Cheating and Consequences

Learn about common violations and the consequences for engaging in academic misconduct at UC San Diego.

Common cheating violations

Students are most commonly reported for:

• Copying during an exam
• Altering a graded exam for regrade
• Submitting a forged doctor’s note to get out of an assignment
• Plagiarizing (using the words or ideas of another without attribution)
• Copying another student’s assignment, paper, or lab report
• Using unauthorized aids during exams
• Taking an exam for another student or having another student take your exam for you
• Using unauthorized sources on an assignment (e.g., Wikipedia, CliffsNotes, SparksNotes)
• Using or distributing old or unauthorized copies of examinations, tests, answer keys, or assignments

Consequences

The severity of the sanction depends on the nature of the Policy violation and your disciplinary history. You can receive consequences even if you didn’t know you were violating the Policy (i.e., ignorance is no excuse).

Students may receive one or more sanctions, including:

• Administrative sanctions, imposed by a dean of student affairs for violations of the Policy on Integrity of Scholarship, can include:
  • Disciplinary probation
  • Assignment to the Academic Integrity Seminar
  • Suspension from the University of California (from 1 quarter up to 2 years)
  • Dismissal from the University of California
• Academic sanctions, imposed by the course instructor:
  • Can range from a failing grade on the assignment, quiz, or exam in question, to a failing grade in the class. When a policy violation occurs, the assigned grade remains on your transcript and is calculated into your GPA even if the course is retaken.

Recent examples of consequences for UCSD students

In 2007-2008:

• 7 students were dismissed
• 54 students were suspended
  • 35 received a 1-quarter suspension
  • 16 received a 1-year suspension
  • 3 received a 2-year suspension
• 241 students received probation and some type of educational assignment

More information

• Learn surprising facts about academic integrity violations and the consequences that UC San Diego students might incur.

Questions? Contact the Academic Integrity Office, (858) 822-2163.