What is Academic Integrity?
Academic integrity is “the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner” which includes “a commitment by all members of the University community not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception.” (see Senate policy 49-20).
Why should Academic Integrity matter to me?
When you enrolled in Penn State, you became a member of a prestigious and hardworking University community. As part of this community, you are subject to the same high standards and expectations as your professors, instructors, and teaching assistants. Central to protecting and promoting the University’s standards is the high value we place on academic integrity.
You are a vital part of the University community—a scholar learning from scholars.
Protecting your academic reputation means acting responsibly, fairly, and honestly in all classes and situations. You may feel tempted to violate academic integrity when:
- you or a friend are unprepared for an exam.
- you're tired while writing a paper and can't remember a source.
- someone else phrased something perfectly, and you struggle to make it your own.
If you share answers during an exam or use someone else’s words or ideas without proper attribution, you are violating academic integrity and putting your academic standing at risk. When in doubt, talk to your professors. They can help you navigate the rules of responsible scholarship.
Additional Resources
- Office of Student Conduct
- Senate Policy G-9 on Academic Integrity Procedures
- Senate Policy 49-20 on Academic Integrity
For information about the academic integrity process for graduate students and for graduate classes, including the composition of the Graduate Academic Integrity Committee, policies, procedures, and sanctioning guidelines, see GCAC-805 Academic Integrity.
For information about the academic integrity process for undergraduate students outside of graduate classes, see policy G-9 Academic Integrity and the Undergraduate Sanctioning Guidelines for Academic Integrity Violations. Schreyer honors students should also consult the Schreyer Honors College Student Handbook.
Academic Integrity Violation Process
Any additional questions about the IST Academic Integrity violation process can be addressed to the IST Academic Integrity Contact Person listed below
Notification and Response. Your faculty member will inform you of the suspected allegation and give you a chance to respond.
Charge and Sanction. If the allegation is upheld, the faculty member will submit a charge and academic sanction through the University’s Academic Integrity Portal. You will receive notice via your Penn State email when a charge has been filed against you.
Accept or Contest. You can either accept or contest the sanction and the allegations proposed by your instructor via the online Academic Integrity Portal. You have five (5) business days to respond to the claim. Not responding to the claim is viewed as automatic acceptance of the claim and sanctions proposed. Accepted claims move directly to the Committee Review stage.
Secondary Responses. When you contest a claim, your instructor will have five (5) business days to respond and provide additional information. You will be notified when your instructor has responded and will have five (5) business days following that date to provide an additional response. Following secondary responses, contested claims move to the Committee Review stage below.
Committee Review. If you contested your claim, you will have a choice of an asynchronous document review or a Zoom committee hearing with at least one member of the Academic Integrity Committee. You will be contacted by the DAISY Administrator to indicate your preference and schedule your hearing. Once your claim has been reviewed, you and your instructor will be notified of the Committee's decision via email.
Sanction Enforcement. Once the IST Academic Integrity Committee has issued academic sanctions, your instructor will be notified they can implement the approved sanctions. All claim information will be forwarded to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response (OSACR) for their records and review. For serious violations, the claim may be recommended to OSACR for further disciplinary action.
Course Enrollment Restrictions
Once informed of an academic integrity allegation, you cannot drop the course during the adjudication process. If you receive an academic sanction, you cannot drop or withdraw from the course at any time—any such action will be reversed. If you drop the course after being informed of the allegation but before the process begins, you will be re-enrolled, and the process will continue.
IST Academic Integrity Contact Person:
