The Office of Academic Integrity exists to uphold standards of integrity at Mason. Part of that role includes making sure our students are aware of the resources available on campus that will help them become successful students. If you have questions about how to access these resources, feel free to contact our office for more information.
Self Plagiarism-What is it?
Online Study Sites and Academic Integrity
Common Questions
You will receive a letter via email to your Mason email account (Mason's official form of communication) that a referral has been received. You will need to submit your pre-hearing resolution form within 7 calendar days to indicate how you would like to resolve the case (Acceptance, Sanctions Review or Full Review). You may schedule an optional pre-hearing meeting to answer procedural questions not answered in the referral notice. This optional meeting is NOT A HEARING. It is a chance to review all the materials received by the referring party and determine how you (the student) would like to resolve the case.
If you have not received a letter, but notice a course grade of "NR" on your transcript, contact our office.
You can bring anyone with you. Some students come alone, some students bring a trusted advisor, some bring an interpreter, and some students bring their parents. Anyone in the room during the pre-hearing meeting can ask questions. The student must complete a F.E.R.P.A. waiver prior to the meeting taking place giving our office permission to discuss the case in the presence of the student's advisor/interpreter/parents.
Yes. You have the option of asking for the Honor Committee to review your case. The form that review takes depends on the recommended sanctions for your case. If you are facing suspension or permanent dismissal from Mason, your case will be resolved via an In-Person Hearing (all hearings occur via Zoom) unless you choose to accept the violation(s) and sanctions during pre-hearing resolution. If you are not facing suspension or permanent dismissal, your case will be resolved through written review. More details about this process can be found in the full reading of the honor code.
No. Once an allegation is made, the referral is in progress. The student may not drop or withdraw unless they are found to be not in violation of the Honor Code. If the student drops the course, they will be re-enrolled.
Absolutely! Some sanction outcomes if you are found responsible will not impact your ability to complete the class with a passing grade. Even if a sanction outcome would, it is not a forgone conclusion that you will be found responsible. If you are contesting the allegation, continue to go to class so you don't miss critical work.
No. We provide ample time for students to complete educational sanctions. Failure to complete sanctions will result in a registration hold being placed on the student's account. The hold is only lifted upon confirmation that the student completed the sanction. As such, it is imperative that you pay attention to the deadlines for the sanctions you've been assigned and complete the sanctions by the indicated deadlines.
The Honor Committee does not take into account intent with regard to Honor Code cases. They look at whether or not a violation took place.
Contact our office and the department chair. Professors should not adjudicate cases on their own and you have a right to contest an allegation.
Your case will be resolved by the Honor Committee in your absence. It is important to participate in the case resolution process as if you do not, the Honor Committee will be left to make a decision on your case with only the information provided in the referral. A registration hold may be placed on your account, which will prevent registration, the processing of graduation and degree conferral, and transcript processing.
Campus Resources
Mason has a variety of resources that can assist you with becoming a stronger scholar and more engaged student. Often students find themselves confused about how to write, what it means to paraphrase, and how to properly cite. Sometimes students find themselves referred to the Office of Academic Integrity due to lack of planning and an inability to manage their time well. They may also simply struggle with the material. There are offices on campus available and ready to assist you with the areas you are struggling with that may be impacting your schoolwork.
The Writing Center
Located in the Johnson Center, the Mason Writing Center provides free tutorials to assist Mason student in various aspects of writing. Information and appointments can be scheduled by visiting the following link: University Writing Center.
Learning Services
If you are struggling with academic skills beyond writing, Learning Services provides a variety of academic skills workshops, coaching, and a tutoring program. Information can be found by visiting the following link: Learning Services
University Libraries
No longer just a place to find books or research old documents, the staff in the University Libraries offer a variety of workshops and online tutorials aimed at helping you become a better researcher and scholar. Information regarding their workshops, tutorials, and services can be found by visiting the following link: University Library Tutorials
Office of Research Integrity and Assurance
When working on a research project, particularly those that require institutional review board approval, it is important that you have a clear understanding of what the requirements are related to successful and ethical completion of the project. The Office of Research Integrity and Assurance is a valuable resource for gaining a greater understanding of the meaning of integrity around specialized research topics. Information on how they can be of assistance can be found at the following link: Office of Research Integrity and Assurance
Citation Assistance
There are several types of citation styles. Which one you use will likely depend on what discipline you’re writing for. If you are writing for the Humanities, you might use MLA (Modern Language Association) citation style. If you’re writing for the sciences you may use AIP (American Institute of Physics). Below is a list of common citation styles, if you are unsure which style you should be using to cite your sources speak with your professor or contact a reference librarian.
Humanities and Social Sciences
Modern Language Association (MLA)
American Psychological Association (APA)
Science
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
American Medical Association (AMA)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
General
Turabian – designed for college students to use with all subjects.
AP Style – used for news writing