Academic Integrity

Failure to adhere to ISMMS’s standards of academic integrity will be treated as serious offenses, inconsistent with the goals and activities of the academic environment. Breaches of academic integrity will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the School. Some examples of unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating: Cheating includes using unauthorized notes, study aids, or information derived from any source, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools, on an examination or submitted work; altering a graded work after it has been returned, then submitting the work for re-grading; allowing another person or AI tool to do one's work and submitting that work under one's own name; submitting identical or similar papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from the course instructors.

• Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another person or language generated from AI/electronic based tools as your own on any submitted work regardless of whether or not that work is in final form. This includes collaborating with another on an assignment or assessment without the explicit permission of the course director. Work of others must be clearly delineated from your work and properly attributed using standard methods. If you have any questions about methods of properly citing sources, you should consult with the course director.

• Computer code and open-source code: Written computer code is considered the same as any other written document and as such it is also subject to this plagiarism policy. Unless explicitly stated by the course director, you may not use any code from other sources in your programming. When permission is given by a course director to use another’s code, it must be properly attributed using inline comments bracketing the borrowed code and the source of the material must be stated explicitly. Use of code libraries and/or AI tools is permissible only if specifically indicated in WRITTEN course information (e.g., the course syllabus or related documents) or approved by a PI in case of a thesis and with proper citation/attribution.

• Fabrication: Fabrication is falsifying or inventing any information, data, or citation; presenting data not gathered in accordance with standard guidelines defining the appropriate methods for collecting or generating data; utilizing AI/electronic based tools to create/generate information, data sets, or citations unless such information, data sets or citations are clearly individually identified as AI-generated; and failing to include an accurate account of the method by which the data were gathered or collected.

• Obtaining an Unfair Advantage: Students should not engage in (a) stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining access to examination materials prior to the time authorized by the instructor; (b) stealing, destroying, defacing or concealing library materials with the purpose of depriving others of their use; (c) unauthorized collaborating on an academic assignment (d) retaining, possessing, using or circulating previously given examination materials, where those materials clearly indicate that they are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the examination; (e) intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student's academic work, or (f) otherwise undertaking activity with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair academic advantage over other students' academic work.

• Aiding and Abetting Academic Dishonesty: This includes (a) providing material, information, or other assistance to another person with knowledge that such aid could be used in any of the violations stated above, or (b) providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.

• Falsification of Records and Official Documents: Falsification of records and official documents is altering documents that affect academic records; forging signatures of authorization or falsifying information on an official academic document, grade report, letter of permission, petition, drop/add form, ID card, or any other official University document.

• Unauthorized Access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems: This includes viewing or altering computer records, modifying computer programs or systems, releasing or dispensing information gained via unauthorized access, or interfering with the use or availability of computer systems or information.

• Writing, Revision, Editing Assistance on Thesis Proposal or Thesis: All graded essays, papers, and problems, and all written materials submitted as part of the Thesis Proposal or the Thesis, must be entirely the work of the individual student or referenced appropriately. Even editing (e.g. syntax assistance for foreign students, use of AI tools) should be sought only if explicit permission is obtained.

• False Identity: Distance Education students will be subject to student identity verification processes intermittently throughout the online experience. Students are expected to fully and truthfully comply with all requests for information that verify identity.

• Sharing of test information: such as questions and answers through messaging apps, social media platforms, or other digital formats.

If faculty observe or have knowledge of students engaging in any of the above-mentioned activities, the faculty member should, depending on the circumstances, discuss the matter with the student at once. Students and faculty who know or suspect that any of the above-mentioned activities have occurred must report the matter immediately and in writing to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs of the Graduate School. The Senior Associate Dean will consult with the student’s Program Director and the Course Director to review the allegation of academic misconduct. If this review finds merit to the suspected breach of academic integrity, the matter will be referred to the program specific discipline committee for a full investigation and to determine appropriate action. If the program does not have its own disciplinary review process, the matter will be referred to the Graduate School Committee for Academic Review. Appropriate action could include academic probation, suspension, or dismissal. If it is determined that the student has been involved in any form of academic misconduct on a course assignment or assessment, the student may receive an F for the assignment or assessment.

If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the academic review process, he/she/they are required to submit a written appeal as detailed in the section on the Committee for Academic Review.