Code of ethics and conduct and misconduct types  

Polimi has ethical expectations of all its community. The following behaviours are types of unacceptable conduct which is against the PoliMi Code of Ethics and Conduct.

• Plagiarism is the unattributed use of another person’s words, ideas, images, designs or other forms of knowledge.
• Collusion means that one or more students have worked together to complete assignment that was designed as an individual assessment task. This includes the sharing of past assignments.
• Outsourcing – is defined as: ‘...the act of a student obtaining their assignment (by request), whether or not for academic gain, from another party. This is applicable irrespective of the method, mode or purpose of the outsourcing and is relevant for assignments in any format.
• Exam cheating – this involves any behaviour where completing an exam has been done unfairly. This might include using unauthorised materials, whether through notes, materials or the use of technology. It also includes speaking with others and gaining information for the exam from any other person.
• Fabrication of material – this involves someone making up/creating material for unfair gain. This could be in relation to data which you say you have gathered, but haven’t, or in the submission of fake/fraudulent documents.

There are many ways in which the different types of cheating can be detected, by using technology and the knowledge of tutors. If you are caught for cheating you will be referred for a conversation with the Dean of your School and/or Ombuds Office. This preliminary phase cannot last more than 2 months from the report and is intended to allow a moment of comparison and discussion with the parties involved. The investigation can be closed without further subsequent phases of the procedure, or by giving rise to a formal report to the Rector. The Rector, after a second phase of preliminary investigation, can decide to dismiss the case or starts the disciplinary procedure according to the provisions of the specific regulations. In this latter case, the Student Disciplinary Board will investigate the matter. Different consequences can apply for students depending on the severity of the accusation and evidence of cheating. This can range from losing any marks for your assignments to being suspended from the University.