An Academic Integrity Ambassador is a designated faculty/ staff representative (typically in a USC school or college) who provides guidance to faculty within the school/ college about USC’s academic integrity standards and the procedures utilized by the university to respond to alleged academic integrity violations.

The Office of Academic Integrity will review the report you submitted and either follow-up with you for additional information or assign the report to a staff member for review. You will be included in the initial outreach to the student(s), but you do not need to respond or attend the initial meeting.

Staff will schedule a meeting with the student(s) involved to determine if a violation occurred and, if so, assign the appropriate educational interventions and university outcomes.

Grade outcomes are determined and assigned by the instructor of record.

Yes. Instructors are encouraged to discuss the situation with their students if they feel comfortable doing so. Though students are provided general information about the alleged incident, it is common for students to express anxiety and uncertainty about the incident leading up to their meeting with OAI staff. By speaking with the student, you may be able to alleviate their concerns and gain insight into the matter. For language guidance via email, please refer to this page on our website.

While you may relay possible grade penalties, please do not speak about university outcomes such as suspension, as that will be determined by the Office of Academic Integrity.

Yes. You are encouraged to grade the assignment, however if the incident is pending at the conclusion of the semester, you should issue the student a grade of MG (Missing Grade) pending the incident’s resolution.

OAI staff will inform you of the result of their review and you will be asked to issue them a grade based on the determination of responsibility. A grade penalty related to academic misconduct may not be issued if there is insufficient information to find the student responsible for an alleged violation. If the assignment is otherwise worthy of a failing grade, a penalty can still be applied.

USC empowers and expects its faculty to respond to suspected acts of academic dishonesty that occur in their courses.

The Office of Academic Integrity supports a culture of integrity by holding students accountable for their actions. University outcomes range from Warning to Expulsion. Most incidents do not result in a separation from the university (e.g., suspension) or a permanent notation on the student’s transcript. Separation from the university is usually the result of repeated or egregious violations. Learn more about the process on the Process page of our website.

By not reporting, you risk allowing students to engage in repeated, unreported misconduct.

A Faculty-Student Resolution is considered an informal review process and available only when:

• The instructor determines that the violation is minor;
  • The violation was not premeditated
  • The violation did not involve final exams, final projects, or other assignments in lieu of a final exam
• Student accepts responsibility for the violation;
• Student agrees to the outcomes determined by the instructor; and
• Student has not previously been found responsible for an academic violation (either via FSR or formal review)

Generally speaking, an incident is not considered minor if the violation, on its own merit, would result in a failing grade in the course.

FSRs are not typically reported as part of a student’s disciplinary history to entities external to USC.

Alternatively, a formal review is conducted by OAI staff who invite students to discuss the incident and provide their perspective of the incident. This review may take place over the course of multiple meetings and may require consultation with the instructor or any other relevant parties.

No. Instructors seeking guidance regarding the FSR process are invited to consult with the Office of Academic Integrity and/or their school’s Academic Integrity Ambassador. Consultation is not, however, a required element of the process.

Yes, you can (and are encouraged to). 

Students accused of academic dishonesty are expected to continue participation in the course while OAI resolves the matter. 

Students may not withdraw from a course in which they have committed or have been accused of committing an academic integrity violation.

Students found to have withdrawn from a course in which an academic integrity violation is alleged and reported to the Office of Academic Integrity (either via the FSR or Administrative Review Process) will be re-enrolled in the course.

To assign a final grade to the student, please contact your Grade Coordinator to complete the DocuSign MG form. Once the form is completed, you will receive a notification for your e-signature. Your signed form will route to the Grades Department and the grade change will be processed.

Please reach out to OAI for guidance regarding your particular case.

You will be notified of the outcomes of the case to issue final grades after the conclusion of the review process including possible appeals. OAI is committed to transparency throughout the process. Feel free to reach out for updates about a specific case.

If you observe potential academic misconduct during an exam, allow the student to complete the assessment without interruption. Document what you observe and submit a report to the Office of Academic Integrity. General reminders—such as “Please keep eyes on your own work”—can be given at the start or during the exam. Avoid interrupting students or removing them from the exam room.

The review process is identical for all students. As a university, we have higher expectations for students who are further along in their matriculation, including graduate students. Graduate students are expected to have a deeper understanding and level of commitment to integrity when it comes to their academic work and the outcomes assigned may reflect this.

Please contact the Office of Academic Integrity

email: academicintegrity@usc.edu
phone: (213) 764-4163