Academic Integrity

Background

The Department of Computer Science expects that all student adhere to the policy regarding academic integrity as stipulated by the Office of Student Conduct. All Computer Science Majors learn at the start of each course what constitutes an infraction of the academic integrity policy of a given course. The department takes academic integrity very seriously and expects that all undergraduate students participating in an undergraduate course take it very seriously as well. Please refer to the Office of Student Conduct Website for further information about Academic Integrity. As a courtesy, we have provided the Computer Science Department Academic Integrity Information policy in its totality below.

Computer Science Department Academic Integrity Information

The CS Department takes academic integrity seriously. We expect all students to abide by the rules and regulations specified in the class syllabi and defined by the University of Maryland. Below we provide some information on how the CS Department views and handle academic integrity matters.

What Constitute Academic Integrity Violations

For every CS course make sure you read the syllabus and understand what is permissible and what represents an academic integrity violation. The following are examples of academic integrity violations that apply to all our courses.

Hardcoding of results in a project assignment. Hardcoding refers to attempting to make a program appear as if it works correctly (e.g., printing expected results for a test).
Using any code available on the internet/web or any source without the approval of the course instructor. This is one of the most common violations we see, where students use code posted by another students in systems like github, pastebin, etc.
Hiring any online service to complete an assignment for you or using online forums not approved by the course instructor in order to ask for assistance.
Sharing your code with classmates (sharing code includes sharing tests).
Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Bing AI, etc.) for the completion of class work.

Why Academic Integrity Violations Take Place

The following are situations that lead to academic integrity violations.

Students have not read the class syllabus and are not aware of what constitute an academic integrity violation. Notice that it is your responsibility to read the syllabus. Claiming you were not aware of what was allowed for a course does not represent a valid excuse.
Students procastinate and in desperation decide to find code online or from other students.
Students feel pressured by friends, roommates, or classmates to share their code. Any friend that pressures you to share your code is not your friend.
Students think that due to the large number of students in a course, it is not possible for them to be caught.
Notice that once you provide your code to another student, you are a facilitator, even if you indicate to the student "not to copy-paste" any of it. Actually we had a case in which a student CS degree was revoked for this reason.

CS Department Takes Academic Integrity Seriously

The CS Department takes academic integrity seriously. By using software tools we compare a student's programming assignment submission against all other submissions in the course and across several semesters. Examination material (e.g., quizzes, tests) is photocopied in case modification of graded material takes place.

Some students believe we do not perform integrity checks on submitted projects, but this is not correct. Also some students think that by slightly modifying their code (e.g., changing variable names or indentation) two submissions will be considered different. This is not correct as software tools can look beyond those trivial differences.

Notice there are several tools/resources the CS Department relies on (beyond the ones described above) in order to guarantee academic integrity violations have not taken place.

Consequences

The Office of Student Conduct is responsible for handling academic integrity matters. After a report is submitted by an instructor, the case is evaluated by the office and it could result in an XF grade, degree revocation, or dismissal from the university.

Probably one of the most negative consequences of academic integrity violations is the emotional burden an academic integrity case has on a student. We have seen students extremely distraught and in pain as a result of a bad decision regarding a class assignment. In many cases students chances for recommendations, TA positions or other opportunities, are negatively affected.

Resources

If you have any questions or concerns regarding integrity matters, contact your instructor or the CS Undergraduate Office. The University provides several resources regarding academic integrity matters. Some of those resources are:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone else see access my academic records? What is FERPA?

Answer:

FERPA is a federal student privacy law. In order to ensure your privacy and security, please always use your email of record to contact us and include your UID and full name in email communications. Further questions about this policy may be directed to your assigned advisor.

Can I request to take three 3-credit CMSC 300/400 level courses next semester?

Answer:

Yes. Toward the end of each semester, a request form will be made available here. Permissions will be granted on or around the last day of classes. All students will receive a response regarding their request. Please note: permission does not guarantee seat availability in the course.

Can I take a course if I do not meet the Prerequisites and/or Corequisites?

Answer:

Students should review the schedule of classes on Testudo for the pre/corequisites for each course. If you register for a course for which you are not eligible, you are at risk of being administratively dropped from the course.

Can I take more than one 1-credit CMSC course each term?

Answer:

You may request a second CMSC 1-credit course on the first day of classes. Please email your assigned advisor directly to request permission for the course.

Can I take my major courses (CMSC and/or MATH) at another institution?

Answer:

Computer Science students cannot take MATH or CMSC courses required for their major at another institution. The Department of Computer Science and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) will consider exceptions to policy ONLY in rare and extenuating circumstances. Full documentation is required to show extenuating circumstances. If you would like to request an exception to policy to take a CMSC or MATH course at another institution, please review the instructions below. Note that you should obtain approval from both the CS Department and the College by submitting the appropriate forms before registering for a CMSC or MATH course at another institution.

Check the Transfer Credit Services database to find a CMSC or MATH course at another institution that is transferable to UMD. Be sure to review all notes related to the course, such as start or end dates.
Contact your assigned advisor to obtain a Computer Science Department Exception to Policy Request form. Complete the form and include documentation to show extenuating circumstances. Once completed, submit the form to your assigned CS advisor. You will receive a response within 7-10 business days.
After you obtain approval from the CS Department, please fill out the College's Permission to Enroll form.
After you obtain approval from the College, complete the registration process for the non-UMD institution. Once you have completed the course, you are responsible for submitting all final official transcripts from the other institution. Transfer courses will post to a students' UMD record only from official transcripts received from the institution at which the credit was earned. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of the Registrar. More detailed information can be found here.

Does the CS department off any scholarships?

Answer:

Yes! Due to the kindness of our generous donors, the Computer Science Department is able to offer scholarships to current undergraduate students who have completed at least one academic semester within the major. These scholarships are awarded to recognize academic excellence in the field of computer science. You can find more information about our scholarships and deadlines here.

How many CMSC classes can I take per semester?

Answer:

CS students can take up to eleven (11) credits per semester. This usually equates to three 3-credit CMSC courses and two 1-credit CMSC courses. Students must wait until the end of the current semester to request their third 3-credit CS course, and students must wait until the start of the next semester to request their second 1-credit CS course.

How many CMSC courses can I take in a semester?

Answer:

During your mandatory advising session, you may be granted up to two 3-credit CMSC course and one 1-credit CMSC course permissions. In addition to these course permissions, students may request permission for a third 3-credit CMSC course after all students have registered. Students may request a course permission via a form which will be made available around the last week of classes.

Starting on the first day of classes, students may request permission for a second 1-credit STICs course.
Students should make sure that they have satisfied the prerequisite(s) for their course(s) request.

What are Drop-In Hours?

Answer:

Drop-in hours are available for all declared CS majors and minors. These hours are available for brief questions and concerns and are typically no longer than 10 minutes. Students may also email their assigned advisor directly to schedule appointments outside of mandatory advising sessions.
Students will see the advisor on-duty who may or may not be their assigned advisor. Drop-in hours can be found on the calendar here.
Please note: a drop-in session does not take the place of a mandatory advising session.

What if I want to change my CMSC course permissions after my mandatory advising session?

Answer:

Please fill out the permission request form that was sent to you by your assigned academic advisor. There is an option to request a permission swap and indicate which permission(s) you no longer want and the permission(s) you are hoping to gain.

What is the Upper Level Concentration (ULC) requirement?

Answer:

The Upper Level Concentration (ULC) requirement is 12 credits at the 300/400 level all in one discipline that is outside of your major courses. Students must earn an overall GPA of C- (or 1.7) or higher.

Computer Engineering, Information Sciences, and any courses that are crosslisted with CMSC cannot be used to fullfill the ULC requirement (e.g., CMSC/MATH456). If a course is CS related, it may not fulfill the ULC requirement. Students are encouraged to review their proposed courses in advance with their assigned advisor.

Why do my CMSC course permissions have expiration dates?

Answer:

Your assigned advisor will set an expiration date on your permission stamp on or around the last day of classes. If you need to make a CMSC course or section change after that date, email your advisor with your request. Students are encouraged to check Testudo for course availability and prerequisites before emailing their assigned advisor.

The CS Department conducts prerequisite checks at the end of each semester to ensure that students meet all necessary prerequisites and corequisites. This check occurs after the expiration date to ensure that all students are enrolled in appropriate courses.

Starting in Fall 2019, lower level CMSC courses do not have expiration dates.