Academic work is a shared enterprise that depends on a commitment to truthfulness. Sarah Lawrence students are expected to abide by the standards of intellectual integrity that govern the broader academic community to which the College belongs. These standards entail: acknowledging the origin of the ideas, information, data, and forms of expression that one employs in one’s own work, including those produced using generative artificial intelligence; giving due credit to the sources from which one has borrowed; and affording one’s reader a means of consulting those sources directly. Different academic disciplines may have varying conventions of citation and acknowledgment, and electronic media have increased the availability of oral and printed sources. Instructors must clearly outline their expectations for collaboration, citation, and acknowledgment in their courses. Similarly, students are responsible for understanding and adhering to these standards in any academic or creative activity and should seek clarification, if needed.
In addition to the accurate representation of an individual’s work, academic integrity requires that students do not abet others in any misrepresentation of their work. It also requires that students not interfere with the access of other students to shared material such as library books, course packets, etc. The Esther Raushenbush Library offers citation and reference educational workshops throughout the academic year. For further information, students may contact the library at reference@sarahlawrence.edu. Students who are unclear about proper citation or who have been found to have violated the academic integrity policy are especially urged to attend these workshops.
Offenses
Offenses against academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Plagiarism:
- Failure to properly cite sources
- Unauthorized use of technology—including, but not limited to, the use of generative artificial intelligence
- Submitting under a student’s own name work that is not entirely theirs
- Cheating or abetting others in the act of cheating
- Falsification of information, data, or attributions
- Submitting the same work for more than one class, within the same or different semesters, without the express permission of all faculty involved
- Stealing or defacing library materials or otherwise rendering them inaccessible to others
Procedures
Any member of the community, including students, staff, or other faculty, who has reason to believe that a student has committed a violation of the academic integrity policy should consult with the Office of the Dean of Studies.
Teachers who suspect a violation of the policy are strongly encouraged to discuss their concerns with the student, preferably in person. While this conversation is not required, it is considered best practice, as it gives the student an opportunity to offer context, clarify misunderstandings, or acknowledge responsibility. Such a conversation may result in the faculty member addressing the matter directly with the student.
After consideration—whether a conversation with the student has occurred—the faculty member may choose to proceed as outlined below. Teachers are encouraged to confer with the Office of the Dean of Studies, particularly if the suspected violation is discovered after the term ends.
Any violation likely to be mentioned in the student’s final evaluation should be reported to the Office of the Dean of Studies by filing an Academic Integrity Report form located on the Faculty page of mySLC. Depending on the severity of the reported infraction, there are three pathways to deal with the breach of academic integrity:
- In a case where the faculty has reported a minor violation, the student will receive a warning letter from the Office of the Dean of Studies that includes resources for understanding academic integrity and guidance for avoiding further violations. This is not recorded on the student’s permanent record, except in the situation described below.
- In a case where the faculty has identified a major violation, a charge is brought and, depending on the resolution, the finding becomes a part of the student’s permanent record. The hearing process is described below.
- If a student in question has accumulated multiple reports of minor violations, the Office of the Dean of Studies may decide to bring the case to a hearing before the Committee on Student Work.
Reporting Process
Reporting Infractions:
Faculty members submit a report of suspected academic integrity violations using the Academic Integrity Violation Report form. This form should detail the nature of the violation, evidence supporting the alleged offense, and any relevant information, such as the work in question and the manner of its discovery.
Notification:
Upon receipt of the report, the Office of the Dean of Studies follows up with the student. The student is given an opportunity to respond to the allegations, either in writing or via a hearing.
Resolution Procedures
Minor Violations
In the case of a minor violation, the student receives a warning letter from the Office of the Dean of Studies, which includes resources for understanding proper citation and guidance for avoiding further violations. Warnings do not become part of the student’s permanent record, although repeated minor violations may escalate to a formal charge.
Major Violations
When a report of a major violation is filed, the student may accept responsibility or dispute the allegation.
Acceptance of Responsibility
If the student admits to the violation, no hearing is required by the Committee on Student Work; sanctions are determined based on the documentation provided by the reporting faculty. The student can submit a letter of mitigation for the Committee's consideration when determining the sanction. The student may also initiate an appeal.
Dispute of Allegation
If the student disputes the allegation, a hearing is scheduled with the Committee on Student Work. The student may choose to attend the hearing in person, via teleconference, or by written response. The committee reviews and discusses submitted materials with the student, the faculty member filing the allegation, and the student's don present.
Following the hearing, the Committee on Student Work deliberates; decides whether a violation occurred; and, if so, determines the appropriate sanctions. Possible sanctions include a letter of warning; academic probation; suspension; expulsion; or, in cases involving graduates, a recommendation to revoke degrees.
Decision and Notification
If the student is found responsible for the violation, the student, the reporting faculty, and the student’s don are notified in writing of the committee’s decision. The student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may also be notified.
Record Keeping
If the Committee on Student Work finds no violation or insufficient evidence, records of the inquiry into a major violation are not retained in the student’s file. If a student is found responsible or admits responsibility for a major violation, it is recorded in the student’s permanent academic record and may be disclosed to external institutions upon request.
Appeals Process
A student who is found responsible for a major violation of the academic integrity policy has the right to appeal the decision and/or the sanction to an independent, ad hoc Appeals Committee. Reasons to request a decision review would be to provide new evidence, to reveal a procedural error, or to contest the severity of the sanction. The Appeals Committee consists of the provost (or designee), a faculty member, and a senior member of the library staff. The student must state the grounds for appeal and provide relevant materials in writing. Note that an appeal is not a rehearing of the case. The Appeals Committee may consult with the Committee on Student Work regarding its response to the appeal but plays no role in the Appeals Committee decision-making. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.