Extensive ex amples of academic dishonesty are included in a memorandum from the Ombuds Office found in Undergraduate Rights and Responsibilities, as is the entire policy and discipline and appeal procedure. Students are encouraged to learn the style most accepted in their disciplines. Cheating is the intentional use or attempted use of materials, information, or study aids other than those specifically authorized, in an attempt to claim credit for learning not one's own. Facilitation of dishonesty is knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty. If an instructor finds that a student has violated the University's Academic Honesty Policy, the instructor has the right to lower the student's grade, or to fail the student for the course.
Students have the right to appeal such a grade penalty by an instructor.
The University Academic Honesty Board, composed of fac ulty members and undergraduate and graduate students, reviews all student appeals. The Board may sustain or recommend modification of the instructor's grade penalty. The Board may also consider a recommendation by the instructor to suspend or expel the student from the University, and may recommend sanctions for offenders who have committed multiple violations of the Academic Honesty Policy but who have not appealed the instructors' decisions. Any student wishing to appeal a grade penalty imposed by an instructor for alleged dishonesty should contact the Ombuds Office, which facilitates appeals and provides administrative assistance to the Board. The University has established policies in order to comply with Massachusetts law concerning religious observance.