Ethics
Read about ethics at Hopkins in detail in the Undergraduate Ethics Guide.
Why is ethics important at JHU?
An ethical campus fosters a positive sense of community and trust, while unethical actions and attitudes breed suspicion, cynicism, and negativity. Johns Hopkins University strives to be a community where honesty and respect are valued and upheld, and, in which, all members of the community uphold the highest degree of ethical conduct.
Academic ethics is the responsibility of every student, faculty member, and staff person at Johns Hopkins University. You must take the time to learn about what is ethical and what is not - ignorance of ethical rules is not an excuse for cheating. If you see a violation take place, it is your responsibility to report it.
What is ethical academic behavior? What is unethical?
Every class you take at Hopkins should address ethics, and some activities that are allowed in one class may not be allowed in another class. If you are not sure if an action is ethical for a particular class (such as working in a group on homework), read the syllabus carefully and ask your professor.
Examples of Academic Misconduct:
- Cheating
- Plagiarism
- Reusing Assignments
- Improper Use of the Internet
- Improper Use of Electronic Devices
- Unauthorized Collaboration
- Alteration of Graded Assignments
- Forgery and Falsification
- Lying
- Facilitating Academic Dishonesty
- Unfair Competition
What you should do if you see an ethics violation take place:
Ethics procedures can be found on page 9 of the Undergraduate Ethics Guide.
If you're a student:
- Report the violation to your professor.
- You may consult beforehand with Dean Sheppard or the chair of the Ethics Board.
If you're a faculty member:
- Talk with the student (if you feel comfortable doing so) and decide whether or not you believe a violation occurred.
- Contact Dorothy Sheppard, the Associate Dean of Students at (410) 516-8208.
- EVERY SUSPECTED VIOLATION MUST BE REPORTED TO DEAN SHEPPARD.
Still have questions? Contact: The Ethics Board