Academic Misconduct

Follow the student code

The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct ensures your rights as a student are protected and sets forth guidelines for your behavior while you’re at IUPUI.

As a student, you’re expected to:

  • Participate in the learning process in a serious and conscientious manner.
  • Respect the rights of other members of the learning community.
  • Attend classes and complete your assignments on time.
  • Be prepared for and participate in classroom activities, knowing that you have the right to raise relevant issues, offer reasonable doubts about data, or express alternative opinions without concern for any academic penalties.
  • Read all course materials, including the syllabus and description of grading and testing systems used in the course.
  • Refrain from all academic misconduct.
  • Avoid situations giving the appearance of misconduct.
  • Report to the instructor any academic misconduct you observe.

Instructors are expected to:

  • Maintain a clear connection between the advance description and the conduct and content of each course presented.
  • Clearly state the course goals in materials handed out at the first class meeting.
  • Clearly inform students in writing at the beginning of the course of the testing and grading system to be used.
  • These systems should be intellectually justifiable and consistent with the rules and regulations of the academic division.
  • Plan and use class time with an awareness of its value for every student.
  • Announce class attendance policy at the first class meeting and meet class regularly.
  • Clearly state the level of collaboration that is allowed on every class assignment.
  • Be available to discuss course content or grading with students throughout a course.
  • Write examinations consistent with course goals and content presented in class or within clearly assigned readings.
  • Maintain security of all examinations before, during and after it has been given.
  • Protect honest students by monitoring the examination process.
  • Post a key only after all students have completed the examination.
  • Assign final grades consistent with the student's academic performance according to the guidelines established when the course began.
  • Maintain and demand a professional tone in dealing with students in or out of class.

What to do if you’re accused of academic misconduct

Being accused of academic misconduct is serious and can be distressing. If you’re accused, here’s what you need to do.

Learn about the accusation. Remain calm and listen carefully to the description of the incident or ask to read the description from the referral form.

Explain. Clearly and calmly describe the incident from your point of view.

Ask for more information. Ask what penalties the faculty member plans to assign. Find out when the completed referral form will be available for you to sign.

Explore your choices. Consult the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct to clarify your options. Decide, either alone or with the advice of a trusted confidant, whether you will accept or appeal the decision of the faculty member.

Prepare to appeal. If you decide to appeal, ask when the referral form will be provided to the academic officer of your school.  The academic officer or their designee will be your point of contact for an appeal.