Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is taking responsibility for one's own work, being individually accountable and demonstrating intellectual honesty and ethical behavior. Students, faculty and staff share responsibility for maintaining an academic environment built on honesty, trust and respect.

Academic Integrity at Texas Tech

Education is a shared effort to achieve learning through the exchange of ideas. Ethical behavior and independent thought are essential to academic achievement, including scholarship, teaching and learning.

Academic integrity helps ensure that academic work and grades honestly reflect a student's learning and achievement. These standards are an important part of the educational and professional responsibilities of students, faculty and staff.

What Is Academic Misconduct?

Academic misconduct includes acts or attempted acts intended to provide an unfair academic advantage to a student or another student. Examples may include:

• Cheating
• Plagiarism
• Collusion
• Fabrication or falsification of information or academic records
• Misrepresentation
• Submitting substantially the same work for more than one course without appropriate permission
• Other conduct prohibited by the Code of Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct contains the university's complete definitions of academic misconduct and governs the academic integrity conduct process.

Review the Code of Student Conduct

Information for Students

If an instructor believes an academic integrity violation may have occurred, the instructor may meet with the student to discuss the concern, review relevant information and allow the student an opportunity to respond.

If the concern is referred to the Office of Student Conduct, the student will have an opportunity to participate in the conduct process and provide information regarding the allegation. A referral or allegation does not by itself mean that a student has been found responsible for academic misconduct.

While a Case Is Pending

Students should continue attending class and completing course requirements while an academic integrity matter is being addressed. Students who have been notified of an academic integrity allegation generally may not withdraw from the course while the matter is pending.

Students should also carefully review communications from their instructor and the Office of Student Conduct and respond to requests, meetings and deadlines associated with the case.

Academic & Conduct Outcomes

An academic integrity matter may involve both an academic consequence associated with the course and disciplinary action through the student conduct process. The applicable outcome depends on the circumstances of the case and the procedures established in the Code of Student Conduct.

Students with questions about an active case may contact the Office of Student Conduct for information about the process.

Information for Faculty & Instructors

Faculty and instructors who believe an academic integrity violation may have occurred should gather the relevant information, discuss the concern with the student and refer suspected violations to the Office of Student Conduct as appropriate.

1. Review the Concern

When a possible academic integrity violation is identified, collect information relevant to the allegation, including the assignment, examination, course materials, communications or other available documentation.

Faculty may contact the Office of Student Conduct at 1 (806) 742-1714 to discuss the concern and the appropriate process.

Faculty should also follow applicable departmental procedures for notifying the department chair, associate academic dean or other appropriate academic administrator.

2. Discuss the Concern With the Student

The instructor should provide the student an opportunity to understand and respond to the concern. During this conversation, the instructor should clearly describe the information related to the possible violation and allow the student to provide an explanation or other relevant information.

If the instructor continues to believe that an academic integrity violation may have occurred, the student should be informed of the potential academic consequence and that the matter may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

3. Submit an Academic Integrity Report

Faculty should submit relevant information and supporting documentation through the university's academic integrity reporting process. Providing complete information helps the Office of Student Conduct review the concern and determine the appropriate next steps.

Submit an Academic Integrity Report

4. Student Conduct Review

After a report is received, the Office of Student Conduct reviews the information and may contact the referring instructor for additional information. The student is provided an opportunity to respond to the allegation through the applicable conduct process.

Faculty may be asked to provide additional information or participate in the resolution of the case. The referring faculty member will be informed of the outcome as permitted by university policy.

Report an Academic Integrity Concern

Faculty and instructors may report suspected academic misconduct through the Academic Integrity reporting form. Other university concerns and reporting options are available through Raiders Report.

Report an Academic Integrity Concern

View Raiders Report Options

Questions?

Office of Student Conduct
Phone: 1 (806) 742-1714
Email: studentconduct@ttu.edu

Contact Student Conduct