University of Minnesota School of Statistics

Academic Misconduct Policy

      In order to achieve an atmosphere of trust and intellectual integrity in the School of Statistics, it is important that everyone, students and faculty alike, share a vision of what is responsible academic conduct and what is not. The purpose of this document is to clarify what is acceptable conduct for Graduate students in the School in fulfilling their academic obligations such as doing homework, taking examinations, or completing a project. It takes into account the pedagogical value of students learning together by joint problem solving and discussion and the importance of students having free exchange of ideas with faculty members. However, it also recognizes that it is essential for the faculty to be able to evaluate what ideas and techniques an individual student has mastered, which is impossible when students work together during tests or report as their own work results obtained from other people or written sources without proper acknowledgement.

WHAT IS UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT?

Homework
      Discussing homework assignments with other students is normally acceptable. However, instructors have the option to limit or prohibit such collaboration in which case they must specify explicit rules, preferably in writing, that students are to follow. Direct copying of someone else's homework is never acceptable. On homework assignment involving computation, the use of computer output of another student is equivalent to copying and is not acceptable.

Examinations
      Students may not communicate with anyone but the instructor of the course concerning the content (questions or answers) of an examination, nor consult any source material, unless the instructor issues explicit written instructions to the contrary. This ban precludes communication with fellow students in the course, other students, faculty members, or any other individual, and applies both to in-class and take-home examinations. Providing impermissible aid to other students is as serious an act of misconduct as receiving aid and will incur the same sanctions. Violation of these rules during a Master or PhD qualifying examination will mean automatic failure.

Projects
      Projects ~ papers, plan B projects, computer programs ~ are longer term tasks which may involve considerable use of the statistical literature, advice of faculty members and discussion with fellow students and others. It is unacceptable to use such resources unless they are cited properly and acknowledged according to the usual procedures of academic research (footnotes, bibliography, etc.). In some cases the faculty member overseeing the project may give written instructions to limit the sources of information to be used, in which case it is unacceptable to go beyond these limits.

Other
      It is impermissible to hide, change, or destroy the work or material of another student. In particular, this includes any modification or deletion of computer files, whether program or data. Any student found to have so interfered with another's work will be reported to the Graduate Faculty.

PENALTIES FOR MISCONDUCT

      If a faculty member determines that a Statistics graduate student has engaged in academic misconduct as described above, they may attempt to resolve the case directly with the student. The penalty will be related to the severity of the student's misconduct. The incident may be reported by either the student or the faculty member to the Graduate Faculty for their information or consideration. If a faculty member suspects a Statistics graduate student has engaged in academic misconduct as described above but not in a course which they are teaching they will report the incident to the Graduate Faculty.
      Once an incident is brought to the attention of the Graduate Faculty, a committee consisting of three other faculty members may be appointed to review the incident. This committee will interview both the faculty member and the student. The committee will present a report to the Graduate Faculty. The Graduate Faculty will determine an appropriate penalty when warranted. The penalty will be related to the severity of the student's misconduct. It may take the form of a warning letter placed in the student's permanent file, loss of financial support or suspension from the program for a specified period, or dismissal from the program. If the student does not agree with the outcomes of this process, he may appeal to the appropriate University authorities. A second offense by the same student will result in dismissal from the program.