Academic Integrity

The Book
Academic Integrity

Plagiarism Policy

St. Olaf Honor Code Applies to Exams & Quizzes

As a community dedicated to the principled pursuit of knowledge and truth, St. Olaf College regards integrity and honesty as foundational to all aspects of its communal life, including and especially academic endeavors. We understand academic integrity in terms of five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. St. Olaf thus expects of its students, faculty, and staff:

1 Intellectual and personal honesty in learning, teaching, research, and service.

2. Mutual trust and the free exchange of ideas.

3. Fairness in the interactions of students, faculty, and administrators.

4. Respect of a wide range opinions, ideas, and persons.

5. Personal responsibility and the importance of action in the face of wrongdoing.

Papers, presentations, or other individual projects.
Collaborative projects – Students will exhibit integrity in their interactions with partners and members of groups assigned to a collaborative project.
- Students will not present another author’s work as their own.
- Students will properly attribute distinctive ideas or words obtained from other sources.
- Students will follow all guidelines set forth by the instructor for an assignment (e,g., collaboration only when allowed).
Off-campus programs, including internships and practicums – Students will exhibit integrity in fulfilling the requirements of the program or internship, including truthful reports of their activities.
Reporting of academic dishonesty – Students will report instances of academic dishonesty that they observe to the instructor or supervisor of the course and/or Department Chair.

Instructors and supervisors should provide clear access to the Academic Integrity Policy in course materials (e.g., by means of a link to the policy on the syllabus).
Instructors and supervisors should discuss with students how the policy applies to their work in the particular course (or internship), both in general terms and with respect to specific assignments.
In order to ensure a fair and open process, instructors and supervisors shall follow the procedures outlined below when academic dishonesty is suspected.

The presentation of the work of another as one’s own. Plagiarism may take the form of inadequate or misleading use of sources, or the presentation of a written assignment as one’s own when, in fact, a significant portion or all of it is the work of others. Students must be especially vigilant in their use of electronic sources, as no distinction will be made between misuse of such sources and misuse of written, non-electronic sources.

Alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. Examples of fabrication include the invention of data, research results, information or procedures in an academic exercise, or counterfeiting a record of internship or practicum experiences. Examples of falsification include altering the record of data or experimental procedures or results, false citation of the source of information, or altering the record of or reporting false information about internship or practicum experiences.

The appropriate penalty will be determined by the faculty member in consultation with the Dean of Students and will take into account the severity of the violation and the student’s prior history with academic dishonesty. Violations that appear to result from negligence, carelessness, or work that falls short of the formal standards of the discipline will normally receive lesser penalties than violations that involve a clear attempt to deceive. Punitive sanctions include the following:

1 Formal Warning

2. Reduced Grade (including failure) for the Specific Assignment

3. Reduced Grade (including failure) for the Entire Course

4. Suspension or Expulsion (assigned only by the Dean of Students or Provost)

Campus Life 184 — Note: Normally, a student may not withdraw from the course, or change from graded to S/U, if he/she has been found responsible for an academic integrity violation; an exception may be made if the sanction for the violation involves no grade reduction. A student may not withdraw or change the grading option while a case is pending.

Allegation of Academic Dishonesty Form (PDF)

Resolution by Settlement. If the student accepts responsibility for the violation and agrees to the sanction, the student will indicate their assent by signing the appropriate statement on the Allegation Form. This form will be placed in the Student Misconduct file in the Dean of Students Office, and retained until the student graduates.
Resolution by Review. If the student wishes to contest the allegation or the sanction, they will sign the corresponding statement on the Allegation Form, and the case will be put before a sub-committee of the faculty Student Life Committee, composed of both faculty and student members, for adjudication.

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism Policy

I. Principles

II. Responsibilities

III.I Violations

View how the college defines Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

III.II Penalties

IV. Procedure

Allegation of Academic Dishonesty Form (PDF)