UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct

We believe that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education at UWRF. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work and respect for others' academic endeavors. We have a responsibility to promote this academic honesty and integrity and to deal with cases of academic misconduct. 

The UWRF Student Code of Conduct is made up of UWS Chapters 14, 17, and 18. These chapters outline both academic (14) and nonacademic (17 and 18) disciplinary procedures for all UW System students, as well as, prohibited behavior. These policies apply both on and off campus.

Chapter 14

In other words...

The policies and procedures regarding academic misconduct. Also, who is involved and what happens after. 

Any action or attempted action resulting in a student creating academic work that produces an unfair academic advantage for themselves or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other student. 

  • Cheating on an exam
  • Collaborating with others in work to be presented, contrary to the stated rules of the course
  • Submitting a paper or assignment as one's own work when a part or all of the paper or assignment is the work of another
  • Submitting a paper or assignment that contains ideas or research of others without appropriately identifying the sources of those ideas
  • Stealing exams or other course materials;
  • Submitting, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course
  • Tampering with the laboratory experiment or computer program of another student
  • Knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above, including assistance in an arrangement whereby any work, classroom performance, exam, or other activity is submitted or performed by a person other than the student under whose name the work is submitted or performed.

A New Potential 
When students complete assignments independently, their originality sets the stage for their abilities and talents. This in addition allows the students to grow their skillset, which will support them in achieving learning outcomes and goals. These abilities will be favorable throughout their academic career and in the workplace. Most importantly, this instills confidence in students that they have the ability to bring originality into their own work. 

Knowledge Acquisition 
Students lose out on the ability to learn when they choose to engage in academic dishonesty. This not only inhibits a student’s ability to grow and develop individually, this also affects their future and student’s miss out on greater opportunities. Because of this, academic dishonesty hinders knowledge acquisition. 

New Ideas 
Citing your sources in your work gives credit to the original author and demonstrates the foundation for new knowledge. By learning how to incorporate ideas other than your own, and citing them appropriately, it demonstrates your knowledge of the material and aids to making your education on a specific topic or idea clearer. 

  • Read your syllabus carefully and seek clarification from your preofessor regaring assignment/course expectations.
  • Keep track of your sources and properly cite as you go.
  • Do not copy/paste from other sources directly into your work.
  • Put your cell phone away during exams.
  • Assume that you are meant to complete work independently unless noted otherwise.
  • When in doubt, ask your professor.