- South University Honor Code
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Student Responsibilities
- Academic Integrity Misconduct
- Sanctions
- Appeals Process
- Students Reporting Academic Integrity Violations
South University Honor Code
While I attend South University, I will be a fair, ethical, and honorable student and promote others' fair, ethical, and honorable conduct. I will not cheat, and I will not help others to cheat. I will do my own work and give proper and truthful reference to those whose work has contributed any content to mine.
Academic Integrity Policy
South University is committed to fostering a culture of academic excellence and integrity. Academic integrity is the commitment to honest and responsible scholarship that forms the foundation of our academic community at South University. It reflects our core values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility, and supports our mission to cultivate a dynamic learning environment that fosters professional readiness and social responsibility. We believe that maintaining high academic standards empowers students and our entire academic community to reach its full potential.
Student Responsibilities
As a South University student, you are expected to:
- Engage authentically with all academic work and learning opportunities
- Seek clarification when uncertain about academic expectations or assignment requirements
- Properly acknowledge and cite all sources, ideas, and assistance used in your work
- Submit only your own original work unless collaboration is specifically authorized
- Maintain the confidentiality and security of your academic accounts and login credentials
- Uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and are encouraged to report suspected academic integrity violations through the appropriate channels.
Academic Integrity Misconduct
Academic integrity misconduct undermines the integrity of your education and the value of your degree. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Plagiarism – Using another person's words, ideas, data, or work without proper acknowledgment
- Unauthorized collaboration – Working with others when individual work is required or exceeding the boundaries of permitted collaboration. This excludes instructor-authorized group work, peer review, and collaborative learning activities.
- Use of unauthorized assistance – Including generative AI or AI tools when not permitted or having others complete or assist you with your academic work without instructor authorization. This excludes university-provided resources such as tutoring or academic success centers, and instructor-authorized collaboration or assistance.
- Falsification – Fabricating, altering, or misrepresenting data, citations, research results, clinical hours, practicum hours, lab documentation, patient records, or other academic materials
- Multiple submission (self-plagiarism) – Submitting the same work for credit in one course in a separate course without authorization from the instructor
- Cheating – Using unauthorized materials, information, or assistance during examinations or assessments
- Clinical/Practica/Internship/Externship academic misconduct – Falsifying, forging, altering, or misusing program/course attendance records, patient interactions, lab results, field experience documentation, other professional practice requirements, or any other program/course documents
Sanctions
South University takes academic integrity seriously. All academic integrity violations are reported to university and program leadership. Sanctions for academic integrity misconduct are determined based on the severity and/or pattern of the infraction(s) and may include:
Assignment-Level Sanctions:
- Resubmission or redo of assignment
- Reduced grade on assignment
- Failing grade on assignment
Course-Level Sanction:
- Failing grade for the course
Program/University Level Sanctions:
- Academic probation
- Suspension from program
- Dismissal from program
- Dismissal from the university
- Notification to licensing boards or professional organizations (when required)
Additional sanctions may apply based on program-specific policies and accreditation standards. A single incident may violate both academic integrity and conduct/behavior policies; in such cases, the university will review the matter and determine appropriate action on a case-by-case basis.
Appeals Process
If a sanction is imposed, you may contact an Academic Counselor or Program Director (or the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Pharmacy students) to receive information about the appeal process. Appeals need to be submitted within 7 calendar days of the date of the imposed sanction. Appeals beyond this deadline will not be considered, and the sanction will be upheld.
Students Reporting Academic Integrity Violations
Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and are encouraged to report suspected violations. Reporting concerns helps to maintain a fair academic environment and supports the university’s commitment to ethical conduct.
Students may report suspected incidents confidentially as follows:
- Campus Programs (non-Pharmacy): Report to the course faculty, Program Director, Department Chair, or the Campus Director & Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations for the campus.
- Pharmacy Program: Report to the Pharmacy Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Online Programs/Courses: Report to your online course faculty and/or send to SUOStudentAffairs@southuniversity.edu