Academic Standards Code

The Academic Standards Code states George Mason University’s standards for academic integrity and the process for adjudicating claims that a student has violated those standards.  The Academic Standards Office oversees the process by which claims that a student has violated the Academic Standards Code are adjudicated in accordance with this document. The expectations regarding academic standards apply to all undergraduate and graduate students, including non-degree seeking students. Cases received after a student’s degree has been conferred may result in degree revocation.  

Academic Standards exist to promote authentic scholarship, support the institution’s goal of maintaining high standards of academic excellence, and encourage continued ethical behavior of faculty and students to cultivate an educational community which values integrity and produces graduates who carry this commitment forward into professional practice. 

If you have a case that was referred prior to Fall Semester 2024, please refer to the prior year honor code for process explanations.

This document highlights the Academic Standards process for the 2024-2025 school year.

Types of Violations

Unauthorized Assistance

Unauthorized assistance means using, accessing, or providing assistance to others when such assistance is not permitted per the university, course, or assignment instructions/policy.  Unauthorized assistance also includes submitting academic work that was created, in whole or part, by using unauthorized material. Certain departments may include requirements that go beyond what is mentioned, including a prohibition of sharing work, and the requirement to keep work secure. Examples of unauthorized assistance include but are not limited to: 

  • Benefitting or attempting to benefit from unauthorized assistance 
  • Providing unauthorized assistance   
  • Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence software, generative or otherwise   
  • Submitting work that was done, in part or whole, by someone else   
  • Compensating someone else to do work and/or academic outsourcing   
  • Making an unauthorized record of (photo, screenshot, download) and/or posting (such as on a public website or in group messenger apps) exams or academic content   
  • Submitting work as one’s own that was obtained from unauthorized websites (including Quizlet, Chegg, Course Hero, etc.) 
Fabrication

Fabrication in an academic context refers to providing information known to be false to bypass classroom expectations or gain an unfair advantage in completing academic work. Examples of fabrication include but are not limited to: 

  • Providing a false excuse for missing a test, assignment, or class  
  • Fabricating or providing false sources, data, information, documents, and/or official correspondence. This may include, but is not limited to, referencing material that does not appear in the indicated source 
  • Providing false or altered documents in response to an Academic Standards violation 
Plagiarism

 Plagiarism in an academic context refers to using other individuals’ ideas or words without appropriate attribution or credit. It also includes reusing work that has already been submitted for a class or published without permission from the current instructor and/or without proper citation. Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:   

  • Submitting another’s work as your own, either in whole or in part    
  • Misrepresenting authorship (may include leaving author names off a document or giving authorship credit that is not warranted)   
  • Failure to attempt to cite sources using required citation standards, including both in-text/in-presentation citations and full references lists 
  • Intentionally or unintentionally using portions of one’s old work for new assignments without appropriate attribution and advanced permission from the current course instructor (self-plagiarism)  

 Plagiarism does not include mistakes in the format of a citation if the student has indicated the materials quoted or relied upon and the source of the materials. 

George Mason University Sanction Matrix

Finding/DesignationSanction
Level 1  0% on the assessment and an additional letter grade reduction in the final course grade 
 
University Integrity Educational Interventions (*) (determined by the Academic Standards Office
Level 2Failure of relevant Course or Assessment (comprehensive exams, dissertation, thesis, etc.) 
 
University Integrity Educational Intervention (*) 
Table of the level designations and sanctions associated with the level designation 

Suspension, Permanent Dismissal, and Program Termination

In some cases, violations of Academic Standards rise to the level that merits a pause or removal from studies. Suspension, Dismissal, and Academic Termination decisions are based on the program level of the student, the number of previous offenses, and the severity of the offense. The decision to refer a violation for potential suspension or dismissal consideration is made in accordance with the sanctioning matrix.  Where there is discretion to recommend a student for suspension or dismissal, Academic Standards Staff will decide.  For undergraduates, the timing and process of suspensions follow the Academic Suspension process as listed in AP5.2.6. Graduate Students can be suspended or terminated from their program.  If a student is found in violation, the outcomes are adjudicated through the matrix below: 

Student Program Level1st Referral 2nd Referral3rd Referral4th Referral
UndergraduatePotential Recommendation for Suspension 
OR 
Permanent Dismissal 
Automatic Recommendation Suspension 
OR 
Potential Recommended for Permanent Dismissal 
Automatic Suspension 
OR 
Automatic Recommendation for Permanent Dismissal 
Automatic Recommendation for Permanent Dismissal 
GraduateAutomatic Recommendation for Suspension 
AND 
Potential Recommended for Program Termination  
Automatic Suspension 
AND 
Automatic Recommended for Programs Termination 
Automatic Program Termination