Academic Integrity
Lindenwood University students belong to an educational community invested in the exploration and advancement of knowledge. Academic integrity is a critical part of that investment: all students have a fair opportunity to succeed, and, as such, all students owe their classmates, instructors, administrators, and themselves the duty of scholarly and creative work untainted by plagiarism, dishonesty, cheating, or other infringements of academic integrity. In turn, instructors, staff, and administrators will also uphold these policies in order to promote student intellectual development and preserve the integrity of a Lindenwood degree.
As members of this academic community, students are expected to familiarize themselves with the university's policies in the Lindenwood University Student Handbook and to adhere to these policies at all times. Students are also encouraged to consult the resources of the university library and the Writing Center/Academic Success Center for assistance in upholding the university honesty policy.
The penalty for the first reported offense of academic dishonesty will be determined by the instructor and may result in a reduced or failing grade on the work, a failing grade for the course, or any other appropriate penalty. Upon a first report of academic dishonesty, the student is also required to complete an online Academic Integrity Tutorial. A charge for the tutorial will be applied to the student's Student Financial Services Office account. For undergraduates, a second offense will result in a failing grade for the course, and a third offense will lead to expulsion from the university. Graduate students will be expelled after a second offense is reported.
The associate provost maintains confidential records of academic dishonesty reports. These reports are accessible only to the provost and associate provost and are not linked to students' academic or financial records at the university. However, students remain accountable for any acts of dishonesty for as long as they pursue studies at Lindenwood, regardless of progression from undergraduate to graduate programs. Any question regarding the academic honesty policy should be directed to the associate provost.