Computer Science Department Statement on Academic Integrity

In the university research environment, the most productive work is rarely created by single individuals working alone. Rather, collaboration has been found to be the most productive mode of operation for all kinds of scholarly activities. However, appropriate credit is to be given to all the participants in collaborative work. Furthermore, new research work rarely stands without foundation; it is usually derived from previously reported research. In these cases, the original work is to be cited.

In the university teaching environment, students are partners in the educational enterprise. The same deference is shown for other students' ideas as is shown for researchers' ideas. Collaborative work may be encouraged; many students find that their learning is enhanced during discussions with other students. However, when such collaboration occurs, all of the participants are to be acknowledged (i.e. their names written on the resulting work). Similarly, in a paper that uses ideas developed by another person, the original author is to be cited (e.g. in a footnote). When ideas that were invented by another individual are used in a program, the original inventor is to be cited (i.e. in the program documentation).

What is to be encouraged:

• Turning in work that is done alone or with the help of the course staff.
• Turning in one assignment for a group of students, when group work is permitted.
• Discussion of coursework with other students, unless explicitly disallowed, and then separately implementing the details of solutions with acknowledgment of the other students involved in the discussion.

What is considered academic dishonesty and a serious breach of trust includes, but is not limited to:

• Cheating: Turning in someone else's work as your own, even with the permission of the original author.
• Cheating: Allowing someone else to turn in your work as his or her own.
• Plagiarism: Turning in work without proper acknowledgment of the sources of the content contained within the work.

What are the consequences of academic dishonesty?

The Computer Science Department holds the need for academic integrity and the proper respect for ideas and authorship in the highest regard. As partners in the enterprise of scholarship, students are similarly to practice such respect.

The Department also recognizes that issues of integrity and professional responsibility are life-long and calls your attention to the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct