UCLA is a community of scholars. In this community, all members including
faculty, staff and students alike are responsible for
maintaining standards of academic honesty. As a student
and member of the University community, you are here to
get an education and are, therefore, expected to demonstrate integrity
in your academic endeavors. You are evaluated on your own merits.
Cheating, plagiarism, collaborative work, multiple submissions without the
permission of the professor, or other kinds of academic
dishonesty are considered unacceptable behavior and will
result in formal disciplinary proceedings usually
resulting in suspension or dismissal.
As specified in the UCLA Student Conduct Code, violations or attempted
violations of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited
to, cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, multiple
submissions or facilitating academic dishonesty (see
below for detailed definitions).
While you are here at UCLA, you may find yourself in a situation where
cheating seems like a viable choice. You may rationalize to
yourself that "Everyone else does it" Well,
they don't. And will that matter when YOU get caught?
NO! If you are unsure whether what you are considering doing is
cheating, just ask yourself ..... how would you feel if your actions were
public, for anyone to see? Would you feel embarrassed or ashamed? If the
answer is yes, that's a good indicator that you are taking a risk and rationalizing
it to yourself.
If after reviewing the information below, you are still unclear about any
of the items - don't take chances, don't just take your
well-intentioned friend's advice - ASK your TA or your
Professor. Know the rules - Ignorance is NO defense. In
addition, avoid placing yourself in situations which might
lead your TA or Professor to suspect you of cheating. For example, during
an exam don't sit next to someone with whom you studied in case your answers
end up looking "too similar."
Seek out help - meet with your TA or Professor, ask if there is
special tutoring available.
Drop the course - can you take it next quarter when you might feel more
prepared and less pressured?
Ask for an extension - if you explain your situation to your TA or
Professor, they might grant you an extended deadline.
See a counselor at Student Psychological Services, and/or your school,
college or department - UCLA has many resources for students
who are feeling the stresses of academic and personal
pressures.
Remember, getting caught cheating affects more than just your GPA. How will
you explain to your parents, family and friends that you have
been suspended or dismissed? How will it affect your
financial aid award and/or scholarship money? Will you
be required to, and be able to pay back that money if
you are no longer a student? If you live in the residence halls, where
will you go if you are told you can no longer live there?
You have worked very hard to get here, so don't cheat! If you would like
more information, please come see us at the Dean of Students'
Office in 1206 Murphy Hall, call us at (310) 825-3871 or
visit our Web site at www.ucla.edu/dos.
Cheating:
Unauthorized acquiring of knowledge of an examination or part of an
examination
Allowing another person to take a quiz, exam, or similar evaluation for
you
Using unauthorized material, information, or study aids in any academic
exercise or examination - textbook, notes, formula list,
calculator, etc.
Unauthorized collaboration in providing or requesting assistance, such as
sharing information
Unauthorized use of someone else's data in completing a computer exercise
Altering a graded exam or assignment and requesting that it be regraded
Plagiarism:
Presenting another's words or ideas as if they were one's own
Submitting as your own through purchase or otherwise, part of or an
entire work produced verbatim by someone else
Paraphrasing ideas, data or writing without properly acknowledging the
source
Unauthorized transfer and use of someone else's computer file as your own
Unauthorized use of someone else's data in completing a computer exercise
Multiple Submissions:
Submitting the same work (with exact or similar content) in more than one
class without permission from the instructor to do so. This
includes courses you are currently taking, as well as
courses you might take in another quarter.
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty:
Participating in any action that compromises the integrity if the academic
standards of the University; assisting another to commit an act
of academic dishonesty
Taking a quiz, exam, or similar evaluation in place of another person
Allowing another student to copy from you
Providing material or other information to another student with knowledge
that such assistance could be used in any of the violations
stated above (e.g., giving test information to students
in other discussion sections of the same course)
Fabrication:
Falsification or invention of any information in an academic exercise
Altering data to support research
Presenting results from research that was not performed
Crediting source material that was not used for research
Places to go for help when you are feeling
overwhelmed and need personal and/or academic assistance
(In addition to the resources listed below, you can get assistance from a
counselor in your college/dept., check out the current schedule
of classes under "Academic Counseling" to find
the location and phone number)
Letters & Science Counseling Service, A316
Murphy Hall (310) 825-1965, www.college.ucla.edu
Academics in the Commons at Covel Commons (310) 825-9315, free workshops
on a wide variety of issues relating to academic & personal success, www.orl.ucla.edu (click on
"academics")
College Tutorials at Covel Commons (310) 825-9315, free tutoring for
ESL/math & science/composition/ and more!, www.college.ucla.edu/up/ct/
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, 220 Kinsey Hall
(310) 206-3628, www.ben2.ucla.edu/~lgbt/
Office for Students with Disabilities, A255 Murphy Hall, (310) 825-1501,
TDD (310) 206-6083, www.saonet.ucla.edu/osd/
Office of International Students and Scholars, 106 Bradley Hall (310)
825-1681, www.saonet.ucla.edu/intl/Oiss/
Student Legal Services, 70 Dodd Hall (310) 825-9894, www.saonet.ucla.edu/slgs/
Student Psychological Services, 4223 Math Sciences, (310) 825-0768,
A3-062 Center for Health Sciences (310) 825-7985, www.saonet.ucla.edu/sps.htm,
Women's Resource Center, 2 Dodd Hall (310) 825-3945
Dean of Students Office, 1206 Murphy Hall (310) 825-3871, www.saonet.ucla.edu/dos/
