Home > Student Services

Academic Integrity

Registration Requests
Change of Status
Academic Integrity
Learning Online

Academic integrity defines a university and is essential to the mission of education. At Columbia, students are expected to participate in an academic community that honors intellectual work and respects its origins. In particular, the abilities to synthesize information and produce original work are key components in the learning process. As such, a violation of academic integrity is one of the most serious offenses a student can commit at Columbia and can result in dismissal.

Report an Academic Violation

Students who suspect others of violating an academic policy can report an academic integrity violation here:

Submit Report

Understanding the Policy

Violations of academic integrity may be intentional or unintentional and may include dishonesty in academic assignments or in dealing with University officials, including faculty and staff members. Moreover, dishonesty during the Dean’s Discipline hearing process may result in more serious consequences. 

Overseen by the Office of Graduate Student Affairs, the Dean’s Discipline process is an educational one that determines responsibility using the principle of "preponderance of evidence." A student charged with a violation of academic integrity is notified and provided the opportunity to respond through the Dean's Discipline process with the support of their departmental Assistant Dean. If the student is found responsible for a violation sanctions will be issued upon consideration of the specifics of the case, institutional precedent, disciplinary history, aggravating circumstances, and community impact. A student found responsible for an academic integrity violation may expect to receive sanctions ranging from conditional disciplinary probation, disciplinary probation and may even be suspended or expelled from the University. 

Additionally, students found responsible for violations of academic integrity may be required to report such offenses on future applications to graduate and professional schools. The University reserves the right to indicate disciplinary suspension or expulsion on a student's academic transcript. Furthermore, the instructor of record reserves the right to determine how the student's final grade will be affected in the course where the academic integrity violation occurred.

Policies

Honor Pledge

We, the graduate students of Columbia Engineering, hereby pledge that it is our responsibility to uphold intellectual honesty, mutual and self-respect in the academic community.

I affirm that I will not plagiarize, use unauthorized materials, or give or receive illegitimate help on assignments, papers, or examinations. I will also uphold equity and honesty in the evaluation of my work and the work of others. I do so to sustain a community built around this Code of Honor.

Code of Honor

As a graduate student of Columbia Engineering, I am accountable for any actions that do not instill intellectual honor, privilege, and freedomto learn, teach, and serve the world with my knowledge

Upholding Integrity

Academic courses can be very challenging, for it requires us to create original work from our synthesis of the work done by others. You will learn strategies for developing original work, ways to ensure that your work is trustworthy, the consequences for submitting work that is dishonest, and the resources available to assist you in achieving your best work.

To help you uphold our academic integrity policies, you can:

  • Discuss with each of your faculty their expectations for maintaining academic integrity. Understand that you have a student responsibility to uphold academic integrity based on the expectations outlined in each of your course syllabi.
  • Understand instructors' criteria for academic integrity and their policies on citation and group collaboration.
  • Clarify any questions or concerns about assignments with instructors as early as possible.
  • Develop a timeline for drafts and final edits of assignments and begin preparation in advance.
  • Avoid plagiarism: acknowledge people’s opinions and theories by carefully citing their words and always indicating sources.
  • Assume that collaboration in the completion of assignments is prohibited unless specified by the instructor.

Studying with Integrity

During your time here, you will be challenged to act with integrity. In some cases acting with integrity is easy - others are more complex and difficult. Take a look at the following tips that will help you complete your work with integrity:

  • Go to office hours and get to know faculty memebers and teachinbg assistants
  • Organize your schedule. 
  • Don't wait unitl the last minute to start writing papers or working on assignments. 
  • Speak up and ask for help!

 

 

 

 

Contact Us

For more information about academic integrity policies and disciplinary procedures, please visit the Columbia Engineering Bulletin or contact us at Office of Graduate Student Affairs.