The College of Osteopathic Medicine Academic Conduct Standards¹ do not replace the University Student Honor Code (The Liberty Way), but rather supplements it for osteopathic medical students. Students are required to know and adhere to both the COMs Academic Conduct Standards and The Liberty Way. The Dean of LUCOM has established the following Academic Code of Conduct, which shall apply to all students enrolled in the COM.

All students are expected to manifest a commitment to academic integrity through rigid observance of standards for academic honesty. Students should avoid any impropriety, or the appearance thereof, in taking examinations or completing work in pursuance of their educational goals.

It is not possible to list all examples of expected academic behavior nor is it possible to list all inappropriate, unprofessional or unethical academic behavior. The following acts that constitute a violation of the Academic Conduct Standards include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating: intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise or performing work for another individual under false pretense. Students are expected to submit tests and assignments that they have completed without aid or assistance from other sources. Students must avoid any impropriety or the appearance of impropriety in taking examinations or completing work in pursuance of their educational goals.
• Fabrication: intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an administrative or academic exercise.
• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of this code. Allowing or giving of one's work to another to be copied, providing exam question or answers, releasing, or selling term or research papers is prohibited. Knowingly furnishing false information to the institution
• Plagiarism: the adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, or statements of another person as one's own without proper acknowledgment. Students are expected to perform and submit original work, giving proper credit if the thoughts or words of another author are included.
• Unauthorized aids: Using unauthorized aids of any kind to create coursework; without permission from the instructor. Unauthorized aids include, but are not limited to:
  • The coursework of others.
  • The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) aids, chatbots, or other equivalent forms of AI to create content for coursework.
  • The use of paraphrasing software to modify or alter materials the student did not create.
  • Any other aid that compromises the originality or authenticity of coursework.
• Bribery: giving or offering money and/or favors in order to influence the judgement of a faculty or staff member in an attempt to gain an academic advantage.
• Forgery: falsely making, copying or altering documents or credentials.
• Utilization of position or power by a student for personal benefit, to the detriment of another student, faculty member, or member of the staff or in a capricious or arbitrary manner
• Failure to register for classes in the course of study at LUCOM by the prescribed deadlines set by LUCOM and the University for registration and check-in deadlines
• Failure to not seek appropriate review and approval for changing, dropping, or adding clinical rotations with clinical sites and hospital/healthcare organizations
• Failure to progress through the course of study at LUCOM due to professionalism violations, student conduct violations, or combinations thereof
• Failure to respond professionally in an effective and timely manner to the written communication and recommendations of leadership

Students in violation will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or dismissal from the COM.

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5.1 Professionalism, 9.2 Academic Standards