At California State University, Chico, academic integrity is a cornerstone of our educational mission. We are committed to fostering an environment where honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility guide scholarly and creative work.
Academic integrity is not just a policy—it’s a reflection of who we are as Wildcats.
Academic integrity means being honest and ethical in all academic endeavors. It includes:
Violations of academic integrity compromise the educational process, harm reputations, and diminish the value of your Chico State degree.
Council Responsibilities
Code of Student Conduct
Academic Dishonesty DefinitionsPlagiarism: “The use of someone else’s work, including words, ideas, projects, and/or any other material without citing the source.” California State University, Chico+1(opens in new window)
Self-Plagiarism: “Re-use of a student’s original work, in part or in its entirety, without the express permission of the course instructor may be considered a form of plagiarism.” California State University, Chico
Misuse of Sources: “Carelessly or inadequately citing ideas and words borrowed from another source. … A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources has not plagiarized. Instead, such a student [has] failed to cite and document sources appropriately.” California State University, Chico
Unauthorized Electronic Device Use: “The use of electronic devices, including but not limited to cell phones, tablets, laptops, or similar devices, is prohibited during examination except when explicitly permitted by the instructor.” California State University, Chico
Sanctions and consequences
Faculty may assign academic penalties proportional to the offense, such as:
Oral reprimand of the student.
Reduction of the assignment grade.
Reduction of the course grade (including possibly failing the course).
Beyond academic penalties in a course, the university may initiate Student Conduct procedures when a violation is reported to the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (OSRR). California State University, Chico+1(opens in new window)
A record of academic misconduct may be kept, especially if multiple incidents occur, which may result in additional disciplinary action. California State University, Chico+1
Depending on severity and repeat offenses, sanctions may escalate (while not all specifics are listed in the publicly-available document for Chico State, typical consequences at similar institutions include suspension, expulsion, and notation on a student’s record). — See also general academic integrity consequence frameworks.
Faculty, staff, and students who suspect an incident of academic misconduct should submit a report through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR).
Reports can be made using the Academic Integrity Violation Form:
🔗 Submit a Report — Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities
When submitting, please include:
The student’s name and course information
A detailed description of the suspected violation
Any supporting evidence (e.g., copied work, Turnitin report, email exchanges, etc.)
The action taken or proposed by the instructor (if any)
Faculty are encouraged to meet with the student to discuss the concern before submitting the report, when appropriate.
What Happens After a Report Is Filed
Once a report is received, the following steps occur:
Initial Review
OSRR reviews the submission to verify that all necessary information is included and determines whether the case involves academic misconduct under EM 25-015.
Faculty Consultation
The reporting instructor may be contacted for additional information or clarification about the incident.
Student Notification & Meeting
The student is formally notified of the allegation and offered an opportunity to respond.
A meeting may be scheduled with OSRR or a member of the Academic Integrity Council (AIC) to discuss the case.
The student may also meet with the faculty member involved.
Determination & Outcome
After review, OSRR and/or the AIC determine whether a violation occurred.
If a violation is confirmed, appropriate academic sanctions are applied (e.g., grade reduction, course failure).
Serious or repeat violations may result in additional disciplinary actions in accordance with the CSU Student Conduct Code.
Recordkeeping
A confidential record of the incident is maintained by OSRR.
This helps track repeated violations and supports consistent application of the Academic Integrity Policy across campus.
💬 Chico State Writing Center – free peer support for citation, paraphrasing, and revision.
Violations can happen when someone tries to gain an unfair academic advantage.
Examples include:
Copying or using someone else’s words or ideas without credit (plagiarism)
Cheating on a quiz, exam, or assignment
Working with others when group work isn’t allowed
Using AI tools (like ChatGPT or Grammarly) without your instructor’s permission
Making up data or information in a project
If you’re not sure whether something is okay — always ask your instructor first.
If a concern is reported:
The Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (OSRR) reviews the report.
You’ll get an email notification explaining what the concern is.
You’ll have a chance to meet with someone from OSRR (or the Academic Integrity Council) to share your side.
After reviewing everything, the university decides if a violation occurred and what next steps are appropriate.
You’ll always have the chance to respond and ask questions during the process.
No — not usually.
Academic integrity reports are confidential and kept only within OSRR.
They don’t appear on your transcript unless there’s a very serious or repeated case that leads to formal disciplinary action.
Most cases are handled by OSRR, but some go to the Academic Integrity Council (AIC) — a group of students, faculty, and staff that reviews complex or repeated cases and helps promote fairness across campus.
Yes.
If you believe there was an error, that new evidence exists, or that the outcome was unfair, you can appeal in writing.
Academic Integrity Council Contact Info: Coming Soon
Student Rights and Responsibilities Office
📍 Location:
Student Services Center (SSC), Room 180
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0750
📞 Phone:530-898-6897
📠 Fax:530-898-3355
✉️ Email:srr@csuchico.edu
🌐 Website:www.csuchico.edu/osrr
🕓 Office Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
(Closed during university holidays)
At Chico State, we believe in the power of learning grounded in integrity. Whether you're a student, faculty member, or part of our broader community, we all share the responsibility of creating a culture where academic honesty is the norm.
Be truthful. Be responsible. Be a Wildcat.
