• About Academic Integrity and Misconduct at MTSU
• Academic Misconduct Defined
• MTSU Academic Academic Misconduct Policy
• Academic Integrity Brochure (pdf)
• Classroom Misconduct/Disruptive Students
• Template for Academic Misconduct Memo from Faculty (word)

About Academic Integrity and Misconduct at MTSU
Middle Tennessee State University strives to promote values and attitudes that are reflective of solid academic character and integrity. For this reason, MTSU expects each student to complete assignments that are original and reflective of that individual student. Academic integrity is an essential component of a quality education. When a student participates in behavior that is considered to be academic misconduct, the scholarly value of their education is lessened.

All members of a University community have responsibility for ensuring academic integrity. Faculty have the responsibility of designing assignments and exams that promote academic integrity, as well as the responsibility to report suspected violators. One reason for this responsibility is because the Office of Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services enters all individuals referred for academic misconduct violations into a database. Faculty often will not know if the student they suspect has been referred for academic misconduct previously. The Office of Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services once received two referrals in the mail one day for the same student. These referrals came from two different professors in different departments. This student had plagiarized papers in both classes.

Students have the responsibility of doing their own work and giving credit where credit is due. Integrity goes beyond an individual decision. Integrity is a lifestyle. The corporate scandals we have read about lately were not the result of one bad decision. The corporations lacked integrity in their supervision, management, and customer service. They said one thing but did another. Students need to strive to be the person they plan to be in the future. In his book “Developing the Leaders Around You,” John Maxwell wrote, “You will only become what you are becoming right now.”

Academic Misconduct Defined
Academic Misconduct. Plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) Plagiarism. The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one’s own without proper acknowledgment.

(2) Cheating. Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.

(3) Fabrication. Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

(4) Facilitation. Helping or attempting to help another to violate a provision of the institutional code of academic misconduct.

Academic Misconduct Policy
The instructor should report allegations of academic misconduct to the head of the concerned department and to the assistant dean for Judicial Affairs (898-2750). The instructor should attempt to inform the student of the allegation and notify the student that the information has been forwarded to the assistant dean.

To refer an individual to Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services for Academic Misconduct, please fill out the following form.

The instructor may conduct a conference with the student in compliance with the following procedures:

1. the student will be provided notice that he/she is believed to have committed an act or acts of academic misconduct in violation of University rules;

2. the student will be presented with all evidence in the knowledge or possession of the instructor which tends to support the allegation(s) of academic misconduct; and

3. the student will be given an opportunity to present information on his/her behalf.

Based upon the TBR Policy # 3:02:00:01 regarding academic misconduct, the instructor will assign an appropriate grade. This information, along with all supporting documentation of the violation, will be forwarded to the assistant dean for Judicial Affairs.

In the event a student believes he/she has been erroneously accused of academic misconduct, and at the discretion of the assistant dean of Student Life, a hearing before the University Discipline Committee may be arranged. If the student is found responsible for the allegation(s) of academic misconduct, the grade, as assigned by the instructor, will stand. Should the student be absolved of the allegations of academic misconduct by the Discipline Committee, the faculty member will reassess the student’s grade based on the Discipline Committee’s finding.

Consistent with other disciplinary case, the Discipline Committee will forward their recommendation for sanctions to the vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost for Enrollment Management. If the student withdrawals from the University, and is ultimately found responsible for academic misconduct, the student will receive the grade as assigned by the instructor.

Class Attendance Pending Hearing. The student may stay in class pending a hearing if the faculty member determines that the student’s presence in the class does not interfere with the instructor’s ability to teach the class or the ability of other class members to learn.

Academic Misconduct Referrals
To refer an individual to Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services for Academic Misconduct, please fill out the form.