Undergraduate
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the foundation of the University of South Florida’s commitment to the academic honesty and personal integrity of its University community. Academic integrity is grounded in certain fundamental values, which include honesty, respect and fairness. Broadly defined, academic honesty is the completion of all academic endeavors and claims of scholarly knowledge as representative of one’s own efforts. Knowledge and maintenance of the academic standards of honesty and integrity as set forth by the University are the responsibility of the entire academic community, including the instructional faculty, staff and students.
For more information on the various types of academic integrity as well as a helpful video, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Studies website.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY REVIEW AND APPEALS – Process for Undergraduate Students
USF has identified behaviors that are considered violations of the academic standards for Undergraduate students. These behaviors include the following and are described in USF Regulation 3.027 – Academic Integrity of Students (pp. 4-8):
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Fabrication, Forgery and Obstruction
- Multiple Submissions
- Complicity
- Improper use of teamwork credit
- Solicitation or Purchase
- Misrepresentation
- Misconduct in Research and Creative Endeavors
- Computer Misuse
- Misuse of Intellectual Property
- Violation of State or Federal laws with regard to Intellectual Property
If a student is identified as having violated the Academic Integrity Policy, the student may appeal after the final academic sanction is received. Appeals to the Academic Integrity Policy may only be considered for the following reasons:
- The academic integrity violation or sanction had no factual basis or could not be reasonably inferred by the facts as presented; or
- The academic integrity violation or sanction violated a University Regulation or Policy.
A student who has accepted responsibility for the academic integrity violation itself (either in writing or verbally) to the instructor or administrator, may not challenge the factual basis and may only appeal the severity of the sanction imposed.
Submitting an Academic Integrity Appeal Request
The College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (BCS) Student Services Office has developed a streamlined process by which students who wish to appeal an academic integrity violation or sanction in a course offered by the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences may submit a request for appeal via the CBCS Academic Integrity Appeal Request Form. Once the form is completed it will automatically be sent via email to the bcsacademicintegrity@usf.edu for further processing.
- If you have received an academic integrity violation and sanction in a course offered by a college outside of BCS, please reach out to that college directly for information on how to submit a request for appeal.
Review the Academic Integrity Review and Appeals Process.
