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Syllabus Requirements and Guidelines

2025-26

The University community believes in cultivating a culture of academic integrity through intentionally educating students on what constitutes academic misconduct. The following document provides information regarding the Undergraduate Honor Code and course syllabi requirements.

Educational Resources

Academic Integrity Success Course

The Academic Integrity Success Course on Canvas focuses on the Undergraduate Honor Code policies and takes no more than 30 minutes to complete. This resource is free, and can make an impact on your classroom and the student’s educational experience at Virginia Tech. It will be open all semester; however, the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity recommends that you ask your students to complete the course within the first few weeks of classes starting.

This course covers necessary information regarding Academic Integrity at Virginia Tech that students will need throughout their time as a student. It includes our policies and the importance of academic integrity at Virginia Tech. Each student who successfully completes the course will receive a badge that you as a faculty member can see. Even if a student has completed the module in the past, a refresher is always helpful.

Understanding the Code

Understanding the Code is created by the Undergraduate Student Delegates and provides common scenarios students find themselves in and is designed to teach students how to avoid common missteps related to academic integrity. This session is designed to be engaging and interactive.

We are happy to provide presentations of Understanding the Code or information about the Honor System tailored to specific classes or groups. There will also be two in-person sessions presented by student delegates:

  • September 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in 101 S Newman Library
  • September 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in 101 S Newman Library

Request a presentation online or email honorsys@vt.edu.

  • Understanding the Code and the Academic Integrity Success Module are complimentary to each other. Consider asking students to complete both! 
  • Many faculty members ask their students to take the Academic Integrity Success Module and Understanding the Code as a course requirement or for extra credit.
  • Faculty members, GTAs, and other members of the University community are also welcome to take the Understanding the Code module or take the Academic Integrity Success Module.

Policy Requirement

Faculty are expected to adhere to the policy pertaining to the reporting and adjudication of suspected violations of the Honor Code. Any suspected violation of the Honor Code should be reported promptly, in writing, to the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. The form for this purpose is available on the honor system website. The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity has a group of dedicated members who are available to assist you in resolving cases of academic misconduct in a timely manner.

Syllabi Requirements

All Undergraduate course syllabi shall contain a section that states and refers the student to the Honor Code Procedures on the University website.

Honor Code Pledge

The pledge is to be written out on all graded assignments at the university and signed by the student. The honor pledge represents both an expression of the student’s support of the honor code and a commitment to uphold the academic standards at Virginia Tech. We recommend including the following statement with the pledge in your syllabi:

The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that Virginia Tech undergraduate students must abide by states:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times.  I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for abiding by the undergraduate Honor Code on each assignment and/or exam. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Students are strongly discouraged from misusing unauthorized online sources including generative artificial intelligence outlets. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their faculty members regarding the use of such outside materials as the misuse of these sources may constitute a violation of the Honor Code. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code.

AI Policies

The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity encourages all faculty to state a clear policy on student use of generative AI for each class syllabus. Below are three possible policy statements, from permitting to prohibiting the use of generative AI in class, which can be adapted as needed. It is better for each class to have a statement tailored to its specific requirements, so we have also provided some suggestions for what you might consider in developing or adapting your own AI policy.

AI Policy Examples

1: Permissible AI Use

In this course, use of generative AI tools is permitted for all assignments, given that the student is using the AI tool to contribute to their learning of the course content, but not to replace original work. You must properly acknowledge when and how AI tools have been used in your submissions. Failure to disclose AI use or submitting AI-generated work as entirely your own without critical engagement will constitute a violation of the Honor Code. If you are ever uncertain about the use of AI, it is your responsibility to ask your faculty member before proceeding.

See additional information about the Honor Code.

2: Prohibited Use of AI

In this course, the use of any generative AI tools is strictly prohibited for all graded assignments, exams, and assessments. All work must represent your own independent effort and original thinking. The use of AI tools to draft, edit, summarize, or generate content is considered unauthorized assistance and a violation of the Honor Code. Violations will be reported and handled in accordance with Virginia Tech’s Honor Code procedures. If you are ever uncertain about the use of AI, it is your responsibility to ask your faculty member before proceeding.

See additional information about the Honor Code.

3: AI Use for Specific Assignments

In this course, generative AI tools may only be used for specific assignments that are designated by the instructor. Any assignment requiring use of AI will be clearly outlined in the assignment instructions and may include tasks such as brainstorming, analyzing information or editing. For all other assignments, the use of AI tools is prohibited and constitutes unauthorized assistance under the Honor Code. When AI use is permitted, students must disclose how AI was used through appropriate citations. If you are ever uncertain about the use of AI, it is your responsibility to ask your faculty member before proceeding.

See additional information about the Honor Code.

Developing an AI Policy

Some key considerations when developing a generative AI policy for your classes:

Support AI Literacy

  • Acknowledge the growing importance of AI in the world today, and in your field.
  • If appropriate, explain how students will be encouraged to learn with AI to prepare them for careers.

Provide a Rationale

  • If AI is prohibited, explain why as specifically as possible.
  • Are its deficiencies a liability, or is developing an expertise in your field necessary to use it effectively?
  • Is your evaluation of the assignment or assessment dependent on it having been produced by the student unaided?

Explain AI Limitations

  • Inform students of AI weaknesses, particularly as relevant to skills required in your field.
  • Share concerns about copyright infringement, biased or inaccurate information, lack of originality, etc.

Be Specific

  • Be aware of all that AI can be asked to do. It can condense readings, expand on student writing, translate, edit, adjust tone, imitate other voices, provide content and sources, create images, and more.
  • Specify permissible and prohibited use. Give examples. Clarify appropriate use in assignments, ungraded work, and study purposes.

Require Transparency

  • Explain the importance of transparency in using AI tools, and what citations should look like.
  • Do you expect all prompts and output to be provided, or just that students include the name of the AI tool used? Refer to the appropriate citation style guide.

Offer Transparency

  • Decide how you will be evaluating AI use, and share with your students.
  • The OUAI requires human analysis of any work being reported as AI plagiarism, although AI detector evidence may be included in a report. Please reach out to the OUAI for more detailed guidance.
  • Consider evaluating a student’s understanding of the work they’ve submitted through a conversation. It can provide conclusive evidence, and it may alleviate student concerns of being unfairly reported to know there will be a discussion before a report is made.

Explain Next Steps

  • How will you proceed if you have concerns about AI use on an assignment? A brief explanation of the honor system process is encouraged.
  • If you would like a presentation for your class on the honor system, complete the Presentation Request Form.

Follow up with the OUAI

Questions? Want a review of your policy? Just reach out! We are happy to review syllabus statements or discuss the development of your AI policy with you.

Syllabus Guidelines

Additional syllabus statements:

Below are some statements faculty may want to include in addition:

  1. If you have questions or are unclear about what constitutes academic misconduct on an assignment, please speak with me. I take the honor code very seriously in the course. The normal sanction I will recommend for a violation of the Honor Code is an F* sanction as your final course grade. The F represents failure in the course. The “*” is intended to identify a student who has failed to uphold the values of academic integrity at Virginia Tech. A student who receives a sanction of F* as their final course grade shall have it documented on their transcript with the notation “FAILURE DUE TO ACADEMIC HONOR CODE VIOLATION.” You would be required to complete an education program administered by the Honor System in order to have the “*” and notation “FAILURE DUE TO ACADEMIC HONOR CODE VIOLATION” removed from your transcript. However, the “F” would be permanently on your transcript.
  2. All assignments submitted shall be considered “graded work” and all aspects of your coursework are covered by the Honor Code. All projects and homework assignments are to be completed individually unless otherwise specified.
  3. The Academic Integrity expectations for Hokies are the same in an online class as they are in an in-person class. Hokies are expected to meet the academic integrity standards at Virginia Tech at all times.
  4. Commission of any of the following acts shall constitute academic misconduct. This listing is not, however, exclusive of other acts that may reasonably be said to constitute academic misconduct. Clarification is provided for each definition with some examples of prohibited behaviors in the Undergraduate Honor Code Manual.
    • Cheating: Cheating includes the intentional use of unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or other devices or materials in any academic exercise, or attempts thereof.
    • Plagiarism: Plagiarism includes the copying of the language, structure, programming, computer code, ideas, and/or thoughts of another and passing off the same as one's own original work, or attempts thereof.
    • Falsification: Falsification includes the statement of any untruth, either verbally or in writing, with respect to any element of one's academic work, or attempts thereof.
    • Fabrication: Fabrication includes making up data and results, and recording or reporting them, or submitting fabricated documents, or attempts thereof.
    • Multiple Submission: Multiple submission involves the submission for credit – without authorization from the instructor receiving the work – of substantial portions of any work (including oral reports) previously submitted for credit at any academic institution of attempts thereof.
    • Complicity: Complicity includes intentionally helping another to engage in an act of academic misconduct, or attempts thereof.
    • Violation of University, College, Departmental, Program, Course, or Faculty Rules: The violation of any University, College, Departmental, Program, Course, or Faculty Rules relating to academic matters that may lead to an unfair academic advantage by the student violating the rule(s).

Considerations:

Below are some things faculty may want to consider when writing syllabus statements:

  1. Clearly Explain Assignment Expectations: Take time to think about the assignments that you give in your course. If you have expectations regarding how the assignment is completed, please specify this to students. For example, if the assignment is to be completed without assistance from others, please discuss this on individual assignments or in your syllabus.
  2. Class-Specific Resources/Methods: Consider whether or not there are resources or methods that you do not want students to use, particularly in problem-solving, coding, etc. Please make sure that students know if they should only do their work according to the resources or methods shared in class.
  3. Academic Misconduct Sanctions: Students who view the sanctions associated with violating the Honor Code as having a significant impact on their course grade are less likely to commit academic dishonesty than those who view the potential sanctions as minor. A sanction should have a greater impact on a student’s grade than the grade a student would have received due to a lack of studying. By failing to respond appropriately, faculty run the risk of providing an incentive to engage in dishonest behavior and are effectively teaching the student that there will be few consequences. It is important that faculty send the message to students early in the course that all forms of academic misconduct are taken seriously and will be sanctioned appropriately.
  4. Citation Expectations: Faculty members should clearly state what the expected writing/citation style is for the course (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) and which assignments are required to follow that style. It is recommended that faculty provide students with links to appropriate style guides and example citations. Additionally, instructors should outline their expectations for citing generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, DALL-E, etc., to include the required citation format and the type of use that must be documented. Consider providing examples.