1. The Aggie Code of Honor and the Aggie Honor System Office
Timothy C. Powers
Director, Aggie Honor System Office

2. An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do.
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

3. Academic Misconduct Cheating Fabrication Falsification
Multiple Submissions
Plagiarism
Complicity
Abuse and Misuse of Access and Unauthorized Access
Violation of Departmental or College Rules
Violation of University Rules on Research
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

4. Plagiarism
The appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

5. Plagiarism Examples
Intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., failing to credit author/sources used in a work product).
Failing to credit sources used in a work product in an attempt to pass off the work as one’s own.
Attempting to receive credit for work performed by another
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

6. Tips to Help Students Avoid Plagiarism
Give clear direction and formatting expectations
Have students turn in drafts or sections of the paper over several weeks (ideally through TurnItIn.
Have students paraphrase and practice paraphrasing (create assignments or in-class activities focused on paraphrasing)
Refer students to the writing center ( for assistance
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

7. Cheating
Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or other devices or materials in any academic exercise. Unauthorized materials may include anything or anyone that gives a student assistance and has not been specifically approved in advance by the instructor.
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

8. Cheating Examples
Having others conduct research or prepare work without advance authorization from the instructor.
Acquiring answers for any assigned work or exam from any unauthorized source.
Collaborating with other students in the completion of assigned work, unless specifically authorized by the instructor teaching the course.
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

9. Tips to Help Students Avoid Cheating
Aggressively check and proctor early quizzes and exams
If there is a solution manual for the class, clarify if it is okay for students to use it
Create multiple versions of the exercise or prompt and grade accordingly
Proctor “make-up” exercises just as closely as the in-class exercise
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

10. Addressed by Honor Council
Total Violations
Addressed by Faculty
Addressed by Honor Council
Total
211 20
231
534 27
561
221 28
249
389 34
423
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

11. Common Violations
Over the past three years, the most common types of violations include:
Plagiarism: 47%
Cheating: 36%
Falsifying or fabricating data: 5%
Complicity: 5%
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

12. Breakdown by College of Reporting Faculty – 2 years
COALS: 9 Arch: 25 CEHD: 83 Engineering: 180 Bush: 3 Geosciences: 43 Liberal Arts: 104 Business: 45 Science: 160
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

13. Breakdown by College of Accused Student Major – 2 years
COALS: 71 Arch: 32 CEHD: 71 Engineering: 224 Bush: 3 General Studies: 46 Geosciences: 28 Liberal Arts: 100 Business: 55 Science: 26 Vet Med/Biomedical Sciences: 17
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

14. Breakdown by College of Accused Student Major – Violations per 1,000 students
COALS: 9.7 Arch: 16.6 CEHD: 12.5 Engineering: 19.8 Bush: 8 General Studies: 12.6 Geosciences: 24.9 Liberal Arts: 13.2 Business: 10.4 Science: 7.2 Vet Med/Biomedical Sciences: 6.7
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

15. Sanctions A zero on an assignment A course grade reduction
Required to participate in extra requirements for a course
Educational Sanctions (academic integrity seminar, university or community service)
An "F*" in the course
Separation from the University
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

16. How AHSO Can Help
Once a faculty member discovers a violation and chooses to handle it autonomously, the AHSO can:
Meet with the student to explain the violation and sanctions
Process all of the paperwork
Explain to the student their rights, including any appeal information
Work with students and (angry) parents to help them understand why this process is important
Monitor the process so that student and faculty rights are protected
Time commitment from the faculty member can be 5 minutes, if all of the information is readily available during the report submission process
The Honor Council process can be a little more time consuming, but it is generally less than two hours of your time
Here is a list of sanctions that can be applied for academic misconduct. As you can see they range from a zero on the assignment to separation from the university. I will say that in my experience, graduate students tend to see the more severe sanctions. You have been in academy longer. You should know the expectations of a researcher and your professors. Most of these make sense, but I want to expand on the F* for a moment.
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University

17. Resources
The Aggie Honor System Office is available to give guest lectures on academic integrity and the Aggie Honor System to classes or organizations Visit to request a lecture or
We are available for guest lectures about both ethics and academic integrity. Please visit our website for details about how to coordinate a presentation to your class or group of colleagues.
Thank you.
© Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University