Judicial Affairs

Academic Honesty

The University of Florida is a nationally known institution producing graduates from a number of undergraduate programs, graduate programs and professional colleges.

The academic community at the University prides itself on intellectual growth as well as stimulating and encouraging moral development. This is accomplished through nurturing and maintaining an environment of honesty, trust and respect. The responsibility to maintain this environment falls with student as well as faculty members

Graduates of the University of Florida place a high value on the education and degree they have received. This can be attributed to high standards for excellence and the aforementioned environment of honesty, trust and respect. Students involved in academic dishonesty are contributing to the breakdown of the system. Failure to fulfill this responsibility can result in:

Student Honor Code
Preventing Honor Code Violations
Judicial Process for Honor Code Violations
Faculty Adjudication Form
Possible Sanctions for Honor Code Violations

Student Honor Code
Preamble: In adopting this Honor Code, the students of the University of Florida recognize that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental values of the University community. Students who enroll at the University commit to holding themselves and their peers to the high standard of honor required by the Honor Code. Any individual who becomes aware of a violation of the Honor Code is bound by honor to take corrective action. The quality of a University of Florida education is dependent upon the community acceptance and enforcement of the Honor Code.

The Honor Code
We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied:
"On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."

Academic Honesty Guidelines
All students are required to abide by the Academic Honesty Guidelines which have been accepted by the University. The academic community of students and faculty at the University of Florida strives to develop, sustain and protect an environment of honesty, trust and respect. Students are expected to pursue knowledge with integrity. Exhibiting honesty in academic pursuits and reporting violations of the Academic Honesty Guidelines will encourage others to act with integrity. Violations of the Academic Honesty Guidelines shall result in judicial action and a student being subject to the sanctions in paragraph XIV of the Student Conduct Code. The conduct set forth hereinafter constitutes a violation of the Academic Honesty Guidelines (University of Florida Rule 6C1-4.017).

Accountability To Academic Honesty
The University of Florida requires all members of its community to be honest in all their endeavors. Students are required to commit themselves to academic honesty by signing a prescribed basic statement, including the Student Honor Code, as part of the registration process. A fundamental principle is that the whole process of learning and pursuit of knowledge are diminished by cheating, plagiarism, and other acts of academic dishonesty. In addition, every dishonest act in the academic environment affects other students adversely, from the skewing of the grading curve to giving unfair advantage for honors or for professional or graduate school admission. Therefore, the University will take severe action against dishonest students. Similarly, measures will be taken against faculty, staff, and administration members who practice dishonest or demeaning behavior.

Student Responsibility
A commitment is made in writing at the time of admission to be honest in all academic work and abide by the Student Honor Code. In addition, students should report any condition that facilitates dishonesty to the class instructor, the department chairperson, the dean of the college, or Student Judicial Affairs.

Faculty Responsibility
Faculty members have a duty to promote honest behavior and to avoid practices and environments that foster cheating in their classes. Teachers should encourage students to bring negative conditions or incidents of dishonesty to their attention. In their own work, teachers should practice the same high standards they expect from their students.

Administration Responsibility
As highly visible members of our academic community, administrators should be ever vigilant to promote academic honesty and conduct their lives in an ethically exemplary manner.