Student Academic Integrity Policy

Outlier by Savvas is committed to excellence. Upon entering an Outlier course, every student must sign a pledge to not cheat or plagiarize. We expect students to hold themselves and other students to the highest standard of academic integrity. Please review the Code of Conduct, Academic Integrity Code, and Terms of Agreement before pledging below.

Code of Conduct

Outlier is dedicated to creating a safe and constructive learning community for all of its students.

Students are to be respectful in communication with other students, school staff, and Outlier representatives. Offensive language—or language that could be construed as offensive—should be avoided.

Outlier encourages students to learn collaboratively, but graded assessments such as quizzes, assignments, and exams may not be discussed or shared. 

Failure to act in accordance with Outlier’s Code of Conduct could result in disciplinary sanctions.

Academic Integrity Code

Outlier has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating. Learning resources and staff are available to prepare students for all graded assessments. Outlier wants to make sure students succeed! If at any time during the course, you feel you’re in need of support or are in danger of falling behind, your school staff and our dedicated Student Success team are standing by to help. Please reach out to us!

Students in Outlier courses are expected to comply with the University of Pittsburgh's Policy on Academic Integrity. Any student suspected of violating this obligation for any reason during the term will be required to participate in the procedural process initiated by Outlier or their school administration.

ASSESSMENT POLICIES

We’re proud to be offering an accessible, flexible, online option for students to earn college credit, but our approach only works if everyone participates in good faith. Here are the rules in place to make sure our assessments are fair for all involved:

• In-classroom learners’ exams are proctored by an approved member of school staff

• Remote learners’ exams use online proctoring software to detect cheating and ensure test integrity

• All exams use built-in safeguards to discourage academic dishonesty

• Misrepresentation of coursework or use of unapproved materials while taking graded assessments is considered academic dishonesty

• Collaboration on graded assessments including, but not limited to, quizzes, assignments, and exams is considered academic dishonesty

EXAMS

To maintain academic integrity during exams, students must follow the steps below.

In-Classroom Learners

• Provide clear identification to the proctor at the time of exams, if requested

• Take the exam as directed by the exam proctor at the time and location chosen by the proctor

• Remain visible to the proctor and communicate only with the proctor

• Ensure only allowed material is on your exam station

• Before taking the exam, close all applications and browser windows except for your exam 

• Have your test-taking device plugged into a power source 

Remote Learners

• Provide clear identification to the proctoring service at the time of exams

• Remain visible, stationary, and undisturbed by others in a clear workspace for the duration of exams

• Ensure only allowed material is on your exam station

• Before taking the exam, close all applications and browser windows except for your exam

• Have your test-taking device plugged into a power source and have their webcam, speakers, and microphone on and unobstructed for the duration of the exam

Restrictions for Both In-Classroom and Remote Learners

When taking exams, students must not:

• Use headphones, phones, or smart devices

• Use dual monitors

• Talk or look around the room

• Collaborate with other individuals

• Use unapproved materials, including:

• Search engines or digital assistants

• Headphones, phones, tablets, dual monitors, smartwatches, and other smart devices

• Assistive materials such as textbooks, pre-written notes, formula lists, etc.

• Have any windows or applications open on their computer other than the Outlier exam page and any approved tools

Accommodations

Students are expected to use only approved materials on their exams, unless determined otherwise by approved and documented accommodations. You are expected to work with your school administration regarding accommodation requests and may be asked to provide supporting documents, as relevant.

QUIZZES

Quizzes are assessments that are auto-graded by the Outlier platform when submitted. Students should not:

• Collaborate with other individuals until all students have completed all quiz attempts

• Use unapproved materials

• Have any windows or applications open on their computer other than the Outlier quiz page and any approved tools

CODING, WRITTEN, AND VERBAL ASSIGNMENTS

Plagiarism occurs when you use another’s words, ideas, assertions, data, or figures, and do not acknowledge that you have done so. It also includes acts of self-plagiarism, where students recycle or repurpose (either in entirety or partially) their own previously-submitted work for a new assignment or when retaking a course.

For coding assignments, it is expected that you write your own code. Copying another student’s code (either in entirety or partially) for your own assignment is considered plagiarism. Note that using artificial intelligence content generators for coding assignments is considered plagiarism.

For written and verbal assignments, we expect your original work. If you reference the words, ideas, or phrasing of another person or from published material, you must always acknowledge your sources by citing them. Note that using artificial intelligence content generators, when assignments do not explicitly call or allow for them, is considered plagiarism.

If plagiarism or breaches of academic integrity occur, penalties may include a failing grade, removal from the course, and a ban from taking future Outlier courses. 

Sanctions

Failure to act in accordance with Outlier’s Academic Integrity Code could result in disciplinary sanctions, which are designed with your success in mind. Sanctions that may be imposed by Outlier administration and/or your school administration include, but are not limited to:

• Reduced or failing grade

• Removal from the course 

• Notation of academic integrity penalty on the student’s official transcript

• A lifetime ban from enrollment with Outlier

• Any combination of the sanctions above

Disputing Sanctions

In the event that you wish to dispute an academic integrity sanction, your school’s administration will submit and manage any disputes on your behalf. You are expected to work with your school administration and may be asked to provide supporting documents, as relevant. 

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

By enrolling in an Outlier course, I agree that:

• I will follow Outlier’s Code of Conduct

• I will not share information about the content of graded assessments such as quizzes, assignments, or exams with others, nor will I use such information shared by others

• I will use my original work and will acknowledge the work of others by citing them

• I will complete all quizzes and exams independently

• I will not use artificial intelligence content generators to complete my graded assessments

• I will not communicate with others while completing graded assessments such as quizzes, assignments, or exams (with the exception of the exam proctor or Outlier Student Success in the case of technical issues)

• I will not use unauthorized materials or tools when completing graded assessments such as quizzes, assignments, or exams

• If I am an in-classroom learner, I will prepare for my exams as prescribed by Outlier, and I will take the exam as directed by the exam proctor at the time and location chosen by the proctor

• If I am a remote learner, I will prepare for my exams as prescribed by Outlier, and I will keep my webcam, speakers, and microphone on and unobstructed for the duration of my exams

I have read and understood the Outlier Code of Conduct, Outlier Academic Integrity Code, and the Terms of Agreement outlined above.

(GGU) ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

Outlier is committed to excellence. Upon entering a course on the Outlier platform, every student must sign a pledge to not cheat or plagiarize. We expect students to hold themselves and other students to the highest standard of academic integrity. Please review the Code of Conduct, Academic Integrity Code, and Terms of Agreement before pledging below:

Code of Conduct

Outlier is dedicated to creating a safe and constructive learning community.

Students are to be respectful in online forums, chat, and other channels.  Offensive language—or language that could be construed as offensive should be avoided. The academic discussion communities are intended for class discussion.

Outlier encourages students to learn collaboratively, but graded assessments such as quizzes, essays, capstones, or exams may not be discussed or shared.

Failure to act in accordance with Outlier’s Code of Conduct could result in disciplinary sanctions.

Academic Integrity Code

Outlier has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating, and learning resources and staff are available to prepare students for all graded assessments. Outlier wants to make sure students succeed! If at any time during the course, you feel you’re in need of support or are in danger of falling behind, your GGU instructors and our dedicated Student Success team are standing by to help. Please reach out to us!

Students in this course will be expected to agree to and comply with the Golden Gate University Academic Integrity Policy. Any student suspected of violating this obligation for any reason during the semester will be required to participate in the procedural process as outlined in the Golden Gate University Academic Integrity Policy.

Exam Rules

We’re proud to be pioneering a new, evidence-based approach to online college courses, but our approach only works if everyone participates in good faith. Here are the rules in place to make sure our exams are fair for all involved:

We use online proctoring software to detect cheating and ensure test integrity. Misrepresentation of coursework or use of unapproved materials while taking graded assessments is considered academic dishonesty.

STEPS FOR SUCCESS

To maintain academic integrity, test-takers must follow the steps below:

Provide clear identification to the proctoring service at the time of exams.

When taking exams, students must remain visible, stationary, and undisturbed by others in a clear workspace for the duration of exams.

Test takers must have their test-taking device plugged into a power source and have their webcam, speakers, and microphone on and unobstructed for the duration of the exam.

WHEN TAKING EXAMS, TEST-TAKERS MUST NOT:

• Use headphones, phones, or smart devices

• Use dual monitors

• Talk or look around the room

Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when you use another’s words, ideas, assertions, data, or figures, and do not acknowledge that you have done so. It also includes acts of self-plagiarism, where students recycle or repurpose (either in entirety or partially) their own previously-submitted work for a new assignment or when retaking a course.

For our writing assignments, we expect your original work. If you reference the words, ideas, or phrasing of another person or from published material, you must always acknowledge your sources by citing them. Note that using AI content generators when assignments do not explicitly call or allow for them is considered plagiarism.

If plagiarism or breaches of academic integrity occur, penalties may include participation in the procedural process as outlined in the Golden Gate University Academic Integrity Policy, a failing grade, removal from the course, and a ban from taking future Outlier courses. Refunds will not be provided.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

By enrolling in an Outlier course, I agree that:

• I will not share information about the content of graded assessments or exams with others, nor will I use such information shared by others.

• I will use my original work and will acknowledge the work of others by citing them.

• I will complete all graded assessments and exams independently.

• I will not communicate with others while completing graded assessments or exams (with the exception of my instructor, Outlier Student Success staff, or the proctoring service in the case of remote proctoring issues).

• I will not use unauthorized materials or tools when completing graded assessments or exams. Examples of unauthorized materials and tools while taking an assessment or exams include:

• Search engines or digital assistants

• Headphones, phones, tablets, dual monitors, smartwatches, and other smart devices

• Assistive materials such as textbooks, pre-written notes, formula lists, etc.

• I will keep my webcam, speakers, and microphone on and unobstructed for the duration of my exams.

• I will prepare for my exams as prescribed by my instructors and follow the requirements for completing remote assessments or exams:

• Provide a clear view of your ID at the beginning of the exam

• Be fully visible within the webcam frame for the duration of the exam

• Be alone and stay put (ensure no one will be entering the room)

• Have a clear desk and workspace (only a calculator and/or one sheet of blank paper is allowed)

• Be connected to a power source for the duration of the exam

I have read and understood the Outlier Code of Conduct, Outlier Academic Integrity Code, and the Terms of Agreement outlined above.