Frequently Asked Questions by Students

If you have questions about our process, please do utilize the information on this website, especially on this and the Process pages.

Suspensions

If you have been issued a suspension, use the information below to help you prepare for time away from campus.

UC San Diego Integrity Tutorial

Due to the high volume of students completing the tutorial, we are not able to respond to messages sent through Canvas. If you do not find an answer to your question after reviewing this information sheet, contact us at integrity@ucsd.edu.  

The Basics

All incoming, matriculated, undergraduates (and some Master's students) are required to complete the "Integrity Tutorial" web-based training in Canvas within the first five weeks of the fall quarter. The tutorial can be found on your UC San Diego CanvasStudents will log into Canvas using their student credentials/login information to access the tutorial. If the tutorial is not present on your Canvas page, please contact us at integrity@ucsd.edu.

Extension/Concurrent Enrollment students are also required to take the tutorial in their first quarter. Extension/Concurrent Enrollment students must take the course. Please direct any questions to concurrent@ucsd.edu for further information.

Summer Session non-UCSD students are required to take it during the application process.

Important Dates for AY23-24

Week 0 (Beginning 09/25/2023): Students are notified to complete the Tutorial and are added to the Canvas course

Week 7 (11/13/2023): Deadline for completion of the Tutorial

Week 7 (11/13/2023): Enrollment begins for students

Week 7 (11/14/2023): Holds placed on those who haven't completed the Tutorial


Incoming students must complete the Tutorial by November 13th, 2023 or a hold will be placed on their account preventing enrollment for the subsequent quarter.

The initial email notifying students of this obligation is sent on Monday of Week 0. After that, students who have failed to take the tutorial will receive reminders/warnings spread over several weeks, after which, a hold will be placed on their account.

Tips for Completing the Tutorial

In the first email that is sent to students notifying them of the tutorial requirement and deadline, directions for the best way to take the tutorial are given. To access the tutorial, the student will need to log on to Canvas via https://canvas.ucsd.edu

If you are not enrolled in an Integrity Tutorial Canvas course, please email integrity@ucsd.edu.

Confirmations of Completion

  • Students need to complete the tutorial with a score of 100.
  • Students will NOT receive an email confirmation of completion from us or the system.
  • If students want to verify that they completed with a 100% score, they can go to the tutorial, click on Grades.  If they see a score of 100 (21/21), then they know that they are done.
  • Students can print or screen capture their results, but it is not required. The Academic Integrity Office does not review screenshots or use them to verify completion of the tutorial.

Holds on Accounts

Students who complete the tutorial by the deadline will be free to register for the subsequent quarter's classes.


Students who do not complete the tutorial by the deadline will have a hold placed on their account until the tutorial has been completed.

  • The only way to remove the hold is to complete the tutorial with 100% (21/21). 
  • The hold will be removed automatically, once a student completes the tutorial with 100%.
  • The hold does not get removed immediately and can take several days to be removed.  Students should be encouraged to think ahead and complete the tutorial as early as possible, as they will have to wait patiently for the hold to be removed. 
  • If it has been 48 hours since completion, and the hold is still visible, we recommend that students clear their browser’s cache and restart their browser. If the hold had previously been viewed, most web browsers will display a cached page and show it after it has been cleared. If the clearing the browser does not resolve the issue, the student can email us with their name & PID, and let us know that they scored 100% on the tutorial and their hold did not clear.  In rare cases, the system may produce errors causing the hold not to be released. We will be able to resolve the issue and the hold should clear within 48 hours. 
Hold Clearing Summary

Technical Support

For any questions regarding technical support through Canvas, please contact Tech Support on Canvas, as our office does not manage the platform.

If you have received a hold or noncompletion email in error, please email integrity@ucsd.edu or aio@ucsd.edu immediately. There may be issues on the backend that prevented your tutorial from being completed in our system.  

Other Questions?

If your question has not been answered, please email integrity@ucsd.edu using the subject line “AIT Question :” followed by a summary of your inquiry. Please email us using your official UC San Diego email, in addition to stating your PID and name.

AI Reviews

There are two types of AI Reviews depending on the sanctions the student is facing. If the student is facing separation from the university (i.e., suspension or dismissal), the case proceeds to an AI Review II. Otherwise, the case proceeds to an AI Review I.

I'm waiting for an AI Review I. What can you tell me?

Once all of your materials have been submitted and/or the deadlines for submission have passed, your case will be decided by the AI Review Board as quickly as possible. We prioritize cases for students who are otherwise graduating seniors, and then we prioritize based on which quarter the alleged violation occurred.

I'm waiting for an AI Review II. What can you tell me?

Once all of your materials have been submitted and/or the deadlines for submission have passed, your case will be decided by the AI Review Board as quickly as possible. We prioritize cases for students who are otherwise graduating seniors, and then we prioritize based on in which quarter the alleged violation occurred.

Keep in mind that the AI Review II takes a lot more coordination and scheduling than the AI Review I because we have to arrange for a date and time that can be attended by the Presiding Officer, Panel Members, the Instructor, and the Involved Student(s). So these Reviews do not occur as quickly as AIR Is.

 

 

How do I know if I'm going to an AI Review I or II?

After you've met with the Appropriate Administrative Authority (AAA) and contested the allegation, you'll receive a notification of what to do next, and that notice will indicate whether you are proceeding to an AI Review I or II.

Should I contest the allegation?

You should contest the allegation if you didn't do what is alleged. You should not contest the allegation if your actions violated academic integrity but you're worried about the consequences. There is an appeal process to deal with the latter. You should also not contest if you didn't intend to violate or your actions don't reflect your character. The AI Review Board only looks at the evidence and whether a violation occurred, they are not there to judge you.

How do I prepare for a Review?

  • Focus on being honest, fair, respectful, responsible and trustworthy in your statement and documentation, as well as in your interactions on the day of the Review (if going to an AI Review II)
  • Work with your AS Advocate or AIRB Advisor to write your statement, attach appropriate corresponding exhibits, as well as to prepare for the day of
  • Carefully and diligently attend to your @ucsd.edu email and follow the AI Office instructions and timelines

What happens at an AI Review?

At either an AI Review I or II, the AI Review Board considers all of the information presented to them "in writing" by the instructor and the involved student(s). This information includes written statements from the relevant parties as well as documentation to support the written statement.

In AI Review IIs, there is an added component - all of the relevant parties are invited to meet with the Review Board to discuss the case. Questions will be asked and answered during this Review.

In the end, both the AI Review I and II Panels will make decisions of responsibility based on a "preponderance of the evidence", that is "is it more likely than not that the student violated academic integrity?" If the answer is yes, the involved student is held responsible. If the answer is no, the involved student is not held responsible.

When will my AI Review occur?

This depends on whether your case is headed to an AI Review I or II.

AI Review Is will most likely occur within 3 months of when an allegation was reported.

AI Review IIs are usually backlogged and take longer to resolved, so most likely within 6-9 months of when the allegation was reported.

Can I resolve the situation another way?

According to the Academic Integrity Policy's Procedures, there are only three ways in which an academic integrity violation allegation can be resolved:

  1. Acceptance of Responsibility. The involved student accepts responsibility for violating academic integrity standards and the procedures for applying administrative and academic sanctions are initiated (this is how 70% of cases are resolved)
  2. Agreement to Proceed to an Academic Integrity Review. The involved student does not accept responsibility for violating academic integrity standards and the AI Review procedures are initiated (this is how 15% of cases are resolved)
  3. Withdrawal of Allegation. The Resolution AAA uncovers additional information that should be shared
    with the instructor regarding the allegation and the instructor decides to withdraw the allegation (this is how 15% of cases are resolved).

In other words, if you aren't accepting responsibility and there appears no cause for an allegation withdrawal, the AI Review is the only resolution option.

Does...count as cheating?

When is getting "help" good and when is it bad (cheating)?

We all use tools and resources to help us get through life. We use our smart phones so we don’t have to remember phone numbers. We make to-do lists so we don’t have to recall our tasks from memory. We ask for help from our doctors, dentists, friends and family members.

Because getting “help” is so common in our day-to-day lives, it can be tricky to recognize when getting help crosses the line from the ethical to the unethical. I would ask my friend to help me figure out a trick to get to the next level in my favorite video game, so what’s the difference if I ask them to help me during that online test? I would go to the Writing Hub on campus for help with my essay assignment, so why not use that online “tutor” who has been messaging me offering to help? In fact, the university tells me to “seek help” and “use your resources”, so shouldn’t I get help from anywhere I can and use whatever resources I have access to?

The answer is – it depends. It depends on what you mean by “help” and what that person or resource is doing for you. If they are helping you understand the content of the course, then that’s great. Or, they’re helping you become a better writer by teaching you writing skills, fantastic! But if that “help” looks like them doing any part of the assignment or test for you, then that’s where you cross the line from ethical to unethical.

Read through some of the frequently asked questions below for more help answering this question.

Can I use artificial intelligence for school work?

Identifying the ethical and unethical is even more tricky now with advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Machine learning/Artificial intelligence is behind the spelling, grammar and wording suggestions made by your email and word processing programs (e.g., Gmail, Google docs). It is also fuels Alexa, Siri, and the chatbot at your favorite online store. It really is everywhere. And now, there are specific artificial intelligence programs that you might be tempted to use to “help” you complete your academic assignments – GPT, DALL-E, PhotoMath,Co-Pilot, Caktus, Elicit, Perplexity, Fermat, Minerva, Grammarly, ResearchRabbit and Obsidian, just to name a few.

How do you know when it is okay to use artificial intelligence (also referred to as "machines") and when it’s not?

It’s complicated but here are two simple rules of thumb:

Is the resource/tool doing the thing for you that is being assessed?

For example, if you’re taking a language class and you’re using Google Translate, the tool, rather than you, is demonstrating its language skills. The teacher isn’t trying to teach the tool how to be fluent in another language – they’re interested in helping you developing those skills. So, take a look at the learning objectives for the course, as well as for the assignment/test – make sure you’re doing the work that is being assessed. If spelling, for example, isn’t being assessed, then you can use a spell checker. If you are unsure, ask your instructor!

Is the resource/tool allowed by the course instructor?

Each course instructor will make different decisions about the tools/resources that are allowed, and which ones aren’t, based on the learning objectives for the course. So, in one course, a professor may allow or invite you to use ChatGPT, but others will prohibit its use. If you use a tool/resource that has been prohibited OR if you use one that is not explicitly allowed, then you might be cheating. If the instructor isn’t clear – ask! Do not assume you can use a tool/resource to do your academic work for you. And, keep in mind when professors prohibit certain things, they may use general terms – e.g., “no use of artificial intelligence” – because it is impossible for them to list every single tool/resource.

In the end, think about it this way – you are expected to complete the work assigned to you so the professor can see if you are learning and what you’ve learned; they’re not interested in knowing what your artificial intelligence tool can do or what it knows.

NOTE: The information above is behind an updated Academic Integrity Policy that will be implemented FA23. It will state that no student shall: allow any academic work or academic credit to be completed or obtained, in part or in whole, for themselves by another (human or machine/artificial intelligence; plagiarize or copy the work of others (human or machine) and submit it as their own work; or, employ aids (including artificial intelligence) in undertaking course work or in completing any assessment that are not authorized by the instructor. 

 

Does working with others (humans or machines) count as cheating?

Not always, but it depends. Generally speaking, students are expected to complete all of their academic work independently unless they're told otherwise by the course instructor. So if students work with others (humans or machines) on a class assignment or test that was intended by the instructor to be an individual assessment, the instructor may consider this an integrity violation. Students should always check with the instructor about the rules and if allowed, engage in honest collaboration which means acknowledging when they have worked with other humans or with machines on an assignment.

Does copying words or ideas, or paraphrasing count as cheating?

Copying or using another person's or machine's ideas or words without attribution is always cheating, even when paraphrased. When you use words or ideas that you got from anything found on the Internet, artificial intelligence, a friend or any other source is used in completing a class assignment, you the source must be cited within the document and at the end within the bibliography or references. This should be standard practice even if the instructor doesn't grade for or require proper citation – get in the habit! For help with citation, go to the UC Libraries’ Tutorial.

Does using old exams to study or prepare count as cheating?

Students are NOT allowed to use old exams in preparing for or taking a test if it was not explicitly authorized by the course instructor, otherwise it is not fair to other students. When sources of old course material are discovered, students should ask their instructors if the materials can be used.

Does copying a sentence or two count as plagiarism?

YES, if they are used without citation. This is true regardless of the extent or length of the sentence or paraphrase used, and regardless of whether you've copied from a person or a machine. This is true for using other's ideas too. If you’re not sure, talk to your instructor, TA or writing program coordinator.

Does it count as cheating if my instructor didn't tell me I couldn't do something?

UC San Diego instructors won't verbalize every unauthorized behavior. As a Triton, you're expected to know some of the basics of excelling with integrity. For example:

  • Cite your sources.
  • Complete in-class tests and take-home tests independently.
  • Complete your own homework assignments.

In general, the AI Office recommends that before you engage in an action related to academic course work, assignments or exams, run your action through the following three tests:

  • VALUES - is the action honest, responsible, respectful, fair and trustworthy?
  • STANDARDS - does the action honor the integrity standards set by the university and/or by the course instructor?
  • EXPOSURE - if my action was exposed to the course instructor or the AI Office, would I be okay with that or would they approve?
If the answer to ANY of the tests is a NO, then the action is likely a violation of academic integrity so avoid it!

Can I use websites that offer course "help", through materials, tutors, editors and so on?

NO! Avoid these websites. They are definite red flags and should not be trusted. Not only are most of the things they would do for you either violations of law (e.g., copyright law) or violations of academic integrity, but they have also been known to steal students' identities and personal and financial information. If the website's services sound "too good to be true" and/or the university or instructor are not telling you about the sites, then you shouldn't be using them. 

Numerous students who have used these sites have been reported to the AI Office for integrity violations and the violations almost always end in suspension or dismissal from the University. Use UC San Diego resources instead!

What if I...? What are the consequences?

Why did I get re-enrolled in a course?

If you are suspected of an academic integrity violation in your class and you dropped the course, you may get an email that says "you have been re-enrolled in a course for QUARTER YEAR that you dropped, since your action was not allowed by the UC San Diego Academic Integrity Policy."

Or, if you are suspected and you attempt to change from letter grade to P/NP, the system will prohibit you from doing that.

This is because the Academic Integrity Policy prohibits you from making any changes to the class, including changing from a letter grade to P/NP or withdrawing from the class if an instructor has submitted an Intent to Report or an Allegation Report to the Academic Integrity Office.

You should keep attending the course and completing the assignments while the process is ongoing.

If I got caught cheating, IS MY LIFE OVER?

Your life is not over. We understand that you may not have previously experienced failure, especially in your academics, but great things can come from such experiences. And, we know that students with integrity violations go on to graduate and professional schools, as well as employment. We'll help you leverage this experience as a catalyst for growing as an ethical professional and citizen. You can see what the university consequences are for academic integrity violations, which includes Academic Integrity Training

Read more about the process on our webpage, After Cheating is Reported.

What if I didn't mean/intend to cheat?

Intent doesn't matter; what matters are your actions. If your actions violated academic integrity standards, then you are responsible whether you "meant to" or not or whether you are "a good person" or not. In fact, we assume 95% of the students reported for cheating are good people who have made a bad decision under stress, pressure or while tired. 

If your actions violated academic integrity standards, then accept responsibility and prepare to learn and grow from the experience. Denying your responsibility and fighting the allegation (i.e., by going to the AI Review Board) just because you're scared or worried can only make things worse. For example, students who have lied or gone to an AI Review even though they know that their actions violated academic integrity, have also been reported for conduct code violations.

However, if your actions did NOT violate academic integrity standards, then of course you should exercise your right to contest the allegation.

What if I did not know I was cheating?

Ignorance is no excuse for integrity violations. When you came to UC San Diego, you received quite a bit of education on academic integrity including at orientation and through at least one online tutorial. Even without these educational opportunities extended to you, you are expected to understand the standards and expectations of you as a UC San Diego student. In other words, in any situation (school, work, life) it is your responsibility to discover these norms and rules and then follow them.

If I cheat, what happens to my grade in the course?

According to the UC San Diego Academic Integrity Policy, a course instructor has full discretion over the grade in the class and how you will be academically sanctioned for academic misconduct. The academic sanction can range from a failing grade on the assignment, quiz, or exam in question, to a failing grade in the class. That grade will remain on your transcript and calculated into your GPA, even if you retake the class.

What happens to my GPA if I choose to retake a class in which I had an integrity violation?

Any grade received as a result of an integrity violation stays calculated in your GPA, even if you retake the class.

What happens if I alter a graded examination and re-submit it for a regrade?

The standard sanction for altering a graded examination and submitting it for a regrade is a 1-year suspension.

If I cheat, is it possible for me to get suspended or dismissed from UC San Diego?

Yes, students have been suspended or dismissed. About 15% of students reported for cheating are suspended or dismissed from UC San Diego. Review the Sanctioning Guidelines for more information on integrity violations.

If I’m suspended from or dismissed, is it just from UC San Diego or from the University of California?

If you are suspended, you are suspended from the University of California. So, this means that while you are suspended, you could take courses at another university or from a community college. If you decide to enroll somewhere else while suspended from UC San Diego, DO check with your academic advisors beforehand to ensure that you take the appropriate courses for your major or degree.

If you are dismissed, you are dismissed from the University of California system.

Can I appeal my suspension or dismissal?

Yes you can if it is within 5 business days of you receiving the sanction notification. If it is within that timeframe, go to the Appeals page to submit your appeal. If you are beyond that timeframe, complete the timeline extension request form to ask for an extension.

NOTE: If you appeal a suspension or dismissal sanction, you should continue to attend your classes while the appeal is in process. That way, if your appeal is granted and the suspension or dismissal is removed, you will not be behind in your classes. If your appeal is not granted and you are suspended or dismissed for the quarter in which you are enrolled, you will be retroactively withdrawn and your money refunded. 

What happens if I’ve been reported for a second time?

What happens if I’ve been disciplined for academic misconduct, and I want to apply for graduate, law, or medical school?

This depends on the school and their application. Many professional and graduate students ask for your "disciplinary history". If they ask, obviously we recommend that you be truthful. You can use the opportunity to explain how you have learned and grown as a result of the integrity violation. 

If I cheat, do other people find out?

Generally, no one outside of the university will find out. BUT, here are some important things for you to understand:

  • Per the Records Retention Policy at the University of California Office of the President, you will have an internal disciplinary record maintained for a period of time.
    • If you were dismissed from the university, that record will be maintained for 50 years
    • Any other violation will be on record for 5 years from the academic year in which the case was closed (i.e., resolved with no further appeal options to change the outcome).
    • This record is internal, but can still be checked by any law schools, medical schools, or some federal government employers if you apply for admission or employment
  • A disciplinary record is separate from your academic record. There will be a mark on your academic record that you can see online (i.e., an A1, A2, A3, or A4 next to the grade received in the class). However, this record is known as your "unofficial academic record" and will not be seen by external parties unless you print it out and give it to them. So, don't do that!
    • If you have to submit your academic record or transcript to another party, order an "official transcript" which will not show these markings.
  • There will only be a mark on your official transcript if you are suspended or dismissed from UC San Diego for an academic integrity violation. It will say something like "suspended (or dismissed) for academic dishonesty." The notation will be there for the length of the suspension or dismissal. 

Help! The absence of a grade is impacting my financial aid!

Students have a blank instead of a grade while the academic integrity process is going on. This CAN impact your ability to get financial aid if the blank means that you've achieved fewer credits than required. No worries. You can submit an appeal for a one quarter probationary period by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal. By the end of that probationary period, your case should be resolved and your grade inputted. If you have any other questions about this, do talk to the Financial Aid Office.

My blank grade is preventing me from progressing academically. What should I do?

Contact your academic advisor through the VAC system.