Student Rights & Responsibilities
Community standards & student conduct
University of Washington Bothell students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and behavioral conduct. These standards, which are detailed in the Student Conduct Code for the University of Washington (WAC 478-121) safeguard university functions, and protect the rights and freedoms of all members of the academic community.
On this page:
- Academic integrity
- Academic misconduct
- Avoiding misconduct
- Behavioral conduct
- The UW Bothell Conduct Process
- The student conduct code
- Sexual harassment complaint procedure
- Computer use and software copyright policy
- Student privacy rights & FERPA
Academic integrity
Most UW Bothell students are honest and conduct themselves with integrity; they are concerned when they observe others cheating.
Cheating harms the University community in many ways. The unfairness of undetected and unpunished cheating frustrates honest students. Cheaters may skew a grading curve on an assignment or in a class, lowering grades of students who do their own work.
Students who cheat deny themselves a real education. They cheat themselves of general knowledge. More importantly, they pass up the experience of learning how to learn, the very thing that makes a degree so valuable to employers. As a result, the reputation of the University and the value of a UW Bothell degree diminish if employers find graduates lacking the abilities their degrees should guarantee.
Finally, most professions have a code of ethics, standards to which you will be expected to adhere to when working. At the University, you practice the integrity you must demonstrate later. For all these reasons, academic dishonesty is a serious offense at the UW Bothell; the University community is committed to reporting suspected occurrences of academic misconduct.
Academic misconduct
Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to the following in connection with any exam, research, course assignment, or other academic exercise that contributes to the satisfaction of requirements for courses or graduation. Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to:
Cheating
- Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance, or using unauthorized materials or information.
- Copying from another student.
- Using unauthorized resources, study aides or other people’s work.
- Altering assignments or exams and submitting them as original work.
- Offering false excuses to gain an advantage through additional time or some other advantage on class assignments.
- Submitting someone else’s work as your own.
- Getting someone to take an exam for you or taking an exam for someone else.
- Receiving unauthorized help on an exam or prohibited help on an assignment.
- The acquisition, use, or dissemination of a test or other academic material without permission.
- Engaging in behavior specifically prohibited by an instructor as outlined in the course syllabus or stated in class discussions.
Unauthorized collaboration
Educators recognize the value of collaborative learning; students are often encouraged to form study groups and assigned group projects. Group study often results in accelerated learning, but only when each student takes responsibility for individually mastering all the material.
When a professor says, “Go ahead and work together,” do not assume that anything goes. Professors often do not state the limits of collaboration explicitly. It is your responsibility to confirm the expectations for working together on each assignment or academic task.
Falsification
- Creating false information or data and presenting it as fact.
- Making up false quotes, statements, data, or sources.
- Improperly manipulating another’s data or ideas to support your own theories.
- Citing sources that were not used.
- Misrepresenting your academic accomplishments to instructors or employers.
- Making up false quotes, statements, data, or sources.
- Counterfeiting or falsifying records, including but not limited to a record of internship, or attendance at a required event.
Facilitation
- Helping or attempting to help another student engage in academic misconduct.
- Giving unauthorized help on any exam or assignment when not authorized.
- Giving test or assignment answers to students after such answers or information have been made available to you, but before they have been provided to other students.
- Completing an assignment or exam on behalf of another student.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of cheating. It involves using another person’s original words, ideas, or research, including Internet material, without proper credit. Plagiarism can also include, but is not limited to:
- Failing to cite all used sources.
- Using another author’s sentence or phrase structure without proper citation.
- Paraphrasing another’s work without crediting the author or creator.
- Using another’s original work or ideas (writing, art, music, mathematics, computer code, or scientific work) in whole or in part without crediting that person or using proper citation (e.g. footnotes, endnotes, etc.).
- Stating facts that are not common knowledge without citing the source.
Multiple submissions
A professor may not permit you to submit a duplicate submission of a paper or assignment that you already submitted for credit in another class. If you want to make a multiple submission, you must obtain permission of both professors involved prior to submission of the work.
Sabotage
Sabotage or otherwise taking deliberate action to destroy or damage another’s work.
Avoiding misconduct
Common patterns in student behavior that increase stress and the temptation to cheat include: falling behind in coursework or leaving large projects until the last minute; working too many hours leaving little time to keep up with courses; taking too many difficult courses at one time; and emotional or health problems that distract from studies and interfere with concentration. University resources are available to help students proactively learn ways to avoid misconduct (e.g. The Writing and Communication Center or the Quantitative Skills Center).
Behavioral conduct
Admission to the University of Washington Bothell carries the responsibility to respect the rights, privileges, and property of other members of the University community and refrain from any conduct that interferes with University functions or endanger the health, welfare, or safety of other persons.
What is behavioral misconduct?
Behavioral misconduct includes but is not limited to:
- Disruption or obstruction of University teaching or administrative functions.
- Damaging or misusing university or personal property on university premises.
- Physical, verbal, or emotional abuse.
- Threats intended to create bodily harm or endanger the health or safety of others.
- Possession of firearms, explosives, or weapons.
- Sexual offenses such as rape, sexual assault, or sexual harassment.
- Stalking.
- Hazing or conspiracy to engage in hazing.
- Unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or controlled substances, or paraphernalia.
- Engaging in any behavior for the purposes of gaining an unfair advantage specifically prohibited by an instructor.
- Domestic violence or relationship violence.
The UW Bothell Conduct Process
The UW Bothell Conduct Process fosters student learning and development by promoting high standards of integrity and accountability. All members of the University community share responsibility for reporting all suspected incidents of student misconduct. Incidents may be reported online, here.
Instructors who suspect a student enrolled in their class of academic misconduct may arrange a meeting with the student to discuss their suspicions. This pre-meeting is not required. During this meeting, the instructor may:
- Share evidence with the student, and explain how their conduct appears to violate the Student Conduct Code
- Offer the student an opportunity to dispute the allegation, and
- Provide the student with multiple options, which may include accepting a zero grade for the assignment or the course.
There are some concerns that can be resolved by the instructor in a conversation with the student but in many cases, the concern is submitted as an incident report to the Division of Student Affairs. After receiving the report a Student Conduct staff member will:
- Inform the student in writing that an incident report has been filed
- Invite the student to attend an investigative interview with them
Investigative interview
Students asked to participate in the conduct process will meet with a Student Conduct staff member to offer testimony. Students found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code could be required to provide restitution, and/or may receive a disciplinary reprimand, disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal. They may also appeal any sanction according to procedures established in the Code. Records of all disciplinary actions and appeals are retained in the Division of Student Affairs for a period of seven years.
Disciplinary sanctions
The following disciplinary sanctions prescribed by the Student Conduct Code are typically supplemented by learning opportunities unique to each student and their developmental state:
- Disciplinary reprimand: written notification that the student has not met the University’s standards of conduct, and that a repeated offense will result in more severe disciplinary action. First offenses do not automatically receive a warning; most first offenses receive a stricter response, with warnings reserved for cases with unusual mitigating circumstances.
- Restitution: requirement that the student compensate the University or other persons for damages, injuries, or losses. Failure to comply results in canceled registration and a hold on future registration.
- Disciplinary probation: an action that places conditions on the student’s continued attendance at the University, including the statement that further violation of University policies will likely result in suspension or dismissal. The Conduct Officer or Hearing Board determines the term and conditions of academic probation. First offenses often result in probation.
- Suspension: a written statement from the Full Hearing’s Hearing Officer notifying the student that their attendance has been suspended for a specified period of time (e.g., one quarter). The statement includes the term of the suspension and conditions for re-admittance, if any. Any additional offenses of the student conduct code will likely result in dismissal.
- Dismissal: a written statement from the president’s delegate notifying a student that their attendance at the University has been permanently terminated for violating University policy.
Although the prospect of dismissal may seem the most serious consequence of dishonesty, there are others. If you apply to a medical, law, or other professional school, you may be required to provide a statement from the Dean of Student Affairs attesting to your good conduct.
The student conduct code
Pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW and the authority granted by RCW 28B.20.130, the board of regents of the University of Washington has established rules regarding student conduct and student discipline (code) that are set forth in chapter 478-121 WAC. The university has also developed agency-level policies and procedures regarding the code pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW. See Student Governance and Policies, chapters 209 and 210.
A complete copy of these regulations, WAC 478-121, Standards of Conduct is available online and from the UW Bothell Division of Student Affairs. Selected sections follow.
WAC 478-121-100 Prohibited Conduct
Prohibited conduct under this code includes, but is not limited to, the prohibited conduct described in WAC 478-121-100 through 478-121-173 and relevant university policies. For additional interpretation of prohibited conduct, see Student Governance and Policies, chapter 210, student conduct policy for discriminatory and sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, sexual misconduct, stalking, and retaliation and chapter 209, student conduct policy for academic misconduct and behavioral misconduct.
478-121-040 Jurisdiction of the University
- (1) The scope of the university’s jurisdiction includes reports that prohibited conduct occurred:
- (a) On any university premises or in connection with any university-sponsored program or activity, regardless of the location of the program or activity; or
- (b) Off campus (i.e., conduct that does not occur on university premises or in the context of a university-sponsored program or activity) where: The university reasonably determines that the conduct adversely affects a university interest or, has continuing adverse effects or may create a hostile environment on university premises or in the context of a university-sponsored program or activity.
- (2) Nothing in this conduct code shall be construed to limit academic action that may be taken by schools, colleges, or programs against a respondent based on an established violation of this conduct code that demonstrates a failure to meet the academic and/or professional standards of the school, college, or program.
- (3) If a respondent withdraws from the university (or fails to reenroll) while a conduct proceeding is pending, the university may move forward with the conduct proceeding and, if so, the respondent will be provided with a continued opportunity to participate.
For updates on the student conduct code, please visit /student-affairs/studentconduct.
Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedure
The University of Washington does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination and sex-based harassment in its education programs and activities, including in admission and employment. Refer to the UW policies page on the Title IX website to review (1) the University’s policies prohibiting sex- and gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination and (2) the related procedures for addressing complaints.
Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To report information or make a complaint about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or sex-based harassment, submit an online Title IX report or email or call the Office of the Title IX Coordinator.
Computer Use and Software Copyright Policy
All faculty, staff and students are responsible for using university computer resources in an ethical and legal manner. For example, it is not appropriate to share computer accounts or use them for commercial purposes, to send unwanted email, or to distribute copyrighted software, music or images. Those who do not follow the rules could lose their UW computing privileges. For detailed information, see the UW Information Technology website.
Student Privacy Rights & FERPA
Release of Student Directory Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) protects the privacy of student educational records. However, the following information is considered public or directory information and may be released to anyone unless the student requests otherwise: name, street address, email address, telephone number, date of birth, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, major and minor field(s) of studies, class, most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.
If a student chooses not to authorize release of directory information, they can restrict this information using MyUW. Except under provisions of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 or a lawfully-issued subpoena, no information will be released on students who have restricted release of directory information, including degrees awarded and dates of attendance.
Complete details regarding FERPA and students’ rights concerning educational records are available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Education Records
As a general rule, the University will not release a student’s education records to a third party without the written consent of the student. This includes tuition account information. The complete university policy on student education records and the location of such records may be found in the Washington Administrative Code under WAC 478-140-024.