logo image
Academic Integrity
What Every Aggie
Needs to Know


Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal nor do they tolerate those who do.

Few accomplishments in an Aggie’s life are as precious as the hard-earned diploma from Texas A&M University. As we all know, the road to that diploma can be long and stressful. All students have pressure from parents, significant family members, peers, scholarships, grades. The desire to find a good job and have a productive career are also factors which can lead students to make hasty decisions. It can be tempting to use someone else’s term paper or look at someone’s exam for help but in reality we only cheat ourselves, our education, and reduce the credibility of our degrees.

We owe it to ourselves, and to the Aggies who follow in our footsteps, to live the Aggie Code of Honor and strive to behave with personal integrity and honesty and to encourage our peers to do as well in all our academic endeavors.

For further information concerning academic dishonesty, see Sections 20 and 27 of The Texas A&M University Student Rules for 1996 - 1997.

What Is Academic Dishonesty?

Academic dishonesty (is any) form of cheating and plagiarism which result in students giving or receiving unauthorized assistance in an academic exercise or receiving credit for work which is not their own. (Kibler et. al. (1988), Academic integrity and student development: Legal issues and policy perspectives, Ashville, NC: College Administration Publications, Inc., p. 1.)

The Texas A&M University Student Rules (Section 20) define 6 forms of academic dishonesty:

1. Aquiring Information

2. Providing Information 3. Plagiarism 4. Conspiracy 5. Fabrication of Information 6. Violation of Departmental or College Rules How to Be Academically Honest

  1. Take time to be well prepared to complete assignments and take examinations.

  2. Don’t wait until the last minute to get help with a class. Ask your instructor for help or contact one of the resources listed below for additional assistance.

  3. Prevent other students from seeing your paper during exams and do not lend homework to others for their use.

  4. Do not look at other students’ exams.

  5. As difficult as it may be, inform your instructor if you suspect that someone has copied answers from you during an exam.

  6. When you are uncertain about what your instructors define as academic dishonesty, talk to them about it.

  7. Use appropriate citation procedures. Consult with your professor about the correct citation style for your academic discipline so plagiarism does not occur.

Sanctions

The following sanctions may be implemented by the Department Head based upon the instructor’s recommendations.

  1. Appropriate grade penalty up to and including an"F" in the course.

  2. The Letter of Reprimand makes the incident a matter of record in the student's academic record and with the Department of Student Affairs.

  3. Conduct Probation is an official warning that the student’s conduct is in violation of Texas A&M University Student Rules but is not sufficiently serious to warrant expulsion, dismissal, or suspension. The Department Head determines the duration of the probationary period. If any further violations occur during that period then further disciplinary sanctions may be imposed up to and including expulsion from the University.

The following sanctions are implemented by the Dean of the College based upon the recommendations of the Department Head.

Please see Section 27 of the Texas A&M University Student Rules for 1996 - 1997 for further information regarding sanctions.

This information was primarily taken from a brochure prepared by Student Conflict Resolution Center, Department of Student Affairs, TAMU. (409) 845-5262

October 25, 1996