advance of the hearing and in time to be documented in hearing materials. Written statements may be submitted to the committee in lieu of attendance at the hearing. Written statements must be read aloud for the purposes of recording the content.
11. Each party will have a maximum of twenty (20) minutes to describe their situation, their individual perspectives and the testimony of any witnesses.  These twenty (20) minutes include the testimony of witnesses. The individual filing the charges will present first.
12. Time will be allotted for questions from the committee after both parties have presented.
13. Each party will have an opportunity for five (5) minutes of closing remarks after the question and answer period.
14. The procedural process will be decided at the discretion of the Academic Integrity Committee chair in consultation with the Dean’s Designee.  The Dean’s Designee may decide to adjourn the hearing for a reasonable period, if warranted.
15. The student cannot be found responsible for violations of academic integrity solely for the failure to answer the charges or failure to appear at the hearing; in such cases, evidence to support the charges will be presented to the Academic Integrity Committee and a determination will be made based on the preponderance of evidence.
16. Following questions, explanations, discussion, and closing statements, all participants will be dismissed, and the Academic Integrity Committee will deliberate privately.
17. At the conclusion of the academic integrity hearing, the committee will determine by a simple majority if a violation of academic integrity did or did not occur and determine appropriate disciplinary actions.  
18. Academic Integrity Hearing shall be confidential.  All Academic Integrity Committee hearings are audio recorded. Recordings will be retained in accordance with the C22.0 - RIT Records Management Policy. The recording of the Academic Integrity hearing is a university business record and the property of the university.  Hearings can be video recorded upon request. A request for video recording must be made in writing twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled hearing. Video recording requests made with less than twenty-four (24) hours' notice may be denied at the discretion of the Academic Integrity Committee Chair. All participants in the hearing will give their consent to video recording. Any participant in the conduct hearing that chooses to not be video recorded will be audio recorded only.  Either party (student or instructor) may request to view a copy of the recording by submitting a written request to the Dean’s Designee. Upon receipt, a location for viewing will be determined by the Dean’s Designee. 
19. Within seven (7) business days of the hearing, the committee chair will provide written notification of the committee’s findings, rationale, and disciplinary actions via email to the Dean’s designee. 
20. The Dean’s Designee will give the committee’s findings, rationale, and disciplinary actions to the student, the instructor, the instructors unit head, the student’s home college Dean’s Office, the student’s home academic unit, and the Student Conduct Office.   All documentation regarding the hearing will be maintained in accordance with C22.0 RIT Records Management Policy.
21. If the Academic Integrity Committee determines student responsibility for the violation(s), the Dean’s designee will then confirm in the RIT Academic Integrity online system any history of previous academic integrity violations.
22. In cases where a student has demonstrated a pattern of repeated breaches of academic integrity, the Dean’s Office of the student’s home college, in consultation with the Dean’s Office of the college(s) and/or degree-granting unit(s) where the violations occurred, the student’s program head, and the Office of Student Conduct, will jointly determine the appropriate course of action.
23. In the case where the proposed outcome would be more serious than a zero in the course, the accusation should be referred through policy D18.0.
24. Should the findings result in a grade dispute, the Dean’s Designee will begin the process to convene the Final Course Grade Dispute Committee (see policy D17.0).
25. If a student chooses to withdraw from a course after a case of academic integrity has been initiated, the student will receive a "W." If at the conclusion of the academic integrity process, the finding of a breach of academic integrity is upheld and the disciplinary action is an F in the course, the "W" will be converted to an "F."  If the student withdraws from the university before the conclusion of the academic integrity process, the "W" will be converted to an "F."  The College reporting the violation is responsible for informing the RIT Registrar about the status of the Academic Integrity case and whether a “W” should be changed to an “F”.
26. If a student takes a leave of absence (see Policy D02.1, section A.1) during the process, the academic unit will place a registration hold on the student’s record until such time that the student returns to the university and the academic integrity process reconvenes. Upon the student’s return, they will be allowed to register for and attend classes through the duration of the Academic Integrity Process.
27. Either the student or faculty may file an appeal of the Academic Integrity Committee’s findings. An appeal must be filed within three (3) business days from the date of the mailing of the Academic Integrity Committee’s findings. (See Section VIII. Academic Integrity Appeals Process).

Appeals Process

1. The instructor or the student may appeal the findings of the College Academic Integrity Committee (Policy D.08.0) to the Dean of the presiding College within three (3) business days following the date of the outcome letter.  The Student intending to appeal must submit the appeal to the Dean’s Designee who forwards the appeal and accompanying documents from the hearing process to the college Dean.  The Dean will be notified of a pending appeal case by Dean’s Designee within 1 week of receipt of an appeal.

2. The presiding Dean:

   1. may require additional information from the Dean’s designee, the Unit Head, the Instructor or the student to make a decision on the appeal.  
   2. will issue a decision to uphold the recommendation of the College Academic Integrity Committee, or may ask for a modification to the recommendation.  
   3. will communicate their decision to the Dean’s Designee, the College Academic Integrity Committee, the Unit Head, the Instructor, and the student. 
   4. The decision of the Dean is final and no additional appeals will be considered.

3. The grounds for an Academic Integrity Appeal will be limited to:

   1. Determining whether the hearing was conducted in accordance with the process outlined in RIT’s policy and if such policy violation substantially impacted the original outcome.
   2. Determining whether the outcome is substantially disproportionate to the severity of the violation and/or cumulative conduct record of the student.
   3. Considering new information, which was not known, knowable, or available at the time of the original hearing that could substantially impact the original outcome.

Responsible Office:
Office of the Provost/Faculty Senate. Direct inquiries to:

Faculty Senate
fsenate@rit.edu

Office of the Provost
academicaffairs@rit.edu

Effective Date:
Approved 1977

Policy History: 
Revised January 16, 1997
Revised May 16, 2013

Revisions approved August 25, 2023 - Section V.B.

Revisions approved by Faculty Senate March 5, 2026