Graduate Honor System Policies

The Graduate Honor Code is defined in the "Constitution of the Virginia Tech Graduate Honor System." The constitution designates authority and jurisdiction in cases of an academic nature. Graduate student violations of the honor code should be reported in writing to the chief justice or to the Graduate Honor System advisor for action. Reporting an honor system violation is not optional; it is mandatory.

Academic violations of the Graduate Honor Code consist of the following:

Cheating. Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving of any unauthorized aid, assistance, or unfair advantage in any form of academic work.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is a specific of cheating, and is defined as the copying of the language, structure, idea, and/or thoughts of another and claiming or attempting to imply that it is one's own original work.

Falsification. Students who falsify, orally or in writing or via electronic media, any circumstance relevant to their academic work shall be guilty of a violation of the honor code.

Academic Sabotage. Academic sabotage is purposeful vandalism directed against any academic endeavor or equipment.

The full constitution of the Graduate Honor System may be found in the latest edition of the "Graduate Policies and Procedures and Course Catalogue, Appendix III," the official manual of the Graduate School. It is also available on line at the following address:

http://www.vt.edu/honorsystem/GradHonor.html

For additional information, please call or write

Dr. Martha J. Johnson Assistant Dean of the Graduate School 203 Sandy Hall Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061-0325 Telephone: 231-4558 email: gsmjj@vt.edu

Chief Justice email: gshon@vtvm1