Responding to Academic Integrity Lapses

A commitment to the principles of academic integrity is essential to the mission of Northeastern University and of the College of Professional Studies. Academic dishonesty violates the most fundamental values of an intellectual community and undermines the achievements of the entire University. Instructors are expected to address and report potential academic integrity violations in their classes, and CPS provides a variety of resources to help instructors meet these expectations and promote scholarship and integrity in their classes.

Faculty are expected to adhere to requirements noted in the CPS Reporting and Grading Guidelines for Academic Integrity Lapses. Any questions about these resources, best practices for supporting integrity, and addressing lapses may be directed to CPS-AcademicIntegrity@northeastern.edu.

Guidance on Assistive Technologies and Artificial Intelligence

Use of assistive technologies (such as translation software, websites, and apps) and tools that utilize artificial intelligence (such as ChatGPT, Co-pilot, and Gemini) may circumvent learning tasks, constituting use of unauthorized aids according to Northeastern’s Academic Integrity Policy, and warrant a lower or failing grade for assignments. Please review CPS’ Robot Resistant Assessment Strategies, and be in touch with your students to clarify expectations.

If you’re concerned a student may have used GenAI inappropriately, please contact CPS-AcademicIntegrity@northeastern.edu before taking additional steps to address it with the student. If you’re concerned a student may have committed another type of academic integrity lapse in your class, please submit a FACT report (access via the FACT Photo Roster link in your course navigation, then scroll right to click the “Update” button), and someone will review and be in touch with next steps. If you have clear evidence a lapse has occurred, please submit a FACT report and note in the FACT that you will also submit a report to OSCCR.

Additional Resources to Support Academic Integrity

Canvas Resources

Faculty have many resources, tools, and modules available to them in Canvas. All written assignments submitted in Canvas can also use TurnItIn to efficiently check work for exact text matches to work online and previously submitted student papers. Via Canvas Commons faculty can add the TurnItIn Student Draft Checker to create an opportunity to review work for missing citations and poor paraphrasing prior to submission of a final paper; additionally, the Academic Integrity Module and Academic Integrity Quiz can be imported into your class so students can quickly review and confirm their understanding of common expectations and lapses in academic integrity. While we recommend proctored online exams, Canvas features can also help improve exam security. If you have any questions regarding Canvas Resources, please email CPS-AcademicIntegrity@northeastern.edu.

CPS Faculty Academic Integrity Review (FAIR)

FAIR is an approximately one-hour review located within the CPS Instructional Onboarding in Canvas that covers the prevalence of integrity violations such as plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and reuse, CPS’ required process for addressing potential academic integrity violations, as well as strategies and resources to help instructors prevent and identify potential violations in their classes. Many of the resources that follow here are addressed in more detail in FAIR. If you would like access to FAIR, please email CPS-AcademicIntegrity@northeastern.edu.

Academic Integrity Module/Quiz

Some classes and programs in CPS use an Academic Integrity Module/Quiz. Once integrated with a course, it asks all students to watch a video on the importance of academic integrity, review the Academic Integrity Policy, and then take a short quiz that covers the most common academic integrity violations instructors encounter. You can find these resources in Canvas Commons. If you would like assistance setting up the module or setting up a custom module for your course, please email CPS-AcademicIntegrity@northeastern.edu.

TurnItIn Originality/Similarity Reports

Similarity reports highlight words and passages that are the same as those appearing in work that may not have been written by the student. Instructors can use the TurnItIn similarity report as a scaffolding tool to teach research skills, to get a clear understanding of the sources the student used, and identify issues related to the originality of the work. If you would like to discuss how to interpret a TurnItIn report or use TurnItIn in your class(es), please email CPS-AcademicIntegrity@northeastern.edu.

Faculty Advisor Communication Tool (FACT)

FACT utilizes a reporting form in CPS Canvas classes to facilitate easy communication between faculty and advisors. Additionally, any report that highlights academic integrity as a potential concern receives support within 2 business days to help confirm and address any potential violation. If you have questions about FACT in your class or would like to discuss it, please email CPS-FACT@northeastern.edu.

Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution (OSCCR)

OSCCR administers the Academic Integrity Policy and acts as a partner in educating students about academic expectations. An “informational report” to OSCCR results in communication to student encouraging them to familiarize themselves with resources to avoid future issues. An “hearing request” triggers the hearing process, giving the student the opportunity to discuss this issue. No report leaves a permanent mark on a student’s record, and typically sanctions for issues of ignorance are educational.

Click here to watch a video on how to make a report to OSCCR

Click here to submit a report to OSCCR

Academic Integrity Webpage (Student Resources)

The Academic Integrity Webpage highlights core expectations for students, as well as what they can expect if they are reported to OSCCR, and resources to help the student avoid violations in their classes.

Interactive Academic Integrity Checklist for Students

This interactive checklist can be used by students while or just after writing papers to ensure that they understand key integrity expectations including avoiding reuse, citing exact quotes, and completing work on their own. The tool can generate a certificate of completion after each use, in case instructors would like to require it.

Northeastern University Libraries (Citations and Bibliographies)

The libraries and library staff offer a variety of resources and tools, including links to common citation styles, tools such as RefWorks and EndNotes to simplify citation, and help from Research Librarians to help ensure students understand expectations for academic and professional scholarship.

Academic Integrity Review for Students (AIRS)

All CPS students are enrolled in AIRS, an approximately one-hour review located in the Canvas containing videos from instructors and students, as well as interactive elements that will help students learn about, engage with, and understand the connection between academic and professional integrity, common violations to avoid, and tools they can utilize to ensure they meet academic expectations and complete their work with integrity.