In order to uphold a culture of fairness and integrity, USF students are required to adhere to the university’s honor code.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the five-part plan, outlined below.

I. Purpose

As a Jesuit institution committed to cura personalis — the care and education of the whole person — USF has an obligation to embody and foster the values of honesty and integrity. USF upholds the standards of honesty and integrity from all members of the academic community.

The honor code applies to all students (undergraduate and graduate) in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Management, and the School of Nursing and Health Professions. Faculty and students in the School of Law should review their own honor code for policies and procedures. Students enrolled in distance learning (online courses) are subject to these policies as well as supplemental policies set forth by their program.

II. The Honor Pledge

All USF students will uphold the honor code by adhering to the core values of the university and supporting its mission to guide their academic careers and educational experiences.

USF Academic Honor Pledge
I pledge to demonstrate the core values of the University of San Francisco by upholding the standards of honesty and integrity, excellence in my academic work, and respect for others in my educational experiences, including supporting USF's mission.

III. Standards of Conduct

Adherence to standards of honesty and integrity precludes engaging in, causing, or knowingly benefiting from any violation of academic integrity. Without regard to purpose, the following violations are prohibited:

• Cheating
  Cheating is the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, artificial intelligence, and study aids, as well as unauthorized collaboration on examinations and other academic exercises. It is the responsibility of students to consult with their professors concerning what constitutes permissible collaboration. Helping others cheat is also a violation of the Honor Code.
• Plagiarism
  Plagiarism is the act of presenting, as one's own, the ideas or writings of another; plagiarism, in any of its forms, violates academic integrity. While different academic disciplines have different norms of attribution, all strive to recognize and value individuals' contributions to the larger body of knowledge. It is the responsibility of students to consult with their professors in order to understand the norms of attribution in each discipline and area of study.
• False Citations
  False citation is attribution to an incorrect or fabricated source; false citation is academic fraud. False citation seriously undermines the integrity of the academic enterprise.
• Submitting the Same Work for Multiple Assignments
  Students may not submit work (in identical or similar form) for multiple assignments without the prior, explicit approval of all faculty to whom the work will be submitted. This includes work first produced at USF or at another institution attended by the student.
• Submitting False Data
  False data is information that has been fabricated, altered, or contrived in such a way as to be misleading; the submission of false data is academic fraud.
• Falsifying Academic Documentation
  Forging or altering academic documentation (including transcripts, signatures, letters of recommendation, certificates of enrollment or standing, registration forms, and medical certifications) concerning oneself or others is academic fraud.
• Abuse of Library Privileges
  Depriving others of equal access to library materials constitutes a violation of academic integrity. This includes sequestering library materials for the use of an individual or group, refusal to respond to recall notices, and the removal or attempt to remove library materials from any university library without authorization.
• Abuse of Shared Electronic Media
  Depriving others of equal access to shared electronic media used for academic purposes constitutes a violation of academic integrity. This includes actions that result in the damage or sabotage of campus computer systems.

IV. Rights and Responsibilities of Involved Parties

All members of the university community are charged with ensuring that the honor code is applied in a fair and unbiased manner. This includes individuals who witness a violation or potential violation of the honor code and individuals who are accused of an honor code violation.

Referring individuals are members of the faculty, staff, or the student body who witness or suspect they have witnessed a violation of the honor code. Such individuals are bound by the honor code to report the violation, resolved or unresolved, to the Academic Integrity Committee. (Examples of potential resolutions that can be applied at the course level are offered in section VI.)

Faculty or staff members who witness a violation have the responsibility to confront the student(s) allegedly involved, gather evidence regarding the alleged violation, and contact the Academic Integrity Committee. Resolution at the course level is encouraged but does not remove the reporting requirement. Should the case be unresolved or otherwise serious, reporting individuals are expected to be available to the Academic Integrity Committee throughout the course of its investigation, including in-person interviews and serving as a witness in any hearings.

Students who witness a potential honor code violation are charged to either approach a faculty member or to contact the Academic Integrity Committee directly to provide a direct and honest account of their observations. Should the case be unresolved or otherwise serious, student witnesses are expected to be available to the Academic Integrity Committee throughout the course of its investigation, including in-person interviews and serving as a witness in any hearings. While every effort will be made to ensure the anonymity of a student witness through the initial stages of an investigation, it may be necessary for the student to step forward publicly and in front of the accused.

Students who are accused of an honor code violation have the right to defend themselves against any and all charges levied against them. Students may gather and submit evidence and recruit witnesses in their defense. Students also have the right to bring a case to the Academic Integrity Committee themselves if they believe they have been falsely accused. Students may also appeal the initial decision of the Academic Integrity Committee through a request for a formal hearing.

V. Possible Violations of the Honor Code

When a violation is reported to the AIC, the process that follows occurs in the following stages: (A) Initial Report (B) Contesting an Allegation (C) Investigation (D) Sanctions (E) Appeal Hearings.
 

A. Initial Report

All incidences of honor code violations are reported to the AIC for inclusion in its database. This initial report will include information on the nature of the alleged violation, evidence in support of the accusation of a violation, and resolution (if any) already reached between the referring individual and the accused. Upon receipt of this initial report, a Co-Chair of the AIC will contact the both accused student and the referring individual within two weeks to notify them that the report has been received. The Co-Chair will also notify both parties if a formal investigation will take place or whether the case will be closed. 

B. Contesting an Allegation

Students who are notified by the AIC that they have been found in violation of the honor code have the right to contest the allegation made against them. In order to contest the allegation, the student must inform one of the Co-Chairs that they would like the AIC to open an investigation into their case, and they must do so within seven days of receiving their initial notification letter. Students will be automatically granted an investigation upon request.

C. Investigations

A full investigation into an incident report will be conducted if, and only if, at least one of the three conditions is triggered (i) the student has a prior incident on record or (ii) a Co-Chair deems the alleged violation to be especially grave or egregious or (iii) the student contests the allegation. 

When an investigation takes place, a Co-Chair will assign two or three members to interview the alleged student, the person who submitted the report (e.g., the professor), and any other relevant parties. Interviews will take place within two weeks from the time the investigation team has been assembled, and the investigation will be closed to all outside parties (e.g., students may not ask parents or lawyers to attend these interviews). After the investigation, the interviewers will write up a report detailing their findings and make a recommendation about whether a violation has occurred and what additional sanctions, if any, should be imposed. The entire committee will then convene to vote on an outcome. The vote will be determined by a simple majority, and the committee members will cast their votes in accordance with the following standard: a violation has occurred if, and only if, there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest that it has.

If the committee votes that a violation has not occurred, then the student will be notified of the outcome and the incident report will be wiped from the AIC’s database.

If the committee votes that a violation has occurred, then they will conduct a second vote to determine which additional sanctions, if any, should be imposed (see Section D for a list of potential sanctions) . After the votes have been finalized, the student will be notified of the outcome and their report will be kept in the AIC’s database.

D. Sanctions

The AIC may award any of the following four sanctions. The following guidelines will be used to determine the sanction that is most appropriate for the violation committed. 

Educational Consequence: An educational consequence is the least severe sanction recommended by the AIC. Educational consequences vary based on the violation (e.g., educating students about plagiarism when they plagiarize, and about cheating when they cheat), but they all aim to help students better understand (a) why their actions constituted a violation of the honor code and (b) why their actions are problematic. 

Offenses for which a letter of censure is an appropriate include, but are not limited to: first time or repeat offenses in which the violation was not egregious.

Letter of Censure: A letter of censure is the second most severe sanction recommended by the AIC. It describes the honor code violation and is placed in the student's academic file (which is retained in the registrar's office). The letter is kept on file for seven (7) years after the student graduates, at which time it is destroyed. The letter will be sent to potential employers and graduate programs that request it.

Offenses for which a letter of censure is an appropriate include, but are not limited to: repeat violations in which the offenses were non-egregious and first time offenses in which the violation was egregious. 

Suspension: Suspension is the third most severe sanction recommended by the AIC. Suspension will typically be imposed for one semester, but may be imposed for two semesters. Suspension is noted as follows on the student's transcript at the end of the semester's entries in which the violation occurred: "Suspension: Violation of Honor Code." When the AIC recommends suspension, they will send their recommendation to the Provost and the student will serve the suspension if, and only if, the Provost approves.

Offenses for which suspension is an appropriate sanction include but are not limited to: repeat offenses in which the student already has a letter of censure on file and first-time offenses that are extremely egregious.  

Dismissal from the University or Revocation of a Degree: Dismissal from the university or revocation of a degree is the most severe sanction recommended by the AIC. Dismissal is noted as follows on the student's transcript at the end of the semester's entries in which the violation occurred: "Dismissal: Violation of Honor Code." When the AIC recommends dismissal or the revocation of a degree, they will send their recommendation to the Provost and the student will be issued the sanction if, and only if, the Provost approves.

Offenses for which dismissal from the university or revocation of a degree is appropriate include but are not limited to: repeat offenders who have already been suspended for honor code violations or extremely egregious first-time violations. 

E. Appeal Hearings 

After the AIC has voted that a student is in violation of the honor code, the student will be given one opportunity to request an appeal hearing. In order to be granted an appeal hearing, the student must submit new, exculpatory evidence to  a Co-Chair, i.e., the student must submit evidence that was not considered during the AIC’s initial investigation. 

If a Co-Chair determines that the exculpatory evidence does not warrant an appeal hearing, i.e., if it is deemed that the exculpatory evidence fails to make it likely that the student was not actually in violation of the honor code, then the appeal hearing will be denied and the case will be closed. 

If a Co-Chair determines that the exculpatory evidence does warrant an appeal hearing, i.e., if it is deemed that the exculpatory evidence does make it likely that the student was not in violation of the honor code, then the appeal hearing will be granted. The hearing will be scheduled to take place within four weeks of the student’s request being granted, and the student and the person who submitted the incident report (e.g., the professor) will be notified. A notification letter will then be sent to all parties involved, and it will include: (i) a copy of the honor code (ii) a summary of the allegations (iii) a list of expected witnesses and evidence (iv) the date, time, and place of the hearing (v) the names of the AIC members who will be present and (vi) the rights of the student. All of this information will be sent to the relevant parties at least ten working days before the hearing takes place. 

The rights of the student at the hearing include: (i) to be allowed reasonable time to prepare for the hearing (no less than ten working days after being notified of the hearing date) (ii) to select a support person to be present as an observer during the hearing; legal counsel is not permitted (iii) to be present at the hearing; the student may waive his/her/their right to attend in which case the hearing may proceed without them (iv) to present evidence or witnesses; the student must inform the AIC regarding requests for witnesses at least five working days before the scheduled hearing. The student is responsible for notifying their witness(es) of the hearing date, time, and location (v) to waive any rights associated with the hearing as provided by the honor code (vi) to receive a written report from the AIC notifying them of the results of the hearing.

The hearing procedures and guidelines include the following: (i) a minimum of five members of the AIC must be present (ii) at least one Co-Chair must preside over the hearing and determine all procedural matters (iii) if a student fails to appear at a scheduled hearing, the hearing may be held and the matter resolved without the student present (iv) the hearing will be closed to the public in all cases (v) in matters involving multiple students, their cases may be heard in a single hearing; if all students do not consent to a joint hearing, the AIC will hear their cases separately (vi) any witness, other than the student, may be present only for his/her/their testimony (vii) the AIC shall decide via secret ballot whether the student is in violation of the honor code. The vote will be determined by a simple majority and the student must be found in violation of the honor code in order for additional sanctions to be imposed (viii) if the AIC determines that the student is in violation of the honor code, it may impose additional sanctions. Additional sanctions will be determined by a simple majority vote (ix) if the AIC votes that the student was not in violation of the honor code, then their incident report will be expunged from the database and no additional sanctions will be imposed.

After the hearing a Co-Chair will notify the student and the individual who reported the incident of the outcome. The AIC’s decision is final and binding and the case will be closed.