Academic Resources
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the foundation of USF'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.
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 Arts and Sciences (CAS) Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies 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 Arts and Sciences may submit a request for appeal via the CAS Academic Integrity Student Appeals Request Form.
- If you have received an academic integrity violation and sanction in a course offered by a college outside of CAS, please reach out to that college directly for information on how to submit a request for appeal.
The CAS Academic Integrity Student Appeals Request Form can be found here: CAS AI Student Appeals Request Form
NOTE: Please download the CAS AI Student Appeals Request form to your computer PRIOR
to entering the requested information. Once you have successfully downloaded the
form, please complete and save as a PDF.
Once complete, student appeals request forms and supporting documentation should be
submitted to CASAIGC@usf.edu with copy to the course instructor and Chair/designee for the department in which
the course is housed.
Review the Academic Integrity Review and Appeals Process.
Students may direct any questions related to the Academic Integrity Policy to CASAIGC@usf.edu.