Current Students

The academic integrity policy is broken down into three main categories:

• Plagiarism
• Cheating
• Collusion

Plagiarism: using someone else’s work as your own without acknowledgement or citation. Can be published material or unpublished, great works by famed authors or simple essays your friend at another school. You can plagiarize by directly quoting the work or by paraphrasing it, and also includes the use of materials or work that that one might pay for.

Cheating: can be many things. It can be getting help on a quiz or test without okay from your teachers. It can be using sources beyond what your teacher said you could (like using an internet source when your teacher says you must only use the book). It can be getting hold of tests or other materials that belong to a teacher or staff member without permission. And it can depend on the class and syllabus too – some teachers or programs might have strict, specific guidelines related to materials or exams.

Collusion: working with others when you’re not allowed. This isn’t just about tests either; if you are not allowed to work with others for your assignments or homework, doing so would be a violation of the policy.

Examples of violations
Here are some examples of the kinds of actions that violate academic integrity:

• Submitting work, papers, or research generated by artificial intelligence programs, or using such programs for exams or other assessments without permission
• Copying others’ work during an exam, assignment, paper, or other assessment, or using others’ work without properly citing/giving credit to the source
• Using unauthorized notes or aids during an examination
• Taking an exam or test for another student or having someone take your exam for you
• Collaborating with any other person during a test without permission
• Using or giving unauthorized assistance on a take-home exam, assigned physical work, projects, or any other academic work
• Attempting to obtain an unreleased test or information about an unreleased test
• Submitting the same work for credit in more than one course (even if retaking a course) without consulting the instructor(s)
• Submitting research and assignments prepared by others (e.g., purchasing the services of a commercial semester paper company, using documents found online via uploading/sharing sites, getting help from online forums or question/answer sites, etc.)

The process for resolving an academic violation or complaint typically follows the path below, though it can depend on the severity of the case and the number of previous violations a student may have. The process and sanctions may also vary by the academic program in which the violation occurred; some academic programs have stricter policies written into program handbooks and agreements.

Academic Integrity Process

• Faculty suspects or finds evidence of a violation. They attempt to meet with the student to discuss the findings and/evidence and hear the students’ side of the situation.
• Based on evidence and what came up in the meeting, faculty decide whether a violation occurred or not.
  • If there is not enough evidence, the case is closed and no report is filed.
  • If there is enough evidence, the faculty files a report with the Office of Student Conduct. They include all the relevant information and the academic penalty in their class for the violation.
• The Director of Student Conduct takes the report and what happens next depends on whether or not the student has had prior violations of academic integrity*:
  • If the student has not violated academic integrity before, the Director completes the case and sends a letter to the student notifying them of the outcome of the case (and ccing the faculty).
  • If the student has violated academic integrity before, the Director will attempt to meet with the student and assess why the issue continues. The Director may provide supports, offer suggestions, and assign educational sanctions such as writing papers, doing research, and further conversations. Sanctions can also include probation** for a certain amount of time, suspension from the College, or even expulsion from the College. The Director then completes the case and sends a letter to the student notifying them of the outcome of the case (and ccing the faculty).
    • *This can vary depending on severity and program – sometimes the Director of Student Conduct will meet with a student on their first violation
    • **Probation here is different from Academic Probation. Probation through Student Conduct has no impact on academics/financial aid – it is only related to Student Conduct. While a student is on probation, they may be suspended from the College for any further violations of the Student Conduct policy. Think of probation as a really intense warning that a student is close to suspension!
• If a student wishes to challenge the decision of the faculty member (or the sanction of the Director of Student Conduct), they may do so by clicking on the link at the bottom of their letter and filling out an appeal form within 5 business days of the decision. An appeal must be made on one of three grounds:
  • Violation of due process – there was an error in the process that violated the student’s rights. This is typically due to time (it taking too long to finalize the case) or if attempts were not made to contact the student.
    • This one can be tricky to know, so the Director of Student Conduct is always happy to walk a student through the process and talk this through.
  • New evidence – if the student has new evidence that was not available for the original decision and calls into question the original decision.
  • Severity of sanction – if the student believes the sanction is too severe for the violation.
• If an appeal review is granted, the Dean of the program will review the case. They will many times ask to speak with both the student and the faculty, and they will review all evidence within 5-10 days of the appeal review being granted. They will make a decision and notify both student and faculty of their decision. Their decision is final.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, you can always contact the Director of Student Conduct at michael.gerold@saintpaul.edu or 651.846.1327.

Over the last year or two, artificial intelligence software and websites have changed how people engage with work, school, and everyday life. We’ve just begun to scratch the surface of this technology, and how schools and organizations use (or don’t use) artificial intelligence will be constantly changing.

The College wants to make especially clear that the use of any artificial intelligence (AI) programs without the consent or permission of your instructor is a violation of policy. Each teacher has their own guidance in their classroom of how they might want you to use or not use artificial intelligence. Make sure to check your class syllabus to see what your teacher is okay with. And when in doubt, ask your teacher.

Examples of Artificial Intelligence Tools/Websites

Here are just some of the examples of online tools that use artificial intelligence – some may surprise you!

• ChatGPT
• QuillBot
• WordTune
• Grammarly
• Canva/Adobe/Microsoft Image Creator
• MathGPT
• Wolfram Alpha
• CoPilot
• Microsoft Word AI Editor – This is a gray area – please talk to your teachers before using this feature of Microsoft Word.

These are just some of the examples out there. All of them should be used only with permission from an instructor, and even then, should be used with caution.

Additionally, some websites have popped up over the years that very quickly cause students to violate policy:

• Course Hero
• Studocu
• Chegg
• OneClass
• Scribd

Most of these sites are listed as “document sharing” websites, intended to help students study with similar, but not current exams/assignments. However, many people use these sites to upload and access materials that would be a clear violation of academic integrity. It is highly recommended that you do not use these sites, and if you do, to be very careful to submit 100% your own work (citing any papers or materials you found on the site).

So most of the information on this page is about things that will violate academic integrity. Are there tools and resources out there that won’t get you in trouble?

Absolutely yes!

SPC Academic Support Center: A convenient and free center for you to get help and work with talented students and staff. They can help you learn all sorts of things. (Recommended: Check out their Guidelines and Policies at the bottom for what you should expect and how you can prepare for a tutoring appointment)

Perdue On-Campus Writing Lab (OWL): An excellent, free resources for all students (and people) everywhere. Especially helpful to learn how to use citations correctly, but even includes resources for English-language learners and resume help. (Recommended: Check out their “Avoiding Plagiarism” Guide – very good way to think about it!)

Talk to your instructor: While it may seem strange to ask your instructor whether or not you can use a certain tool or other assignment, it’s one of the best ways to make sure you’re in the clear! Teachers understand that the world of academic integrity can be confusing at times – they’ll understand, and hopefully appreciate you checking first!

Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism (Adapted from Harvard Summer School)

1. All sources you use for your work must be cited, including things like lectures, websites, films, and articles. Anything you borrow from another place/source must be credited as such. A good rule is, “If you didn’t write it, cite it.”
   • It can help to keep a list of the resources you look at as you’re gathering material – that way you can make sure you don’t forget something!
2. Make sure you understand the assignment and what is expected of you. Read the directions of the assignment carefully, and check if it says anything about outside sources or where you’re supposed to come up with information. If you’re not sure, ask your instructor. And if your instructor doesn’t want outside sources to be used, don’t.
3. Don’t procrastinate! While we know you’re all busy as students and have many competing priorities, make sure you give yourself plenty of time. When you’re overwhelmed, it can be tempting to take the easy route and turn in work that’s not yours – trust us, the consequences of plagiarism are far worse than being late or not handing something in at all.
   • When you’re about the submit your work, double check to make sure everything is cited correctly. Then maybe check again just to make sure!
4. When writing using sources, make sure to do your citations right away. While it may seem like something to do after the assignment is written, it’s usually better to do them first – it makes sure you don’t forget about them before you hit the submit button.
5. When writing an academic paper, you are joining a conversation. Stringing quotes and others’ ideas together doesn’t add anything. You have important ideas to contribute – make sure your ideas shine through, not simply the ideas of those who’ve talked before you.