This page includes considerations for responding to potential academic integrity violations.
In addition to the resources collected here, the Center for Community Standards & Accountability (CSA) is available to consult with instructors on how to talk to students and navigate the reporting process. During a consultation, you do not have to report student violations to CSA. If you do want to report the student, CSA adjudicates academic integrity cases and will determine sanctions. In this process, CSA seeks to serve an educational, not punitive, mission.
In all cases, it is Penn's policy that instructors always have the power to assign a student the grade that the work has merited.
From the beginning of your course, consider how you will promote academic integrity and be consistent and transparent with your students about how you will handle potential violations.
For academic integrity concerns specifically related to exams, see CETLI’s page on proctoring exams.
Suspecting and discussing academic dishonesty can often feel uncomfortable for instructors and upsetting for students. By talking with students about dishonesty, and dealing with all students consistently, you are supporting their academic development and leveling the playing field for all the students in your class. CSA is available to consult on ways you might approach the situation.
When you suspect an academic integrity violation, whether it’s inappropriate collaboration or inappropriate AI use, consider having a conversation with the student about their work. Before you start the conversation:
Consider engaging in the conversation from a place of curiosity or concern, rather than accusation:
It may also be helpful to identify specific “red flags” that raise suspicion and talk with the student about them. For example:
If you find students are struggling with the work (and turning to academic dishonesty to take short cuts) you may want to recommend academic resources.
After speaking with the student, summarize the conversation and any resolution or next steps that you discussed, and email your summary to the student so there is a shared record.
The staff at CSA make every effort to protect the instructor's and the student's rights:
This section includes information for instructors. If you want to learn more about the process from the student's perspective, CSA has information about the step-by-step process for students.
Make a Report
Make a report by submitting a report via CSA's report a case or request a consult website or calling CSA (215-898-5651). You may also consult with CSA staff about a case prior to deciding to report.
A representative of CSA will contact you to discuss details before they begin an investigation.
After the Initial Report
CSA will contact the student and conduct a further investigation.
Consult with CSA about allowing the student to complete the remaining coursework for the semester. Generally, students are allowed to complete this work.
Submit an "incomplete" for a grade if the issue is not resolved by the end of the semester.
Investigative Process
The disciplinary process begins with CSA conducting an investigation.
In that process, the student selects an advisor. Advisors can be any faculty or staff member, or any Penn student in good academic and disciplinary standing. CSA maintains a list of faculty and staff from the Penn Community who have agreed and have been trained to serve in this capacity.
If CSA finds that there was no violation of the Code of Academic Integrity, the matter will be closed, and the instructor should give the student a grade based on the merits of the assignment in the course.
If CSA finds that the student has violated the Code of Academic Integrity, CSA will recommend sanctions to resolve the case. Sanctions may range from a warning for minor infractions to expulsion for major and repeated infractions.
Students then have the option to agree to CSA’s recommended finding and sanction or submit a counter proposal regarding the finding itself and/or the specific sanctions. If CSA and the student cannot reach a suitable resolution, CSA will schedule a hearing. The hearing will be conducted according the Charter of the University of Pennsylvania Student Disciplinary System.
Most cases result in an agreement between CSA and the student. At no point will CSA assign a grade, all grading and assignment of letter grades remains solely the responsibility of the faculty member. CSA will communicate the final outcome of the case to the faculty member. In cases where there is a responsibility finding with a reportable sanction, the relevant school Dean will also be notified.
Disciplinary Hearing
A disciplinary hearing may follow in very rare cases. A disciplinary hearing is held only if the student does not agree to the CSA's findings and sanctions. There are only a handful of disciplinary hearings on academic integrity a year.
For a hearing, the disciplinary panel consists of three standing faculty and two students from the Honor Council. Faculty members or TAs may be asked to attend a disciplinary hearing and give testimony as witnesses, although the hearing is not a trial.
The disciplinary panel may decide in favor of the student or may impose sanctions. Students who continue to contest the results may appeal.
After the Process
The process results are confidential, although the instructor who reported the violation and the Dean of the student's school will be notified of the results.
If a student is found responsible of a serious or repeated violations, with a sanction above a Letter of Warning, Penn creates a disciplinary record which can be shared (including with graduate schools and security agencies), although in most cases the student has to agree to make this record public. The results of this process will only be reported on a student's official transcript if a hearing committee orders that notation as part of the student's sanctions.
