Getting caught cheating or engaging in other forms of academic dishonesty at Texas A&M University can lead to a range of serious academic penalties, impacting your grades, course standing, and even your ability to graduate. The consequences are designed to uphold the integrity of the university's academic environment.
Understanding Academic Misconduct at Texas A&M
Texas A&M takes academic integrity very seriously. The university's policies outline various forms of academic misconduct, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsification. When a student is found responsible for such actions, specific disciplinary measures are imposed.
Potential Academic Consequences
If you are caught cheating, the penalties can vary depending on the severity and nature of the offense, as well as the discretion of the instructor or academic integrity committee. Here are the common consequences:
- Redoing the Assignment: In some cases, for less severe infractions, a student might be required to redo the assignment in question.
- Failing the Assignment: A common consequence is receiving a failing grade (a zero) on the specific assignment where the cheating occurred.
- Receiving a Reduced Grade in the Course: The student's overall grade for the course may be lowered as a direct result of the academic dishonesty, even if it doesn't lead to outright failure.
- Failing the Course: For more serious offenses, the student may receive a failing grade for the entire course.
A particularly significant consequence is receiving an "XF" grade:
- Failing the Course with a Grade of XF: This is a severe penalty where an "XF" grade is assigned for the course. The "XF" explicitly indicates that the course was failed due to academic dishonesty. This grade carries significant implications as it must be removed from the student's transcript before they can graduate from Texas A&M University. The process for removing an XF typically involves specific university procedures and may require demonstrating a renewed commitment to academic integrity.
Summary of Consequences
The following table summarizes the types of academic consequences a student might face:
Level of Impact | Specific Consequences | Details |
---|---|---|
Assignment | Redoing the assignment | Opportunity to correct the work, often with a potential grade penalty. |
Failing the assignment (receiving a zero) | The specific assignment where misconduct occurred receives no credit. | |
Course | Receiving a reduced grade in the course | The student's final course grade is lowered, reflecting the academic integrity violation. |
Failing the course | The student receives an 'F' for the entire course. | |
Transcript | Failing the course with a grade of XF | This grade explicitly denotes failure due to academic dishonesty. It remains on the transcript and must be addressed and removed through university processes before a student can graduate, potentially impacting future academic or professional opportunities. This indicates a serious institutional record of the infraction. |
These academic consequences are distinct from any non-academic disciplinary actions that might be taken by the university's student conduct office, which could include probation, suspension, or expulsion. Texas A&M's commitment to academic integrity is foundational to its educational mission. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the university's full academic misconduct policies to avoid such serious repercussions.
For detailed information on academic integrity and student conduct policies at Texas A&M, refer to the official Texas A&M University Student Rules.