Academic Misconduct Policy

Background

The University of Connecticut School of Law is a community of adults and professionals committed to the principles of academic integrity and honesty and the highest standards of professional conduct in teaching, learning, research, and service. As an expression of this commitment, the University of Connecticut School of Law has adopted this Policy on academic misconduct. All students have the right to pursue their academic careers in an atmosphere of honesty and trust. Acts of academic misconduct destroy that atmosphere and violate that trust.

This Policy applies to all academic activity by students at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Academic activity at the School of Law takes many forms including, but not limited to classroom activity, clinics and field placements, legal practice exercises and simulations, intramural and interscholastic competitions, law reviews, independent research projects, conferences and discussion groups, examinations, and papers.

It is therefore essential that students be conversant with the provisions of this Policy. A copy of this Policy shall be sent to all matriculating students. Each matriculating student shall sign a statement acknowledging receipt of the Policy, the student's obligation to become familiar with the provisions of this Policy, and that the student is bound by the provisions of this Policy.

All students and other members of the School of Law community are strongly encouraged to report acts of academic misconduct of which they are aware, for disposition under this policy. The School of Law will use its best efforts to ensure that no members of the community suffer as a result of their filing a complaint in good faith.

Purpose

To establish rules and norms for ensuring academic integrity, and to establish procedures for reporting, investigating, if necessary adjudicating, and where appropriate sanctioning suspected academic misconduct.

Applies To

This Policy applies to every student at the School of Law. “Student” means a person who at the time of the alleged misconduct is enrolled in the School of Law or registered for any academic or scholarly activity at the school. A student is considered enrolled during vacations or holidays until the student has graduated, withdrawn, or been absent from the school for more than two consecutive semesters.

This is the exclusive Policy for matters of academic misconduct at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Matters of a disciplinary nature not involving academic activity are to be addressed by Section III of the University's “Student Conduct Code.”

Definitions: Prohibited Academic Misconduct

Cheating

Cheating is any conduct in connection with any academic activity done for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage over another student, or any conduct in connection with any academic activity done under circumstances such that a reasonable law student would know that the conduct was likely to result in unfair advantage.
Examples of cheating include the following:

1. Plagiarism, as defined below.
2. Misrepresentation, as defined below.
3. Prohibited collaboration, as defined below.
4. Engaging in a prohibited use of artificial intelligence as set forth herein.
5. Using or providing sources in a manner prohibited.
6. Writing examination answers substantially after the time students are instructed to stop writing on a take home examination, or after being specifically instructed to stop writing by a proctor or other person in authority on an examination given in class.
7. Communicating with any unauthorized person for purposes of violating this provision.
8. Acquiring, using or providing, without permission, examinations, tests or other academic material.
9. Acquiring, using, or providing, without permission, role materials relating to simulations that are used in any course.
10. Deliberately misusing, or engaging or assisting in unauthorized use of, a disability accommodation.

Plagiarism

No student shall plagiarize words or work that are not the student’s own. The term “Plagiarize” means using, by paraphrase or direct quotation, any not insubstantial portion of written work that is not the student’s own, without full and clear acknowledgment, or using materials prepared by another person who is engaged in the selling or giving of term papers or other academic materials.

Misrepresentation

No student shall misrepresent the student’s work as another’s or the work of another person, organization, entity, or tool as the student’s own. Misrepresentation also includes submitting for evaluation or credit any work prepared, used, or submitted in another course or for a law journal, academic competition, clinic, employer, or any other organization, except with prior express permission of the faculty member or other person in authority after full disclosure.

Examples of misrepresentation include the following:

1. Taking an examination or writing a paper for another student
2. Submitting for evaluation an examination or a paper by another individual

Prohibited Use of Artificial Intelligence

1. For purposes of this policy, “generative artificial intelligence” means any computer system or algorithm that can generate substantially new text or images in response to a submitted prompt or query.
2. No student shall submit any assignment that was produced in whole or in part by generative artificial intelligence, unless expressly permitted by the instructor. This applies to all assignments, whether graded or ungraded, and includes exams.
3. No student shall use generative artificial intelligence in a way that is deceptive or misleading, or in other circumstances such that a reasonable law student would know that the conduct was likely to result in unfair advantage.

Prohibited Collaboration

No student shall collaborate with any other person on any graded examination, quiz, paper, simulation exercise, or other graded academic assignment unless such collaboration, and the form of such collaboration, has been specifically authorized, in writing and in advance, by the faculty member. For purposes of this rule, “prohibited collaboration” means providing or receiving any help or information, beyond that authorized by the faculty member, on specific academic assignments that are expected to reflect the individual work product of the student. This rule is not intended to prohibit students from forming normal study groups, sharing class notes or course outlines, or otherwise generally assisting each other in preparation for class or for exams. Students who are not sure if specific conduct constitutes prohibited collaboration should consult with the faculty member or otherwise refrain from that conduct. Student collaboration on non-graded academic activity is not prohibited under this rule, unless specified in advance and in writing by the faculty member.

Impeding the Academic Work of Others

No student shall steal, destroy, or impede another student’s academic work. Impeding another student’s work includes the theft, concealment, defacement, or mutilation of common academic resources, or of another student’s books, class notes, outlines, study materials or computer.

Tampering

No student shall tamper with any document or computer file pertaining to academic activity, including student academic records, official transcripts, journals, examination papers, and the like. “Tampering” does not include (a) any conduct authorized by the owner of the file or (b) modification of law journal or moot court documents in the normal course of the editorial or reviewing process.

Agreeing, Soliciting, Attempting

No student shall assist another with any act of academic misconduct, or solicit another to do such an act, or agree to assist or solicit another to commit such an act.

Deliberate Obstruction

No student shall deliberately obstruct an investigation of any act of academic misconduct.

Negligent Violation of Academic Regulations

All charges of “academic misconduct” also contain the lesser included offense of “negligent violation of academic regulations.” This offense may be found where the violation was unintentional.

False Or Deceptive Statements

No student shall knowingly make a materially false or deceptive statement to a person in authority in connection with an academic activity.

Policy Statement

No student shall engage in any misconduct in any academic activity at the University of Connecticut School of Law. Responsibility for such misconduct is not excused by ignorance of this Policy.

Enforcement

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with the procedures set forth herein, University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.

Procedures/Forms

Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Policy History

Policy created: August 27, 2001 (Approved by Board of Trustees)

Revisions: March 5, 2021; November 3, 2023 (Approved by the School of Law faculty)

This Policy was adopted by the full-time faculty of University of Connecticut School of Law, and approved by the University Board of Trustees, to be effective August 27, 2002.
This Policy may be amended at any time by the full-time Faculty of the University of Connecticut School of Law.