The Campus Administrative Manual (CAM) (Section 684) states:

Cheating is defined as obtaining or attempting to obtain, or aiding another to obtain credit for work, or any improvement of evaluation of performance, by any dishonest or deceptive means. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: lying; copying from another’s test, unless such discussion is specifically authorized by the instructor; taking or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor, using or displaying notes, "cheat sheets," or other information devices inappropriate to the prescribed test conditions; and allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent same.

The penalty for cheating requires an "F" course grade and further attendance in the course of is prohibited. However, if a student appeals the charge of cheating, she/he shall be permitted to remain in the class through the appeals process. The instructor is obligated to place evidence of the cheating in writing before the Coordinator of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs with copies to the department head of the student’s major. Physical evidence, circumstantial evidence, and testimony of observers may be included. The should be notified in writing that, if he or she denies cheating, an appeal is possible through the Fairness Board once the department head of the course of records has been consulted regarding the appeal. Instructors should be confident that cheating has occurred; if there is any doubt, the student should be consulted and/or additional information sought prior to taking action for cheating. Student’s rights shall be ensured through attention to due process.

The Coordinator of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs shall determine if any disciplinary action is required in addition to the assignment of a failing grade. Possible disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to: required special counseling, special paper or research appointments, loss of student teaching or research appointments, loss of membership in organizations, suspension or dismissal from individual programs or from the university. The most severe of these possible actions shall be reserved for a grievous cheating offense or a repeated offense by an individual.

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons as if they were one’s own, without giving proper credit to the source. Such an act is not plagiarism if it is ascertained that the ideas were arrived at through independent reasoning or logic or where the thought or idea is common knowledge.

Acknowledgment of an original author or source must be made through appropriate references, i.e., quotation marks, footnotes, or commentary. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following: the submission of work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; failure to give credit for ideas, statements, facts or conclusions which rightfully belong to another; failure to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence, or even a part thereof; close and lengthy paraphrasing of another’s writing without credit or originality; use of another’s project or program or part thereof without giving credit.

Plagiarism may be considered a form of cheating and therefore subject to the same policy which requires notification of the Coordinator of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs and includes possible disciplinary action. However, as there may be a technical plagiarism which is the result of poor learning or poor attention to format, and may occur, without any intent to deceive, some instructor discretion is appropriate. Under such circumstances, notification of the Coordinator of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs is not required. An instructor may choose to counsel the student and offer a remedy (within her/his authority) which is less severe than that required for cheating, providing there is no obvious intent to deceive. However, an instructor may not penalize a student for plagiarism in any way without advising the student that a penalty has been imposed. If there is any doubt, the student should be consulted and/or additional information sought prior to taking action for plagiarism.

The Fairness Board is the primary campus group concerned with providing "due process" of academically related matters for the students and instructors at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in terms of student/faculty relationships.

Any student who feels aggrieved after requesting relief from both the instructor and the instructors’ department head, may initiate an appeal for redress by writing to the Chair of the Fairness Board. The Chair may consult with a student as to the relative merit of his/her case, but must accept all written complaints which are ultimately submitted. The student’s letter should contain all pertinent details of the situation, name of the course, section, instructor in terms of question, list any witnesses to be called, state redress sought, and include as attachment, all relevant documents, including items such as course grade determination, hand-outs, exams, papers, letters of support, etc.

The Fairness Board decides if the case has merit. The Chair of the Board then describes the evidence presented, the decision reached, and the action/actions recommended by the Board to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Based on its hearing, the Board may also suggest changes or clarification in educational and administrative policies and publications. Students should initiate any grade complaint within one quarter as instructors are obligated to retain evaluation instruments for only one quarter. However, the Board will accept grievances for two quarters after an evaluation. If special circumstances exist (i.e., instructor is on leave), the Board may choose to entertain grievances involving grade issues more than two quarters.

The Fairness Board is a committee of the Academic Senate. For the name of the Fairness Board Chair, office location and telephone number contact the Academic Senate Office, Bldg. 38, Room 143, 756-1258, or the Office of Campus Student Relations and Judicial Affairs, Administration Bldg., Room 217, 756-2794.

The campus is not a sanctuary immune from civil law and authority, and students may be prosecuted for violation of the law, whether an action occurs on the campus or off; however, University sanctions will be imposed only for those violations that interfere with University functions.

Student Disciplinary Procedures, effective on the California State University campuses, are described in Executive Order No. 628, pursuant to Section 41301 and 41302, Title 5, California Code of Regulations. The stated purpose of Executive Order No. 628 is to provide fair and just procedures to both students and the institution, but which determination can be made concerning whether or not violations of student conduct and conduct related regulations have occurred.

Violation of Sections 41301 and 41302 in Article 1.1, Subchapter 4, Chapter 1, Part V, Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations can result in disciplinary action on campus.

41301. Expulsion, suspension, and probation of students. Following procedures consonant with due process established pursuant to Section 41304, any student of a campus may be expelled, suspended, placed on probation or given a lesser sanction for one or more of the following causes with must be campus related;

1. Forgery, alteration or misuse of campus documents, records, or identification; or knowingly furnishing false information to a campus.