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Cornell University

McCormick Teaching Excellence Institute

Advice for handling Academic Integrity issues

Tips on Dealing with Academic Integrity

Experience in recent years shows that Academic Integrity (AI) continues to be an issue. For example, using websites like Chegg.com students can upload assignment questions and get answers. The advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) has added to the mix of potential AI violations.   No matter how strict your policies, some students will, if it is possible for them to do so, cheat.

Below are two kinds of guidance: I. How to reduce academic integrity issues; and II. What to do about them when they arise.

  1. How to reduce academic integrity issues in your course.

    Strongly stating that your clear policies will be strictly enforced might help.  The safest, however, is to have systems and policies which make it difficult for students to cheat even if they try.

    1. Set clear expectations.  At the start of the semester, make clear, in writing, what is and is not permitted. Precisely what online resources, offline resources or collaboration are allowed for exams, reports and homework? Instructors should clearly and consistently communicate to students their expectations on the use of GAI in their assignments and classes, including when it is and is not allowed, and what uses of GAI are considered violations of academic integrity.
    2. Take-home exams are fraught with potential AI violations and are discouraged.  But if you must give take-home exams:
      • Watermark exams to make it easier for you to identify questions that have been uploaded to the web.
      • Give exams in a limited time window.
      • Allow the exam to be open book, open notes.
      • Give a series of shorter exams or quizzes to reduce the time available for cheating.
      • Use the Canvas quiz tool to give exams with the order of questions and answers randomized, use the question bank feature to give a unique quiz to each student, do not allow backtracking in Canvas.
    3. Place a copyright notice on all course materials -– this will help you get material taken down from sites such as Course Hero and Chegg. Here is some suggested syllabus wording:

      All materials of this course are copyrighted, and it is prohibited to circulate or sell to commercial vendors the course materials, including syllabus, exams, lecture notes, images, presentations, and student papers. Such unauthorized behavior constitutes academic misconduct. Video and/or audio recording of class lectures and review sessions without my permission in advance is prohibited. If you have an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services, or if you are interested in recording for your personal use as a study aid, please make an appointment, to meet me before you record anything.

  2. What to do if you suspect cheatingThe University has clear, reasonable policies.   One part of these policies concerns student responsibilities and one part, faculty responsibilities. That is, faculty must also follow the policies for academic integrity.

    If you catch cheating you must follow the policies.

    • You cannot assign any punishment without following the process.  You can give a warning to a student, but you can’t deduct any credit from any part of the course without following the process.
    • The process is outlined at http://theuniversityfaculty.cornell.edu/academic-integrity/guidelines-for-instructors/ .   Sample letters for the different stages of the process are given here: http://theuniversityfaculty.cornell.edu/academic-integrity/forms-academic-integrity/.
    • If a student confesses without a hearing, or is found guilty at your hearing, they suffer whatever punishment you prescribe, and a letter goes on file. This letter only has consequences if there is a second violation, or if this is a second violation. Again, you cannot assign any penalty of any kind without allowing the student a hearing, and without sending this letter.

    Some faculty are intimidated by this process and choose one of these two options: 1) They assign punishment without going through the procedure above, or 2) They don’t follow through on enforcing those academic integrity rules that they established for their courses.  We strongly advise against both of these.   The procedures are reasonable. If you follow them calmly they need not take much time nor effort.  The students who follow the rules, which is the majority of students, count on us to do this enforcing.

Supporting documents and further details:

Sample syllabus statements regarding Academic Integrity:
Version 1: Traditional

“Each student is expected to abide by the Cornell University Code of Integrity, http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Academic/AIC.html.  You may discuss homework with each other, but you must solve the problems yourself and everything you turn in must be your own work.  In addition, you must list at the top of the HW assignment the names of anyone you discussed the HW problems with.  Copying from solution manuals or each other is strictly forbidden. To be ready for the exams you’ll need to be able to do all the problems on your own.  Violations will be dealt with through the Academic Integrity Hearing process, http://theuniversityfaculty.cornell.edu/academic-integrity/guidelines-for-students/.   Course materials posted on Canvas are intellectual property belonging to the author.  Students are not permitted to buy, sell, trade or share any course materials without the express permission of the instructor. Such unauthorized behavior constitutes academic misconduct.”

Version 2: This version is somewhat the opposite extreme, focusing on rules more easily enforced.

Each student is expected to abide by the Cornell University Code of Integrity, http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Academic/AIC.html.  For homework you are allowed to use help of any kind from any source.  This includes faculty, TAs, friends, Google, solution manuals, etc.  The only guideline, which we will not enforce, but that you should practice as a matter of personal integrity, is this:  You should note your sources (e.g., “Sally Wang showed me how to do problem 2”). In contrast, for in-person or remote exams you are not allowed to use any sources. No help from other people, notes, the web, course documents, etc.   For exams taken remotely (add any additional requirements or policies …).  Violations of these policies will be dealt with through the Academic Integrity Hearing process, http://theuniversityfaculty.cornell.edu/academic-integrity/guidelines-for-students/ .

Additional syllabus statements can found at Teaching Resources – McCormick Teaching Excellence Institute (cornell.edu).