Honor Code

As a student at the United States Sports Academy (the Academy), you are joining a community of scholars who are committed to the pursuit of excellence in the instructional process; therefore, we expect the same by all members of the community. It is expected that all students will pursue their studies with both integrity and honesty. Those students who choose not to do so are forewarned that academic integrity and honesty are taken very seriously at the Academy. Any student caught in academic dishonesty, including but not limited to plagiarism and cheating, will be subject to disciplinary action which may include expulsion from the program. Therefore, all students must know what constitutes academic dishonesty.

The most common forms of academic dishonesty are cheating and plagiarism. Cheating is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work through the use of dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means. Plagiarism is defined as representing the work of another as your own.

Although definitions on academic dishonesty may vary given educational groups, as an Academy student, you are expected to refrain from all such activities. To make the point perfectly clear for all Academy students, a letter is published on academic integrity and is sent to all students and published on the Academy's website at www.ussa.edu.

Below are specific examples students must be aware of when engaging in academic endeavors at the Academy.

No cheating is allowed. Cheating may include but is not limited to copying in part or whole from someone else's paper; submitting work presented previously in another course; altering or interfering with grading; using or consulting with others during an exam including the use of electronic means such as computers or cell phones unless specified in course as appropriate for use; and committing any acts which defraud or misrepresent.

No plagiarism is allowed. Plagiarism may include incorporating ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs or parts of another's writings without appropriate credit or permission, and representing it as your own; representing another's scholarly works such as computer program, photograph, painting or sculpture as your own; submitting as your own a paper purchased from a research or term paper service, including those on the Internet; and undocumented web source usage.

Other examples of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to purposely allowing another student to copy from your work; giving academic materials to another student to copy; having another submit work using your name; stealing tests; forging signatures to academic forms; and collaboration with others without the permission of the instructor.

Breaches of academic dishonesty will be dealt with quickly and harshly by the faculty. Students accused of academic dishonesty will be investigated by the Academic Committee. If the students are found to have committed academic dishonesty, they may receive an F or zero on the test or paper, an F for the entire course and/or be expelled from the Academy based on the findings by the Academic Committee.

Any student taking a course and signing on in either the online or residential class commits to observing this code and agrees that they shall not commit academic dishonesty. Students found to have committed academic dishonesty will be punished for their offenses up to and including expulsion from the institution.