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2026-2027 Academic Handbook

Academic Honesty

It is assumed that all students at George Fox University will endeavor to be honest and of high integrity in all matters pertaining to university life. A lack of respect and integrity is evidenced by cheating, fabricating, plagiarizing, misuse of keys and facilities, removing books and other property not one's own, defacing and altering property, and disrupting classes.

Cheating is defined as intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. It is assumed that whatever work is submitted is the student’s own work and is new work for that course. Fabrication is defined as intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise or form. Plagiarism is defined as representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise. One who facilitates any of the above is equally responsible with the primary violator. George Fox University has a policy on AI language tools to clarify the role these tools should and should not play in a student's academic work. 

Penalties may include restitution, a failing grade on an individual paper or exam, loss of campus position or employment, a failing grade for the course, disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal. The Office of Academic Affairs handles academic dishonesty issues in conjunction with the Office of Student Life.

Academic Honesty Policy Violations Process

  1. Initial Faculty-Student Communication

    A faculty member who suspects an academic honesty violation will attempt to schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the concern within five (5) working days of discovering the potential violation.

  2. After meeting with the student, the faculty member will determine the appropriate path forward. If the infraction is minor, unintentional, and a first-time learning opportunity, the faculty member and student may agree on an informal educational outcome such as rewriting the assignment or completing a tutorial; no formal report is submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs (AAO).

    If the infraction is moderate to severe, shows clear intent, or the student is uncooperative, the faculty member will assess an initial penalty (such as a zero on the assignment) and submit an official Academic Dishonesty Report Form to the AAO within two (2) working days.

  3. Upon receiving a formal report, the AAO will consult university records to determine whether the student has any prior offenses. If it is a first offense, the AAO will send a formal notification letter to the student, faculty member, and dean within seven (7) working days, confirming the faculty penalty as the official university sanction and outlining the appeal process.

  4. If it is a repeat or severe offense, the AAO will immediately notify the relevant dean, who will conduct a comprehensive review, determine the final university sanction(s), and send a formal letter to the student within seven (7) working days.

  5. Level 1—Appeal to the Dean: A student who wishes to dispute the finding or sanction has ten (10) working days from receiving the notification letter to submit an official Student Appeal Form to the AAO. The AAO will forward the materials to the Dean, who will issue a written decision within ten (10) working days.

    Level 2—Appeal to the Academic Appeals Board: If the student is unsatisfied with the Dean's decision, they may submit a written request for a hearing to the AAO within ten (10) working days of receiving the Dean's decision letter. The AAO will convene the Academic Appeals Board, and following a formal hearing, the Board will communicate its final written decision within five (5) working days. The decision of the Academic Appeals Board is final.