Student FAQ’s: Academic Misconduct

Academic integrity standards are about upholding the ethical expectations of being a student and in your academic work. Being honest, demonstrating integrity and developing original work are the values that underpin academic integrity standards. Each field of study offered here at MSU Denver has its own ethical guidelines that students are learning about and must adhere to when in the profession they are pursuing. A student’s academic responsibilities are no different than upholding the ethics of your chosen field.

Academic integrity, when violated, is also known as academic dishonesty and academic misconduct.

As stated in the Student Code of Conduct at MSU Denver, academic misconduct “includes but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and submitting same work for different classes. The term cheating includes but is not limited to: use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; misrepresenting class attendance; dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the faculty member in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic materials belonging to a member of the University faculty, staff, or students.”

You can find a list of academic integrity standards on our website here.

Plagiarism or ensuring appropriate source use can be a challenge. To make sure you are upholding the standards of academic integrity and attributing your sources properly, first, check with your instructor to ensure the format style they are requiring (APA, MLA, Chicago to name a few). Additionally, MSU Denver has an exceptional Writing Center where they provide free tutoring sessions and walk you through the paper-writing process. If you are a student whose first language is not English, please check this Writing Center page and the Immigrant Services Program for academic support! They can provide one-on-one support, as well. For a full list of resources, including online options, please see our student resources on academic integrity page.

If a faculty member suspects any academic integrity issues, they will submit an incident report to the Dean of Students Office. The DOS will then reach out the student directly to set up a conversation about the alleged incident. The faculty member may also join this meeting if they choose.

During this time, the student will be able to respond to the allegation, provide your perspective, and share any pieces of evidence you have related to the incident. It is crucial that students respond in a timely manner to the outreach from DOS and their faculty. It is also recommended that students remain enrolled in the course- dropping the course after an allegation will forfeit a students’ right to appeal the decision made in the case.

After the meeting with DOS & faculty, the student will receive an outcome letter that will clearly explain any next steps, if required.

During the meeting about the alleged academic misconduct, students will have a chance to share their perspective on what happened, share any evidence they have and/or take accountability for the situation. These meetings are intended to be open and honest conversations. Students also have the opportunity in these meetings to read the incident report submitted regarding the allegation.

Students will also have a chance to ask questions, discuss next steps, and share any other pertinent information related to the incident.

If a student is found responsible for violating the academic misconduct policy, the faculty will assess a grade outcome, while the DOS will assess a status outcome (warning, probation, suspension, expulsion) and an educational outcome. Suspensions/expulsions are based on the context of the situation and are rarely used for first-time violations.

Educational sanctions may include action items such as a reflection paper, meeting with the writing center, tutoring center, and more.

Yes, you are welcome to bring an advisor or supporter. Please notify the student conduct professional ahead of time. Please note, advisors or support people play a silent role while the student conduct professional facilitates the meeting.

While we strongly encourage you to participate in our process, it is your right to choose not to participate. If you choose to not attend an academic misconduct meeting and/or do not respond to the official email requesting you to schedule a meeting, then a decision about university sanctions will be made in your absence. Students typically have one week from the date that the initial email from Student Conduct was sent to the student to respond and schedule a meeting.

A “Permanent F” stays permanently on your transcript. As you may know, MSU Denver practices a “Best Grade Stands” policy, which allows a student to re-take a course to improve their grade and eliminate the lesser grade. The “Permanent F” will always remain on your transcript and in your overall GPA even if you retake the course. With that said, you may retake the course if you need the credit, however you will have two grades for the course, the “F” and the new score.

Students can use the Student Conduct Appeals Process (keep the link that is already in the question) to appeal the finding of responsibility and sanctions. If an appeal is successful and the finding of responsibility is overturned, the grade will automatically be reconsidered. Please note that a student must remain enrolled in the course where the incident occurred in order to be able to appeal the outcome.

If you are having issues completing your educational sanction(s) (reflection paper, working with the Tutoring Center, Writing Center, etc.), including not meeting the deadline, please reach out to the student conduct professional you worked with or the Dean of Students Office at 303-615-0220. We can problem-solve with you to make sure you complete what you need to.

If we do not hear from you and you do not complete your educational sanction(s) by the deadline, then a hold may be placed on your MSU Denver account. Please call us at 303-615-0220 and we can look at your case and provide an update.

We believe as community members, it is essential to report any plagiarism or cheating. We encourage you to notify your instructor and file an Academic Integrity Incident Report with your contact information. Student reporters can be kept confidential within reason and a staff member can discuss the specifics with you.