Academic Integrity

Student collaboration during class sessions and online discussions on Canvas are definitely encouraged. However, any required submission that will be graded (quizzes, homework assignments, exams) and any other normative assessment must be completed individually without any external assistance (that specifically means not using someone outside class to do your work, or obtaining solutions from the Internet, from a book or from someone else in class). Copying code from someone else or allowing your work to be copied by others constitutes cheating, as does plagiarism from sources including books and the web.

We are all well aware that the online teaching and learning environment presents relatively easy opportunities for cheating. My own take on this is straightforward:

1. I will be able to catch most instances fairly easily.

2. Those few points that you may get as a result of cheating, are simply not worth it for what you are risking in the process.

3. What are you risking? The consequences can range from getting 0 points on the assessment (e.g. if caught cheating on a quiz) at a minimum, to lowering of the grade from B to C, C to D etc., and so on (depending on the seriousness of the violation), to getting an XF grade (a disciplinary F grade) on the course, or suspension or expulsion from the University.

So, just don’t even think about doing it! Take pride in your own work and have confidence in your own abilities. Ask questions during class and during office hours, and give yourself time to think through a solution attempt. Just because you get something wrong in an assignment is not the end of the world! If in doubt, consult with me or with the teaching assistant.

Any violations of academic integrity will be dealt with immediately and severely as per the Rutgers Academic Integrity Policy and Student Code of Conduct. Please read and understand the policy carefully!