Approved by Board of Trustees
Effective Date: March 19, 2024
Responsible Division: Academic Affairs
Responsible Office:  University Provost
Responsible Officer: Vice Provost for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives

I. Purpose

This policy sets out the procedure to be followed when a Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University) faculty member believes a student has engaged in academic misconduct.

II. Scope

This policy applies only to situations where a faculty member alleges that a student has engaged in academic misconduct. Any allegations of misconduct related to research may also be evaluated under Policy 211 Misconduct in Scholarly Activities and Research. Students wishing to appeal final course grades must do so through the process set out in Policy 313 Student Grade Appeals.

III. Definitions

A.  Academic Exercise. All forms of work submitted by a student for academic credit or hours.

B.  Academic Misconduct. Acts of plagiarism, cheating, or fabrication.

1.  Plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works from another source as one's own without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism, which occurs when an author submits material or research from a previous academic exercise to satisfy the requirements of another academic exercise and uses it without proper citation of its reuse. Plagiarism also includes the unauthorized use of paraphrasing tools or "text spinners" and artificial intelligence software. 

2.  Cheating. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or aids in any academic exercise or test/examination. Cheating also includes unapproved collaboration, which occurs when a student works with others on an individual academic exercise without the express permission of the faculty member. Unapproved collaboration can also include, but is not limited to, sharing of any physical or electronic papers, exams/quizzes, assignments, and/or posting of same to unauthorized websites. 

3. Fabrication. Fabrication includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

C.  Academic Misconduct Committee (Committee) refers to the Committee established under Policy 32 University Committees.

D.  Faculty Member. For the purposes of this policy, a faculty member is the University employee teaching a course or serving in a supervisory, advisory, or evaluative capacity in relation to the student(s) accused of academic misconduct, including graduate teaching assistants who are instructors of record. Graduate teaching assistants or others who are not instructors of record should present documentation of suspected misconduct to the supervising faculty member.

E.  Director of Academic Integrity (Direct