About the Academic Integrity FAQ for Students

Here are common questions students have about academic integrity. 

I received notification that an Academic Misconduct Case has been brought against me and have read the letter you sent, but I am still unsure what my next steps are.

You can review the Academic Misconduct Process for both undergraduate and graduate Marquette students. Additionally, you may reach out to a faculty or student representative from your college on the Academic Integrity Council. The list of council members can be found here. While they will not know specifics about your case, they can offer insight into the process and general next steps.

I was offered an expedited sanction. What does that mean?

If it is your first offense and it is not particularly egregious, you may be offered an expedited sanction and review. If you take responsibility for your actions, you will be allowed to accept the sanctions outlined in the expedited review form and be done with your case. The sanctions will always include a letter of reprimand if you were found in violation, a penalty in the course (could be as simple as re-writing an assignment up to a zero on the assignment for a first offense), and sometimes a sanction that is for formation. However, if you do not agree with the findings of the office, you may request a hearing where a panel of two faculty, two students, and a dean's representative will review the evidence and make a recommendation to the Academic Integrity Director. The sanction guidelines used by the hearing board will be the same as those used in determining the initial expedited sanction offer, so that a hearing should not be requested in the hope that the sanction will be decreased. Rather, it is intended for a student who truly believes in their innocence and who has additional information that they wish to have considered by a full board that was not available during the original investigation.

A friend of mine was offered an expedited sanction and I was told that I had to go directly to a hearing. Why?

It is possible that your offense was more egregious than that of your friend. Alternatively, if you have a previous offense on your record you will always be required to attend a hearing. Graduate student cases that go beyond minor plagiarism also proceed to hearings. You should be aware that on a second offense a student will receive a much stronger penalty such as an F or ADW in the course, and perhaps suspension or expulsion if the offense was egregious.

I acknowledge that I violated the Honor Code but I feel that the sanction that I was offered in the expedited process is too harsh. Should I ask for a hearing?

Hearing Board members use the same sanctioning guidelines that were used in the initial expedited offer. Therefore, unless there are special circumstances that were not made apparent in the initial investigation, your sanction will likely stay the same. In fact, the Hearing Board members may make it more harsh if they feel you are not taking responsibility for your actions when your violation is clear.

I'm having a difficult time understanding the nature of plagiarism, and I don't want to get in trouble for accidentally plagiarizing my paper. What can I do?

You can always re-watch the Academic Integrity tutorial. The link for the tutorial is located in the upper right corner on your home D2L page. You can navigate the tutorial menu and click on the particular section you'd like to review. Additionally, Marquette University has many great resources for its students. The Norman H. Ott Memorial Writing Center has representatives you can work with to help you with any stage of your writing process, including how to properly paraphrase and cite your sources to help avoid plagiarism. Find out how to schedule an appointment or find their hours for a walk-in appointment.

Check out our resources to avoid plagiarism page for additional resources.

Part of my sanction was a letter of reprimand. What exactly does that mean? What is its impact on my application to postgraduate schools or getting a job?

The letter of reprimand is an internal document only accessible by the Academic Integrity Office, the Office of the Registrar, your college office, and the Provost's Office, and it is written to fully explain the violation. It is used as a record of the number of your academic integrity violations. Your professors do not see it and it is not visible on your transcripts. It can only be accessed by individuals outside of Marquette upon your, the student's, request.

Law school and medical school applications will ask about academic misconduct. Similarly, governmental jobs will inquire about misconduct as well. We advise our students to be upfront and honest about the situation and how they have learned from it. A single minor offense will not prohibit you from getting into these programs if you are otherwise a good candidate.

An example of a letter of reprimand can be viewed here: Sample Letter of Reprimand.

A friend and I worked together on a homework assignment and now our professor reported us for cheating. But he never said we couldn't work together, so why are we in trouble?

Professors at Marquette University won't necessarily discuss every unauthorized behavior. As a Marquette student, you're expected to know the basics of excelling with integrity, such as:

• Completing in-class and take-home tests individually.
• Completing your own homework individually.
• Properly citing sources for information that is not your own.

If your professor does not explicitly state whether group or partner work is acceptable, you can also ask the professor if it is OK prior to working together in order to avoid committing academic misconduct.

During my last test, I saw a couple of students peeking at notes they had slipped underneath their exam, but my professor didn't see. I was so angry and frustrated! I wanted to say something, but I don't want to be targeted as a snitch or tattletale. What can I do about it?

You have obligations within Marquette's Honor Code to do the following:

• To report circumstances that may compromise academic honesty, such as inattentive proctoring or premature posting of answers, and
• To report any observed breaches of this Honor Code and academic honesty.

Students can submit the Academic Misconduct Report Form, too. We understand that filing against your classmates may be uncomfortable, but it is the right thing to do and you have an obligation to report it. On the Academic Misconduct Report Form, there is a box students may select if they wish to remain anonymous. While the Investigative Officer will still interview you as part of his/her investigation of the case, your name will not be released to the student(s) of the alleged violation.

Professors also have obligations to the Honor Code. If you feel comfortable, we encourage you to discuss the observed situation with your professor so he/she may be more vigilant or modify the testing environment during assignments or exams. This is something the Investigative Officer and the Academic Integrity Director will also discuss with the professor.

What are my rights during an Academic Misconduct Hearing?

You, the student, have the following rights during an academic misconduct hearing:

• The student is entitled to be present throughout the hearing but not during the deliberation.
• The student is entitled to remain silent (i.e., not to testify against him/herself), but if silence is maintained, the case will be decided on the evidence presented.
• The student may object to a member of the Hearing Board for reasons of official or personal conflict of interest. Any such objection must be submitted to the Academic Integrity Director at least two working days prior to the hearing date.
• The student is entitled to present pertinent evidence and the testimony of witnesses to substantiate his/her case and to comment upon and respond to the charges against him/herself.
• The student is entitled to bring a support person to the hearing, who does not prompt the student, but solely supports by their presence.
• The student is entitled to make a written appeal of the disciplinary decision within five working days from the date of notification of the Hearing Board decision.