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What is the definition of cheating? Can you only get in trouble for cheating during college exams?

Cheating includes a variety of acts that are considered academically dishonest. During an examination this can include receiving the answers or test information from other students prior to the exam, or, during the exam, using notes, communicating information or receiving answers through electronic devices, or blatantly looking at another student’s test.

Cheating does not just apply to examinations, it also applies to any homework, essays, take home exams, or other academic exercises where work is copied or answers are arrived at in a dishonest manner.

Improper use of one’s own work can also be considered cheating; submitting work for a course that includes work done for previous courses or projects as though the work in question were newly done for the present assignment.

As you can see, the definition of cheating is very broad. If you find yourself accused of cheating on an assignment or test and called for a disciplinary hearing, contact a student defense attorney as what constitutes cheating is often up to the interpretation of individual teachers or departments within your university.

What is the definition of improper collaboration or inappropriate collaboration?

Improper collaboration is sharing with or receiving information from another person in regards to an academic assignment or examination that you are assumed to be working on alone for an individual mark; many schools consider this academic fraud. To avoid this issue, unless you are specifically assigned to collaborate with a group or partner, assume all academic assignments to be done individually.

Under what circumstances does a student need an attorney if they’ve been accused of cheating? How can an attorney help them?

Due to the fact that intent to cheat or misunderstanding of a school’s code of conduct is often not irrelevant to whether disciplinary charges are brought against a college student a student should contact a defense attorney experienced in handling student disciplinary hearings to ensure that a student understands the offense and that the student’s rights are protected in a university disciplinary hearing.

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