Proactive Strategies for Students to Minimize Academic Misconduct

Protecting yourself from being charged with academic dishonesty:

  1. Familiarize yourself with the University's Student Code, especially for information regarding academic dishonesty.
  2. Check each course syllabus for information regarding academic dishonesty. Faculty members may have additional information beyond the University's standards. If you cannot find a written section in the syllabus, ask the faculty member what his/her expectations are.
  3. Prepare yourself thoroughly for examinations and assignments.
  4. Take the initiative to prevent other students from copying your exam or assignments by shielding your work. In exams, if you feel someone is trying to copy from you, ask the proctor/instructor if you may move.
  5. Do not look around, particularly in the direction of other students' papers, during an exam since it may appear you are trying to copy from others.
  6. Do not make any marks on a graded exam if there is any chance you may submit it for a re-grade. Make notations on a separate paper.
  7. Do not share assignments you have finished with other students. Do not leave your finished assignments in a place where another student might be able to copy them.
  8. Do not share your current or former assignments, projects, papers, etc., with other students to use as guides for their work. Such a practice could lead to claims of collaboration if another student lifts part of all your work. Sometimes friendly assistance may escalate into claims of blatant dishonesty.
  9. If you are allowed to take materials into a testing site, make sure no notes or materials are exposed or accessible that could cause one to believe you are using unauthorized aids.
  10. Should there be any doubt, clarify with your instructor how much collaboration, if any, is permitted or expected when working on projects or assignments with other students.
  11. When working on a collaborative exercise, complete all written assignments individually unless the instructor specifically tells you otherwise.
  12. Acknowledge the contributions of other students on collaborative projects by citing their name(s) on all written work turned into the instructor.
  13. When completing take-home exams, do not collaborate with other persons unless approved by the instructor.
  14. Consult with the UConn Writing Center, talk with your professor, or use a recognized handbook for instruction on citing source materials.
  15. Protect your computer login identifications and passwords. Other students could use them to access your work and subsequently implicate you in a cheating case.
  16. Know that it is risky to electronically copy or transmit a computer program or file to other students. You could be implicated in a cheating incident if someone alters that program and submits it as his/her own work.
  17. Do not allow anyone to copy or use your flash drive or media storage device.
  18. Check with your instructor and get permission before turning in a paper or project you submitted in another course.
  19. Do not use previous papers, lab reports, or assignments used in a course with the intention of copying parts or all of the material.
  20. Keep rough drafts and copies of your work since other students may get access to your work and attempt to claim it as their own.
  21. Keep your student identification card in your possession or secured. Never loan your identification to anyone.
  22. Encourage honesty among other students.
  23. Refuse to assist students who cheat.

Adapted from the University of Delaware