These regulations make up the Academic Honor Code for undergraduate and graduate students at Loyola. The Academic Honor Code applies to all non-Law Loyola students, whether enrolled in on-campus or online programs. This includes definitions of academic dishonesty such as plagiarism, and the processes determining findings of academic dishonesty and governing appeals.
If you do not find what you are looking for, please return to the Regulations Directory. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@loyno.edu. University course descriptions can be viewed in the Course Catalog.
Academic Honor Code
Supersession of Previous Policies
This Academic Honor Code supersedes policies and procedures related to the Integrity of Scholarship and Plagiarism policies and procedures published in previous University Bulletins for all Graduate (non-Law) and Undergraduate students at Loyola University New Orleans. Law students are to consult the Honor Code published in the Law Bulletin.
Navigation:
- Academic Honor Pledge
- Academic Honor Code
- Processing an Alleged Violation
- Potential Consequences
- Appeals Procedures
- Recordkeeping and Confidentiality
Academic Honor Pledge
In accordance with the Academic Honor Code of Loyola University New Orleans, I pledge I will not cheat, lie, falsify, plagiarize, or participate in any form of unauthorized collaboration, misuse or misrepresentation of my academic work or the academic work of others in any manner. I will be honest in all academic endeavors and conduct myself in a manner that protects and promotes the intellectual and ethical integrity of myself, others, and the University.
All students, whether enrolled in on-campus or online programs, must acknowledge and agree to be bound by the Academic Honor Code. Each student is required to do so upon their first log-in to LORA, and cannot register for courses or access their account prior to this agreement.
Academic Honor Code
The Academic Honor Code of Loyola University New Orleans represents the University community’s commitment to the highest intellectual and ethical standards of honesty, integrity, fairness and justice.
Scope and Applicability
The Code shall apply to academic conduct of each student from the time of application for admission through the actual awarding of a degree, even though academic conduct may occur before classes begin or after classes end, as well as during the academic year and during periods between terms of actual enrollment, and even if the academic conduct is not discovered until after a degree is awarded. The Code shall also apply to a student's academic conduct even if the student withdraws from school while a disciplinary matter is pending.
The Code governs all academic activities, including coursework, research, creative work, internships, field placements, and examinations.
The Code also applies to conduct occurring off-campus or online if it is related to academic requirements or representations of the University.
The College of Law maintains its own Honor Code and is exempt from this policy.
Guiding Principles
Academic integrity is the foundation of scholarly life and a reflection of Loyola's Jesuit values: cura personalis, honesty, fairness, and moral courage.
Students and faculty share responsibility for upholding integrity in all aspects of academic life. All alleged violations are investigated using the standard of preponderance of the evidence--meaning that, based on the evidence, it is more likely than not that a violation occurred.
Definitions of Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct encompasses any act or attempt to gain an unfair academic advantage or to misrepresent academic work. The following definitions, thought not echuastive, provide guidance. Violations of the Academic Honor Code include but are not limited to cheating, lying, false citations, falsified data, falsification of academic records, plagiarism, participation in any form of unauthorized collaboration, misuse or misrepresentation of academic work or the academic work of others in any manner, misuse of electronic material, and violation of intellectual property laws.
A student in doubt about whether a particular course of conduct violates the University’s Academic Honor Code should consult with the course instructor before engaging in that conduct.
Cheating
Cheating is the fraudulent or dishonest presentation of work. Cheating includes but is not limited to:
- using or attempting to use unauthorized materials in any academic coursework
- copying, falsifying, destroying, or altering another student's work
- submitting the same written work in more than one course without prior written approval from the instructors involved
- dishonestly requesting to make up exams or extend deadlines for submitting coursework
- plagiarizing in any form, including using AI (artificial intelligence) without citation
- sharing your Learning Management System (LMS) login and credentials with anyone else to allow access to unauthorized users to commit a violation of the Academic Honor Code
False Citations
False citation is the attribution of intellectual property to an incorrect or fabricated source.
Falsified Data
False data are data that have been fabricated, altered, suppressed, manipulated, or contrived in such a way as to be deliberately misleading.
Falsification of Academic Records
Falsification of Academic Records is any attempt to forge or alter academic documentation, including, but is not limited to, transcripts, letters of recommendation, certificates of enrollment or good standing, registration forms, and medical certification of absence.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking material that is not one’s own and representing it as one's own. The material in question can include (but is not limited to) unacknowledged words, sentences, paraphrases, data, images, videos, sounds, music, ideas, calculations, translations, and solutions to problem sets. This material can be written by another person, a group of persons, or even a computer or website. As the Modern Language Association (MLA) website describes plagiarism “It is thus a kind of fraud: deceiving others to gain something of value. While plagiarism only sometimes has legal repercussions (e.g., when it involves copyright infringement—violating an author’s exclusive legal right to publication), it is always a serious moral and ethical offense."
Unauthorized Collaborations
Unauthorized collaborating is completing coursework with other(s) without prior approval. Students are expected to consult with their instructor prior to engaging in cooperative activities.
Misuse of Electronic Materials and Violations of Academic Property Laws
Access and use of licensed electronic materials are governed by agreements between the University and publishers or sellers of the services. Students must comply with the prohibitions stated below.
- selling or public posting of material from these services
- sharing your login with anyone else or allowing access to unauthorized users
- giving away or transferring information from these services to anyone not affiliated with Loyola University New Orleans
- systematic, large-scale downloading of information, including entire issues of electronic journals or entire electronic books
- misuse of a virtual conference meeting and disruptions to an online classroom
- sharing of video conference meeting links without the permission of the instructor
Other breaches of the Academic Honor Code include:
- the misrepresentation of material facts or circumstances in relation to examinations, papers, or other evaluative activities
- the unauthorized use of University academic facilities or equipment, including computer accounts and files
- the unauthorized recording, sale, purchase, or use of academic lectures, academic computer software, or other course materials
- the unauthorized use of AI (artificial intelligence) without instructor approval
- the violation of Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies and procedures
- attending a course that you are not enrolled in without permission of the instructor
Processing an Alleged Violation
The instructors of record for a course evaluate and investigate student work for potential violations of the Student Academic Honor Code. When a potential violation has been identified, they are responsible for:
- Collecting and maintaining relevant documentation and evidence of the violation
- Issuing a sanction (Potential sanctions defined below)
- Notifying the student of the alleged violation in writing, sharing with them the evidence, allowing the student an opportunity to respond, determining a sanction, and option to request a hearing with the Associate Dean of the instructor's college
Graduate Programs
Additional steps, clearly outlined in program policies and procedures materials, may be added to the Academic Honor Code Procedures by individual graduate programs.
Review and Hearing Procedures
Instructors and students are encouraged, whenever possible, to resolve instances of potential honor code violation in accordance with stated course and university policies and in alignment with the learning objectives of the course. Where there is disagreement between the two or a severe or complicated incident, the student or instructor may refer the case to the instructor's Associate Dean for review and potentially a hearing.
During summer terms, as applicable, a review or hearing date may not be possible until the subsequent fall semester. Until the appeal is determined, the student’s academic standing, related rights and privileges, and the grade prior to the violation occurred will be upheld.
Submitting Incidents for Review
- Suspected or contested violations may be reported to the Associate Dean of the instructor's college within 10 business days of the notice of the allegation to the student.
- Reports should include documentation or a summary of evidence as well as any relevant course specific policies stated in the course syllabus.
- Students contesting a suspected violation should include a refutation of the reported evidence.
Preliminary Review
- The Associate Dean conducts an initial review to determine if the allegations fall under the Honor Code or if the refutation addresses the charges.
- If the report does not address behaviors under the Honor Code or the refutation does not address the charge, it may be dismissed with written notice to the reporter and student.
- The Associate Dean will consider the severity of the alleged violation as well as any previous violations or alleged violations by the student and may impose further sanctions (Potential sanctions defined below).
- The Associate Dean may direct a report to other university procedures as appropriate.
Notice and Response
- The student receives written notification of the alleged violation, a description of evidence, and the right to respond.
- The Associate Dean collects and keeps copies of all evidence related to violations of the Academic Honor Code and is responsible for recording and monitoring violations.
- A student may request a meeting with the Associate Dean to discuss the notice and related procedures.
- The student may accept responsibility or request a hearing.
Hearing
After a review by the Associate Dean, a student may request a hearing.
- Hearings are conducted in a timely and impartial manner.
- Both the student, the reporting party, and other relevant parties may present relevant statements, witnesses, or evidence. The Associate Dean will determine what proposed evidence is relevant. These are not legal proceedings, therefore, formal rulings of evidence do not apply. Lie detector tests are not admissible in these hearings.
- Hearings may be conducted in person or virtually.
- A student charged with an Honor Code violation may be accompanied at the hearing by one advisor of the student's choosing. The advisor must be a current Loyola University New Orleans faculty or staff member and may not be an individual who has an attorney-client relationship with the student regarding the matter under review.
The advisor's role is limited to providing the student with support and guidance regarding the University's administrative process and serving as a source of personal or moral support. The advisor does not serve as the student's representative or advocate in the proceeding.
The student is responsible for presenting their own information, responding to questions, and otherwise participating in the hearing. The advisor may not address the hearing panel or hearing officer, question witnesses or other participants, present evidence or arguments on the student's behalf, object to questions or procedures, or otherwise participate directly in the proceeding.
An advisor who does not comply with these limitations may be asked to leave the hearing. - External representation and advisors are not permitted, including parents and legal advisors.
- The Associate Dean appoints a Hearing Board composed of the Associate Dean or the Dean's designated representative as non-voting chair, two faculty members and one student.
- The student and instructor are to be informed of the composition of the Hearing Board, and the Associate Dean should honor any reasonable objection either might have to appointed members.
- The Hearing Board will determine responsibility using the preponderance of the evidence standard.
- The Associate Dean shall maintain a recording of the proceedings, but not the deliberations. This recording may be used in appeal proceedings (see below). No other recordings of any sort are allowed.
- Deliberations will be conducted without the presence of the charged students, their advisor, the complainant, or witnesses and will be led by the appointed Committee. The outcomes will be determined by the voting majority of the Hearing Board. No Hearing Board member may abstain.
Online Programs
Alternative processes, clearly outlined in online program policies and procedures materials, may be added to the Appeals Procedures by individual online programs (undergraduate or graduate) to accommodate the difficulty of face-to-face meetings on Loyola's campus.
Potential Consequences of Violations of the Academic Honor Code
If a student is found responsible for violation of the Honor Code, the sanctions applied may include, but are not limited to the following:
Email of Warning: The instructor of the course or the Associate Dean of the college in which the violation occurred may send an email of censure. The email will clearly articulate the violation of which the student has been found responsible, reiterate the University’s Academic Honor Code, and clearly spell out possible consequences if the student violates the Academic Honor Code in the future. Associate Deans will collect and keep copies of all supporting documentation regarding the case.
Developmental Assignment: A student may be assigned an academic or developmental project, which may require the completion of projects, programs, or other such requirements designed for student developmental purposes. Examples include online workshops for citation, TEDx/podcast with reflection essay, and in-person consultation.
Failing Grade for Assignment: A permanent failing grade may be assigned for the offending course work. The instructor of the course or the Associate Dean of the college in which the violation occurred may issue this sanction. A failing grade of an assignment is typically the sanction for a student's first violation of the Academic Honor Code.
Failing Grade for Course: A permanent failing grade may be assigned for the course. To issue this sanction, the instructor of the course requires approval from the Associate Dean of the college in which the violation occurred. A failing grade for the course is typically the sanction for a student's second violation of the Academic Honor Code.
Academic Suspension: Academic suspension is an appropriate sanction for students found responsible in particularly egregious cases or students who have previously been found responsible for violations of the Academic Honor Code. Academic suspension is typically the sanction for a student's third violation of the Academic Honor Code.
The Associate Dean of the college in which the accused student is enrolled submits the recommendation of academic suspension to the Dean of the student’s College for review. If the Dean concurs with the recommendation, notification of the length of the academic suspension must be sent to the Office of the Registrar. A notation “Academic Suspension” will be placed on the student’s official transcript. The decision to suspend a student for violating the Academic Honor Code will be made in consultation with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Honor Code Academic Dismissal from the University: Dismissal from the University is the most severe recommendation that can be made and is reserved for the most egregious acts of academic dishonesty. Students found responsible for repeatedly violating the University’s policy regarding academic integrity, especially if they have already been suspended from the University, should be considered for permanent dismissal. The Associate Dean of the college in which the accused student is enrolled submits the recommendation to the Dean of the student’s College so that a decision may be rendered. The decision to permanently dismiss a student from the University will be made by the Dean in consultation with the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. The notation “Honor Code Academic Dismissal” will be placed on the student’s official transcript. An Academic Dismissal from the University is typically the sanction for a student's fourth violation of the Academic Honor Code.
Appeal Procedures
Right to an Appeal
A student found responsible for a violation may appeal the findings of the hearing within ten (10) business days of notification of the outcome on the following grounds:
- Procedural error: Procedural error is defined as material deviation from procedures that substantially impacted determinations of responsibility or sanctions applied.
- New or previously unavailable evidence: New evidence is defined as new and substantial evidence that has appeared that could not reasonably have been discovered before the determination of responsibility was made, and that could have substantially impacted determinations of responsibility.
- Sanctions disproportionate to the violation: Disproportionate sanctions are where sanctions are grossly disproportionate to the findings of responsibility.
Review Process
- Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the college where the alleged violation took place during the designated time period. Appeals that do not specifically identify a ground for appeal will not be heard.
- The Dean appoints an appeals officer who reviews all materials.
- Based on the Appeals Officer's review, the Dean may affirm, modify, or overturn the decision.
Final Decision
The Appeals Officer's decision is reviewed by the Dean or designee. The Dean or designee's decision is final and concludes the University process.
Recordkeeping and Confidentiality
The Dean's Offices maintain records of all reported violations and resolutions.
Confidentiality is required at every stage, consistent with FERPA regulations. Records are used solely for academic integrity enforcement and institutional reporting.
The Academic Honesty and Plagiarism page of the University Bulletin was updated on October 2, 2026, to reflect current university processes and procedures.