The UT Austin honor code: the pledge, what counts as cheating, and the penalties
Penalties UT lists for academic misconduct
Student Conduct or the Dean of Students can impose any of the course-level penalties, and any university penalty too.
- Academic integrity probation · A set period with conditions. Another violation could mean suspension or expulsionCourse level
- No or reduced credit · On the assignment or exam in questionCourse level
- Retake or resubmit · The exam or assignmentCourse level
- Failing or reduced final grade · In the course. You also can’t withdraw from it or switch it to pass/failCourse level
- Written warning · Notice that further violations may bring more severe actionUniversity level
- Disciplinary probation · A set period with conditions; further violations lead to consideration of suspensionUniversity level
- Educational sanction or restorative practice · Counseling, seminars, assignments, or a conference to repair harmUniversity level
- Bar against readmission or enrollment · Can also drop you from classes or withdraw you. May be temporary or permanentUniversity level
- Suspension · A set period away from campus and with no credit for work done. It’s noted on your transcriptUniversity level
- Expulsion · Permanent separation from UT, noted permanently on your transcriptUniversity level
- Degree rescission · UT can take back a conferred degree if misconduct affected whether you met its requirementsUniversity level
How a case moves
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, part of Texas Student Experience, runs it.
- Referral · A professor or another office reports it. You get a letter with the allegation and a meeting timeStep 1
- Meeting · You respond, review the evidence, and can bring an advisorStep 2
- Resolution · If the evidence suggests a violation, you get a written dispositionStep 3
What does the full UT Honor Code say?The affirmation plus two elaboration lines.
After the affirmation, UT adds an elaboration: “I pledge to be honest about what I create and to acknowledge what I use that belongs to others.” and “I pledge to value the process of learning in addition to the outcome, while celebrating and learning from mistakes.”
UT closes it with “This code encompasses all of the academic and scholarly endeavors of the University community.” The Honor Code sits next to the Code of Conduct, whose core values are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility.
What counts as academic misconduct?Ten kinds, from copying to collusion.
UT’s rules list copying, failing to comply with instructions, unauthorized materials, unauthorized aid or assistance, substitution, falsification or fabrication, plagiarism, collusion, failing to follow course requirements, and other conduct that gets an unfair academic advantage.
Plagiarism includes passing off another’s material as yours, misciting a source for an advantage, and submitting essentially the same work twice without your professor’s permission. Assume work is individual unless your professor says otherwise.
Avoiding academic misconduct Chapter 11 of the Institutional Rules
What happens if my professor reports me?Student Conduct investigates and you get a say.
A professor or Student Conduct can start a case. Student Conduct and Academic Integrity investigates, lets you respond, and decides on the preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not. If it finds no violation, you get a No Finding Letter.
While the case is open you can’t withdraw from that class, and UT can withhold your transcript, grade, diploma, or degree. Keep emails, chats, and documents that could show the suspicion is wrong.
Can I contest the finding or the penalty?Yes: accept, appeal the penalty, or ask for a hearing.
A written disposition gives three options: accept the finding and penalties, accept the finding but appeal only the penalties, or decline to sign and request a hearing if your case is eligible.
You can ask for a hearing when the proposed penalty includes reduced or no credit, a reduced or failing course grade, a bar, suspension, or expulsion. Otherwise you can contest the finding in writing to an appellate officer.
Who do I ask about a conduct or integrity question?Student Conduct and Academic Integrity.
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity is in Texas Student Experience at 2304 Whitis Ave. The office email is [email protected]. Before your first meeting you can ask to talk with the Student Ombuds for a brief overview of the process.
For help before it gets that far, UT points to Sanger Learning Center, the University Writing Center, and the UT Libraries’ Avoiding Plagiarism tutorial, all free.
SourcesTexas Student Experience and UT’s Institutional Rules, Chapter 11
Checked November 12, 2026. The Honor Code text and process steps come from Texas Student Experience. Misconduct types and penalties come from Chapter 11 of the Institutional Rules.