Academic integrity and credibility are the foundation of all academic work. It is the commitment to ethically using information, ensuring that all ideas and work presented are your own, and giving credit through proper academic citations.   

Academic Dishonesty  

Academic dishonesty is a violation of the Grounds for Disciplinary Action as described in this handbook. The definitions and examples presented below are a sampling of types of academic dishonesty and are not to be construed as an exhaustive or exclusive list. The academic integrity policy applies to all students, undergraduate and graduate, and to scholarly pursuits and research. Additionally, attempts to commit academic dishonesty or to assist in the commission or attempt of such an act are also violations of this policy. 

The use of generative artificial intelligence tools in student-created work, if done outside of the bounds established by the instructor and/or course syllabus, shall also fall underneath these designations and may be applicable. Students are expected to consult their instructors if they have any questions about the use of AI tools in their coursework. 

Academic Fraud: Academic Fraud is defined as the alteration of documentation relating to the grading process; for example, changing exam solutions after submission negotiate for a higher grade or tampering with an instructor's grade book. 

Collaboration: Collaboration is defined as deliberately facilitating an act of academic dishonesty in any way or form; for example, allowing another student to observe an exam paper or allowing another student to "recycle" one's old term paper or using another student’s work in a paper or lab report without citation. 

Copying: Copying is defined as obtaining information pertaining to a graded exercise by deliberately observing the paper of another student; for example, noting which alternative a neighboring student has circled on a multiple-choice exam. 

Cribbing: Cribbing is defined as the use or attempted use of prohibited materials, information, or study aids in an academic exercise. Examples include using an unauthorized formal sheet during an exam. 

Fabrication: Fabrication is defined as the unauthorized falsification or invention of any information in an academic exercise. Examples include the use of "bought" or "ready-made" term papers, or falsifying lab records or reports. 

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as representing the work or words of another as one's own through the omission of acknowledgment or reference. Examples include using sentences verbatim from a published source in a term paper without appropriate referencing, presenting as one's own the detailed argument of a published source, or presenting as one's own electronically or digitally enhanced graphic representations from any form of media.  

Sabotage: Sabotage is defined as the destruction of another student's work. Examples include destroying a model, lab experiment, computer program, or term paper developed by another student. 

Substitution: Substitution is defined as utilizing a proxy, or acting as a proxy, in any academic exercise. Examples include taking an exam for another student or having a homework assignment done by someone else. 

Consequences for Academic Dishonesty 

A violation of Academic Integrity policy is, by definition, considered a flagrant offense to the educational process. It is taken seriously at RPI and will be addressed in an effective and educational manner. The instructor decides how to handle violations on a case-by-case basis. If found responsible for committing academic dishonesty, a student may be subject to one or both types of penalties: an academic (grade) penalty administered by the instructor and/or disciplinary action through the RPI judicial process described in this handbook. 

Academic Penalty 
Within a class, the instructor may require the student to redo the assignment for a reduced grade, assign the student a failing grade for the assignment, assign the student a failing grade for the class, or terminate participation in a research project.  
 
Disciplinary Action 
Requests for disciplinary action will result in a judicial inquiry. A student may be subject to any of the following types of disciplinary action if judicial action is pursued by the instructor: warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, and/or alternative actions as agreed on by the student and hearing officer(s). It should be noted that no student who allegedly commits academic dishonesty will be able to drop or change the grade option for the course in question and is not eligible to request an F examination for the course. Students found in violation of the academic integrity policy are also prohibited from dropping a course to avoid the academic penalty. Any finding of responsibility will result in an alert to the Registrar to restrict this course action. Any finding of responsibility is also subject to disciplinary reporting policies (i.e. what is reportable to graduate and professional schools, employers, etc.).  

Faculty Procedures for Responding to Academic Dishonestly 

If there is a reason to believe a student in a course may have been involved in academic dishonesty, then the instructor will contact the student(s) about alleged misconduct and schedule a meeting to discuss the allegations. This meeting should occur within ten (10) Institute business days of having discovered the possible dishonesty. 

When meeting with the student, the instructor will review the circumstances and evidence related to the suspicion of academic dishonesty and allow the student the opportunity to provide their perspective on the situation. After reviewing the situation and speaking with others who might be involved or have knowledge of the situation, the instructor will determine the nature and extent of the violation, if any, by the accused student. If it is concluded that a student has violated the Institute academic dishonesty policy, it is the faculty member’s responsibility to determine the academic (grade) penalty (i.e., failure of the course, significant reduction of the final grade, etc.) and to communicate this decision to the student in writing. This communication should occur within five (5) Institute business days of having met with the student. Included in this written notification should be information regarding the student’s option to appeal the grade decision and of the procedure and time limit in which to do so. 

Instructors who choose to apply an academic sanction to a student found responsible for committing academic dishonesty must complete the Academic Integrity Violation Report Form on the Dean of Students website within one week of their determination. The documentation should be submitted with the report that includes any exams or assignments involving cheating, crib sheets, witness statements, or other materials deemed relevant to the case. The incident of academic dishonesty will be kept on file in the Dean of Students Office as a record of the incident and a way to track repeat or multiple offenses by the same student(s). 

When submitting the Academic Integrity Violation Report Form, the instructor can request that formal judicial action be taken against a student in addition to the established academic penalty. Such requests will be referred to the Director of Student Rights, Responsibilities, & Conduct. The documentation will be reviewed, assigned to a hearing officer, and adjudicated in accordance with Institute protocol. 

Appeal Process 

Decisions regarding grades are initially the responsibility and jurisdiction of the course instructor and the school in which the academic dishonesty occurred. Any appeal of an academic penalty for academic dishonesty falls under the same authority. Therefore, a student can submit a written appeal of an academic penalty to the Department Head within five (5) Institute business days of being notified of the faculty member's decision. If the course professor is the Department Head or there are other circumstances that could create the perception of bias, steps must be taken to use other appropriate individuals for the appeal process. 

The Department Head, or designee, will review the appeal based on the facts and circumstances of the case and the appropriateness of the original sanction. A determination should be made and communicated to the student and the professor within ten (10) Institute business days of receiving the appeal. Included in this written notification will be information regarding the student's next option to appeal the grade decision and of the procedure and time limit in which to do so. 

If the student or instructor believes they have grounds for appealing the decision of the Department Head (e.g., new evidence), both parties have the option to submit a written appeal to the Dean of the School within five (5) Institute business days of receiving the decision. The Dean will then render a decision based on the facts and circumstances of the case and the appropriateness of the sanction. This determination should be communicated to the student and the professor within ten (10) Institute business days of receiving the appeal. 

The decision of the Dean of the School may be subject to final determination by the Provost, with good cause and at the written request of either party involved, within five (5) Institute business days of notification of the Dean of the School's decision. The Provost is unconstrained in the procedure they choose to employ in the context of such a review. The Provost is the final level of appeal and their decision stands as final for both the student(s) and professor involved. The Provost will render a decision based on the circumstances of the case and the appropriateness of the sanction. This determination should be made and communicated to the student and the professor within ten (10) Institute business days of receiving the appeal. 

Tuition and fees apply to in-person, hybrid, and/or remote instruction.  No refunds or credits will be provided should there be a change in course format (i.e. full remote instruction) due to pandemic or any other reason.

RPI complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act, Title IV of Public Law 90-247), as amended. This Act provides that students attending any post-secondary educational institution which receives federal funds are entitled to access to their education records kept by the institution in order to inspect and review those records. Students are entitled to petition the Institute for the amendment or correction of any information in their education records which they feel is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights. Guidelines are also provided for the conduct of informal and formal hearings at which a student may present evidence that the records are inaccurate or misleading and seek to have them amended or corrected. RPI also intends to comply fully with provisions of the Act which limit the disclosure of certain information contained in students’ education records to the following circumstances: 

1. with the student’s prior written consent;
2. as an item of directory information* (as defined in the Institute’s compliance policies) which the student has not refused to permit the Institute to disclose;
3. under the provisions of the Act which allow a university to disclose information without the student’s prior written consent (see the Institute’s compliance policies). 

In certain circumstances, FERPA permits education records to be disclosed by the Institute without the student’s consent, including to parents or legal guardians of dependent students as that term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code. 

In general, RPI presumes that undergraduate students at RPI are dependent students, which permits RPI to give parents access to their education records. However, under the FERPA Compliance Policy, parents of a students who submit to the office of the Registrar appropriate documentation to establish that they should be considered independent of their parents will not be entitled to such access unless other provisions of FERPA allow for such access. (Note: Dependency status used in financial aid determinations may be different from that as defined in FERPA.) Graduate students are not considered dependents. 

Parents of our students play an integral role in their students’ experience. They nurture, support, and challenge their student to succeed. They are almost always in the best position to address the well-being of their student. Accordingly, subject to RPI’s FERPA Compliance Policy and to the extent permitted by law, RPI will generally notify parents of undergraduate students in the following circumstances without the requirement of consent from the student: 

• any separation from the Institute, including academic suspensions and dismissals, disciplinary suspensions and expulsions, mandatory financial leaves of absence, personal leaves of absence and withdrawals, administrative leaves of absence, and involuntary leaves of absence;
• when a student is placed on probation or continued on probation;
• In other circumstances authorized by the Dean of Students where parental notification is believed to be in the best interests of the student’s well-being. 

Nothing about this policy is intended to impose an obligation or duty on the Institute to notify parents. Moreover, RPI fully reserves its rights to make disclosures in all other circumstances permitted by FERPA, some of which may be made to persons other than parents without student consent and regardless of dependency status of the student. See RPI’s FERPA Compliance Policy for details. 

• Directory Information: The Institute intends to make certain “directory information” available for public use. This would be in connection with publicity of athletic events, honors, etc. The following constitutes directory information: the student’s name, address, photographs, telephone number, email, date and place of birth, major field of study, academic load, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards received, class year in school, and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. A student who does not wish any of this information to be released for a given semester should notify the Registrar in writing by the end of the second week of classes. Directory information is published in various forms during the year and RPI can withhold information only in those cases where written requests are received in accordance with the above-mentioned guidelines. Students must fill out a request to prevent disclosure of directory information for each semester they wish to withhold such information. 

Copies of RPI’s complete Statement of Policy and Procedures in Compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be obtained upon request from the Office of the Registrar. Any student who believes, after seeking correction through the internal grievance procedures specified in RPI’s policy statement, that the Institute has failed to comply with the provisions of this Act, has the right to file a written complaint: 
Family Policy Compliance Office 
Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave SW
Washington, D.C. 20202 

The Grade Appeal Policy is to establish a clear, fair, and uniform process by which students may contest the grade assigned to them for a course. Grades reflect exclusively students’ academic achievements and will be changed only in exceptional circumstances. 

General Provisions 
All parties to a grade appeal are expected to be polite and respectful throughout the process. All documents and proceedings associated with specific grade appeals shall remain confidential during and after the process. 

Appeals  

Grounds for Appeals 
Grade appeals shall be based on grading process problems, such as when a student believes an assigned or final grade is incorrect based on the syllabus and other relevant documents. 

Acceptable grounds for a grade appeal could include: 

• An error was made in grade computation or entry.
• The grade was based on standards different than those applied to other students registered in the same course.
• The assigned grade constitutes a substantial departure from the published or announced grading standards for the course. 

This Grade Appeal Policy does not address disputed grades resulting from alleged academic integrity violations. 

Appeal Process 

1. Appeal to the Instructor: A student who believes they have grounds for an appeal should first attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor of the course. Grade appeals should only be made to the instructor and not made to the teaching assistant. 

2. Formal Appeal to the Department Head or Associate Dean: If the student and the instructor cannot resolve the student’s concerns, the student may pursue a formal grade appeal through the department responsible for the course. The student must submit a written statement outlying the grounds for the appeal to the Department Head or Associate Dean (Architecture, Lally School of Management, and Core Engineering) of the department responsible for the course, with a copy to the instructor. Appeals to the Department Head or Associate Dean must be submitted within one week of the instructor’s decision. The appeal letter shall include the following information: 

   1. Student’s name
   2. Student’s current email address
   3. Instructor’s Name
   4. Course title and number
   5. The semester the class was completed and grade received.
   6. A description of the grade dispute.
   7. A summary of the actions the student has taken to resolve the grade dispute and proposed solution.
   8. All relevant documentation related to the grade dispute such as graded assignments, test results, and the syllabus. 

   Upon receipt of the written appeal, the Department Head or Associate Dean will forward the student’s written appeal and supporting documentation to the instructor. The instructor must provide a written response to the Department Head or Associate Dean and the student. The Department Head or Associate Dean will review the documentation presented by the student and instructor and will then provide a written ruling to the student, with a copy to the instructor, within two weeks. 

3.  Formal Appeal to the Dean of the School: A student may appeal the Department Head or Associate Dean’s ruling by submitting a notice of appeal to the Dean of the School responsible for the course. The appeal should identify specific grounds of appeal for further review. Appeals to the Dean must be submitted within one week of the Department Head or Associate Dean’s decision. The Dean or designee will review the appeal and documentation and issue a decision and the basis for it within two weeks. The Dean’s decision will be final. 

At times, RPI may need to place a student on a leave of absence or withdrawal to support their well-being or to protect the safety and functioning of the campus community. This decision may be made by the Medical Director, the Director of the Counseling Center, and/or the Dean of Students if a student’s situation: 

• Poses a risk to their own health or safety,
• Poses a risk to others, or
• Creates a serious disruption to Institute operations, activities, or facilities. 

A mandatory leave or withdrawal may be applied in the following cases: 

• Financial Reasons: If a student has unpaid balances with the Bursar’s Office and is unable to meet financial obligations, they may be placed on a financial leave of absence. Outstanding balances (including the current semester) must be paid in full before reinstatement.
• Medical or Psychological Reasons: If professional staff determine that it is in the best interest of a student’s health and well-being not to attend for the semester, a medical leave of absence will be applied.
• Emergency Removal: If the Dean of Students determines that an immediate removal from campus is necessary, a mandatory leave of absence will be recorded to reflect this action.
• Disciplinary Sanctions: If a student is suspended or expelled through the conduct process, a mandatory separation is recorded with the effective date of the sanction.
• Non-Registration: If a student does not register for classes during a given semester, they will be placed on an administrative leave of absence for that term. 

Appeals 
Students will receive written notification if a mandatory leave or withdrawal is applied. A student may submit a written appeal to the Vice Provost of Student Experience within five (5) business days of receiving notice.  

Being placed on a mandatory leave or withdrawal is not considered a disciplinary action and does not trigger the rights of a disciplinary hearing. However, if the situation also involves behavior that violates Institute policy, the student may still face separate disciplinary action. 

RPI recognizes that students may need time away from their studies for personal, medical, financial, or academic reasons. The Voluntary Leave of Absence (LOA) policy is designed to support students in taking a pause when needed while maintaining a clear and supportive pathway to return. 

A leave of absence from RPI allows a student to step away from academics to focus on personal needs, including treatment or recovery, without jeopardizing future progress toward a degree. 

Eligibility 

All undergraduate and graduate students in good academic and disciplinary standing are eligible to request a voluntary LOA. International students may be eligible to remain in the U.S. for up to 12 months with an approved medical leave, in compliance with federal regulations. 

Duration of Leave 

Students may take a leave for as long as needed. While there is no maximum limit, RPI strongly encourages students to return when ready to be successful. Students who do not return within one calendar year may be administratively withdrawn, but re-enrollment is possible through the readmission process. 

Student Status and Access During Leave 

Students on leave are not registered and do not have active student status. Students may not live in Institute housing, work in student employment, or participate in recognized student organizations while on leave. Students on a LOA do retain access to the following: SIS, RPI Email, Duo, LMS, and Box for up to one year from the effective date of leave. The Mantra (Counseling Center) hotline and tele-counseling remains available for up to 18 months. 

Financial and Health Insurance Considerations 

• Tuition, fees, and housing charges will be adjusted according to Institute and federal regulations.
• RPI financial aid will remain intact for eligible students upon return. Federal aid may change based on FAFSA updates.
• Students enrolled in the RPI HMO Health Plan may continue coverage for up to six months after beginning a leave. RPI can also assist in connecting students with external providers. 

Medical Leaves of Absence 

Students seeking a medical LOA may be asked to provide documentation from a licensed health provider. This documentation helps the Institute support the student’s leave and eventual return. 

Returning from Leave 

To return from a leave, students must apply through the Dean of Students Office by the published deadlines, resolve any outstanding holds or financial obligations, and provide supporting documentation, if required (such as confirmation from a treating professional for medical leaves). 

The Vice Provost for the Student Experience can require a student to take a leave of absence if they believe a serious physical or emotional event has made it hard—or may make it hard—for the student to continue their studies at RPI. 

To make this decision, the Vice Provost may ask for input from the Student Health Center, the student’s academic advisor, the student, their family, and others, as needed. 

The rules for this type of leave are the same as for other involuntary leaves started by the SHC Medical Director, Counseling Center Director, or Dean of Students. However, if a student wants to return after this kind of leave, the Vice Provost must approve their return. 

The “NE” grade is given only by the Dean of Students Office or the Office of Graduate Education to students who have been excused from taking a final exam at its scheduled time. If the examination is not taken by the date specified, the grade automatically becomes an “F.” Once the “NE” grade is changed to an “F,” no other grade change will be accepted. 

Grades of “NE” given in the fall semester must be made up during the spring semester. “NE” grades given at the end of the spring semester must be made up during the summer recess and not later than two weeks after the beginning of the fall semester. The grade of “NE” is not considered in the calculation of the term GPA.

Formal excuses are not required for medical absences for up to a week of missed classes. Students may contact their faculty directly to discuss completing missed assignments and exams. 

Students missing more than a week of classes due to illness will be required to provide a doctor’s note or other supporting documentation to the Dean of Students Office. A student support dean will communicate the receipt of the note (with expected end date) to the relevant faculty. 

This policy defines the circumstances under which a student nearing the completion of their degree at RPI, who passes away while enrolled but before the degree is conferred, may be awarded a degree or certificate posthumously. 

Criteria for Undergraduate Students 

A deceased student who has not completed all requirements for their undergraduate degree at the time of death may be awarded a degree/certificate posthumously based on the percentage of curriculum completed: 

Degree that the student was pursuing will be posthumously awarded provided: 

1. The student was in good standing at the time of death with no disciplinary actions pending.
2. The student was within 16 credits (one semester) of completing all degree requirements.
3. The Dean of the school associated with the student’s primary major approves the degree, having verified that the above conditions have been met. 

Degree with B.S. in General Engineering, B.S. in General Management, etc. (depending on the student’s school) may be awarded if the student completed more than 75% of the degree requirements but did not meet the criteria outlined in (1). 

A certificate of achievement may be awarded if the student was in good standing at the time of death with no disciplinary actions pending and completed less than 75% of the degree requirements but completed at least one semester at RPI 

Criteria for Graduate Students 

A deceased student who has not completed all requirements for their graduate degree at the time of death may be awarded the degree/certificate they were pursuing posthumously, provided the following conditions are met: 

Degree that the student was pursuing will be posthumously awarded provided: 

1. The student was in good standing at the time of death with no disciplinary actions pending.
2. For a master’s student: The student was enrolled in the final semester of credits required to earn their degree or within 9 credits of completing all degree requirements.
3. For a doctoral student: The student has completed all required coursework for their degree but has not yet submitted and/or defended the final dissertation. The student’s doctoral committee will determine whether the work completed merits the awarding of the degree.
4. The Dean of the school associated with the student’s primary major approves the degree after verifying that either condition (1b) or (1c) above have been met. 

A certificate of achievement may be awarded if the student was in good standing at the time of death with no disciplinary actions pending and completed at least 9 credits but less than the requirements listed in (1) above.  

All students, faculty, staff, and others participating in RPI programs are subject to the provisions, obligations, and responsibilities set forth in the Intellectual Property Policy of the Institute (https://research.rpi.edu/policy) as it may be amended from time to time. This policy is binding on all members of the RPI community, whether an individual has signed a separate intellectual property agreement with RPI or any third party.

This policy covers the ownership, distribution, and commercial development of intellectual property, whether such intellectual property is patentable, copyrightable, subject to trademark registration, or some other means of formal protection. Copies of this policy are available in all Deans' offices, as well as the offices of the Provost and Vice President for Research.