Policy Library

Academic integrity is a fundamental university value. Through the honest completion of academic work, students sustain the integrity of the university while facilitating the university's imperative for the transmission of knowledge and culture based upon the generation of new and innovative ideas.

Students are held to a high level of accountability and are expected to uphold our standards of honesty in order to sustain a fair learning environment. Academic dishonesty comes in many forms, including but not limited to:

• Aiding in academic dishonesty. Taking action that allows another student to engage in an act of academic dishonesty, including completing an examination or assignment for another student, failing to protect academic work by leaving it unattended, or collaborating without instructorⁱ permission.
• Cheating. Use of unauthorized resources, including sources not permitted by the course instructor, or tools such as calculators, smart watches, phones, or other students' work.
• Falsifying academic materials. Altering, fabricating, forging, or submitting: any course-related materials, including laboratory reports, notes, or any forms of data; an instructor's name or initials; an examination or assignment for re-evaluation; an assessment (in whole or in part) prepared by any person or technology (e.g., artificial intelligence) other than the student responsible. 
• Misrepresenting documents. Altering, fabricating, forging, or submitting any non-course-related materials, including any university or official document, instrument of identification, or medical record.
• Plagiarizing. Representing the ideas or work (e.g., written text, computer code, artwork) of another as one's own or improperly referencing original authors.
• Purchasing academic assignments. Buying assignments intended for submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement.
• Sabotage. Damaging another student's work to prevent fair assessment, or interfering with the access or production of knowledge (e.g., deleting another student's material from a shared Box folder; destroying another student's experiment; preventing another student from gaining access to required material).
• Selling academic assignments. Offering for sale and/or receiving compensation for any academic assignment intended to fulfill any course or academic program requirement.
• Submitting previously submitted work. Also called self-plagiarism, re-submitting academic material (in whole or in part) that has been previously submitted by the same student without prior and expressed consent of the instructor.

• Instructors must notify students within 10 academic daysⁱⁱ of discovery of the suspected dishonesty.
• Students must meet with instructors within 10 academic days of notification or the instructor will make a decision in their absence.
• Instructors must notify students and the Office of Academic Integrity of the charge and sanction within 10 academic days of the consultative resolution meeting.

Instructors have the responsibility to charge and sanction students who are in violation of these standards through the Consultative Resolution procedure. All cases must be filed, regardless of severity, with the Office of Academic Integrity. While a case is pending, students are not allowed to withdraw or resign from the course. Instructors have the authority to execute one or more of the sanctions below. If the violation is not the student's first offense, the chosen sanction may be revised by the Office of Academic Integrity.

• Warning. Written notice to the student that they have violated a university academic integrity standard.
• Revision of work. Requirement that the student replace or revise the work in which dishonesty occurred.
• Reduction in assignment grade. Student's grade is decreased with respect to the particular assignment.
• Reduction in course grade. Student's final grade in the course is decreased.
• Failure in the course. A grade of "F" is applied.
• Remediation. Requirement that the student complete an educational remediation assignment through the Office of Academic Integrity. If the student passes the remediation assignment, the instructor may alter the original sanction.
• Other. Faculty may determine another appropriate assignment or penalty (e.g., an additional assignment, inability to drop lowest grade), except for any OAI or university sanction described below.

Recommendations for more serious sanctions may be made to the Office of Academic Integrity for review. Possible sanctions requiring Office of Academic Integrity approval include:

• Failure in course, remediation required, temporary notation of academic dishonesty. A grade of "F" for the course is recorded on the student's transcript with notation of academic dishonesty. Upon successful completion of UB's remediation assignment, the notation is removed. Failure to successfully complete the OAI assignment will result in the notation remaining permanently on the student's transcript.
• Failure in the course with permanent notation of academic dishonesty. A grade of "F" for the course is recorded on the student's transcript with a permanent notation that the grade of "F" was assigned for reason of academic dishonesty.
• Dismissal from the degree program. The academic integrity violation results in ineligibility for continuation in the student's degree program.
• Dismissal from the degree program with notation of academic dishonesty. The academic integrity violation results in ineligibility for continuation in the student's degree program, with a notation on the student's transcript that the dismissal is for reason of academic dishonesty.
• Dismissal from the department. The academic integrity violation results in ineligibility for continuation in any degree program within the department.
• Dismissal from the department with notation of academic dishonesty. The academic integrity violation results in ineligibility to continue in any degree program within the department, with a notation on the student's transcript that the dismissal is for reason of academic dishonesty.

Possible sanctions requiring both Office of Academic Integrity and Office of the President (or designee) approval include:

• Suspension from the university. The student is suspended for a defined time period with stated conditions and a permanent notation on the transcript that suspension is due to reason of academic dishonesty.
• Expulsion from the university. The student is expelled with permanent notation on the transcript that expulsion is due to reason of academic dishonesty.

Infractions not associated with a course in which the student is enrolled will be assigned appropriate penalties and may be additionally referred to Student Conduct for judicial procedures.

Students have the right to appeal the instructor's findings to the Office of Academic Integrity. While a case is pending, students are not allowed to withdraw or resign from the course.

Upon request and with the student's permission, academic integrity violations and sanctions may be reported by the OAI to an authorized body (e.g., a graduate school application or employment application).

Academic Integrity Procedures

The OAI shall assemble a pool of faculty and students willing to participate on Adjudication Committees for academic integrity cases. It is the responsibility of each decanal unit to name student and faculty members to this pool. Typically, the duration of service in the academic integrity pool is two years. The OAI is responsible for ensuring that the pool reflects the diversity of the campus community and for training all members of the adjudication pool.

From this pool, the OAI will form an Adjudication Committee for each hearing of no fewer than two faculty members, two graduate students, and one member of the OAI. Members from the academic integrity pool will be selected so that no one member will be involved in a disproportionate number of academic integrity cases. Prior to a hearing, committee members verify that there is no conflict of interest with either principal party. If a conflict exists, a committee member shall disqualify themself and a replacement will be named.

The principals and members of the Adjudication Committee have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of hearing proceedings and of all supporting materials and testimony presented. If a breach of confidentiality occurs, OAI may replace a committee member and/or levy additional charges as appropriate.

The above list of sample academic integrity infractions and sanctions is not exhaustive. It is meant to offer some general information about common infractions and possible associated sanctions.

Repeat offenses are assigned a greater penalty than a first offense and typically range from failure in course to failure with transcript notation. These penalties are applied at the discretion of the Office of Academic Integrity.

ⁱFor the purposes of this policy, the term "instructor" is defined as the instructor of record, a staff member, or their appropriate designee.

ⁱⁱAcademic days are defined as weekdays, when classes are in session, not including the summer or winter sessions as defined by the University Academic Calendar. Days in the final exam period and Reading Days are not considered academic days. With the agreement of all principals and the OAI, proceedings may continue during non-academic days.

When a graduate faculty member retires from UB with no intention of assuming a faculty appointment at another institution, that faculty member is eligible to continue serving as the major advisor or as a committee member for a current student. The actual decision whether or not that person may continue to serve in such a capacity with a current student rests with the director of graduate studies and the chair of the department. However, subsequent to their retirement, graduate faculty members should not accept major advisor or committee membership assignments for any new student.

When a graduate faculty member leaves UB for an appointment at another institution and the student is at the final stages of completing the thesis or project (generally with one year or less needed to finish), the Graduate School will allow the departed faculty member, if they are willing, to retain their role on that student’s committee, providing the department chair and the director of graduate studies concur. The primary consideration in retaining a departed faculty member on a committee should be to avoid delaying completion of the degree and unwittingly penalizing the student. However, if the student is more than a year from degree completion, the Graduate School does not recommend allowing a departed faculty member to remain on that student’s committee since, after that time, the faculty member will become immersed in responsibilities at their new place of employment, often leaving little time to devote to our student.

Tuition for combined degrees: The 2021-22 tuition structure for combined degree programs is currently under revision, pending guidance from SUNY.  Until further guidance is issued, the current policy will be followed:

Combined degree programs offer UB students the opportunity to pursue multiple degree objectives at an accelerated pace and are designed for students who have demonstrated exceptional promise. Combined degree programs pair the curricula of two degree programs from two different levels (e.g., bachelor’s and master’s), resulting in a condensed format where students may complete the combined degree in less time (and often less cost) than is normally required to complete the two degree programs separately. By reducing some courses within the undergraduate major (normally taken near the end of the undergraduate degree) and substituting equivalent graduate-level courses customarily taken during the initial stages of a graduate degree, students are able to shorten the time needed to gain competence in all required curricular content of both degree programs. When completed, students’ records will indicate two degrees individually awarded as part of a combined degree program.

Combined degrees have a two-tier tuition structure. Over the course of a combined degree program, the student is charged the tuition rate each semester that corresponds to the appropriate program rate for that semester. While the student is completing the undergraduate portion, tuition is charged at the undergraduate rate. When the student is admitted at the graduate level, tuition charges change to the appropriate graduate or professional rate. For example, a student pursuing the combined BS/MBA in business administration program is typically required to complete three years of undergraduate coursework and two years of graduate coursework. Thus, the student is classified as undergraduate and is billed at the undergraduate rate for three years. Thereafter, through acceptance to the MBA component in UB’s Graduate Application System, the student matriculates to the graduate level and the student’s bill reflects the appropriate graduate tuition rate until the student completes the combined degree program.

Domestic undergraduate students pursuing combined degree programs may be eligible for New York State sponsored grants and scholarships and federal financial aid, which is comprised of Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Perkins Loans while completing the undergraduate portion of their program. However, once admitted to the graduate portion of their program and charged graduate tuition, domestic students may no longer be eligible for one or more of these awards. Instead, domestic graduate students are eligible to apply for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans as well as a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. For more information regarding student aid and how to apply, please visit UB’s Financial Aid website.

Any student who receives a UB-sponsored undergraduate award (such as an Acker, Provost or Presidential scholarship) and who later pursues a combined degree program, will continue to remain eligible for their undergraduate award through its normal duration (typically four years total) even after matriculating into the graduate portion of their combined degree program. The award amount will continue to be at the undergraduate level.

Any student choosing to leave the combined degree program prior to its completion will have their bill altered in the following manner. A student pursuing the undergraduate portion of the combined program when they choose not to pursue the combined degree program will continue with undergraduate coursework and will be billed accordingly. However, such a student is no longer permitted to pursue a graduate program until they complete the baccalaureate degree in full and is admitted formally to a regular graduate degree program. A student pursuing the graduate portion of the combined degree program when they choose to abandon that combined program of study will continue to be charged at the graduate rate until formally re-matriculated into the undergraduate career for the following semester.

The minimum undergraduate residency requirement for the undergraduate portion of any combined degree program is 18 credit hours. The minimum graduate residency requirement for the graduate portion of any combined degree program varies by program. However, in no case is the graduate residency requirement for any combined degree program ever less than 24 credit hours.

In certain circumstances, a combined degree program may not qualify the student for professional licensure if such licensure requires the completion of a full (non-abbreviated) undergraduate degree program. Students in licensure-eligible programs should discuss these requirements with an advisor to confirm any such limitations.

As part of the registration process, students select a program of courses with the advice of their advisors or committee and with the approval of their program director. Students must then officially register every semester for the appropriate courses according to established registration procedures and within the deadline dates announced by the Office of the Registrar.

Graduate students must register for a minimum of one credit hour each fall and spring term until all requirements for the degree are completed. If continuous registration is impossible at any time, the student must secure a leave of absence from the Office of the Registrar. Failure to secure a leave of absence by the end of the semester in which the leave is to begin will result in a $350 reactivation fee being assessed to the student's account when the student subsequently registers for classes. Students may not be on a leave of absence in the semester immediately preceding degree conferral. Under rare circumstances, the continuous registration requirement may be waived for the semester immediately prior to degree conferral if:

• The student has applied for graduation or has an approved PhD Application to Candidacy on file in the Graduate School; and,
• the student will not be using any university services or faculty time; and,
• The student submitted all required conferral materials to the Graduate School prior to the first day of the semester. 

Students may request a waiver of continuous registration by filing the Graduate Student Petition for Waiver of Continuous Registration with the Graduate School.

A request for a leave of absence must be negotiated through the chair or director of graduate studies of the student's major department using a Graduate Student Petition for a Leave of Absence form. The form must then be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar by the last day of classes of the semester in which the leave is to begin.

Normally, leaves are granted for a maximum of one year, but may be extended for up to one additional year if circumstances warrant. Each department may establish its own policies within the limits of these guidelines. All leave requests must be supported by adequate documentation.

Students approved for a leave of absence remain liable for any outstanding tuition and fee charges.

International students are advised to consult with International Student and Scholar Services, 210 Talbert Hall, North Campus, 716-645-2258, prior to applying for a leave of absence.

Failure to register for classes or secure a leave of absence by the last day of classes of the semester in which the leave is to begin, will result in the student losing their access to register for classes in a future semester. To regain registration access within a subsequent five-year period, the student's home academic department must file a semester record activation request on behalf of the student (see the "Returning Student Semester Record Activation and Associated Fee" section for more details).

The University at Buffalo is committed to the safety, health and well-being of the campus community. The University recognizes that students may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. In such circumstances, students should consider requesting a leave of absence. A leave of absence permits students to take a break from the University and their studies, so that they may address the issues that led to the need for the leave and later return to the University with an enhanced opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Students will be given the option to take a voluntary leave of absence before the University pursues an involuntary leave on behalf of the student.

Academic departments may file a semester record activation request for graduate students who were previously admitted into an academic program through UB's Graduate Application System and had a break in attendance of no more than five years and had neglected to secure an approved leave of absence from the Graduate School. Once reviewed and approved by the vice provost for graduate education, a new semester record will be created with exactly the same academic career, program and plan as recorded for the last semester in which the student attended UB. At the time of semester record activation, the student will be assessed a non-refundable record activation fee (currently $350).

It is the prerogative of the academic department to decide whether or not to process/endorse a former student’s request for semester record activation and return to graduate study as described in the previous paragraph. The department also determines how much of the previously completed work may be applied toward the graduate degree program, within established Graduate School guidelines.

Any graduate student who has had an enrollment lapse of more than five years must reapply through the graduate program’s regular application process.