Academic Integrity

Learning to ethically use sources—and new tools like AI—can feel complicated. Our Writing Center consultants provide a supportive, judgment-free space to help you understand plagiarism, navigate citation, and integrate sources responsibly so you can write with confidence.

Cleveland State defines plagiarism as using someone else's words or ideas without clear, accurate acknowledgment, whether intentional or not. Plagiarism is one form of academic misconduct, which also includes cheating, fabrication, unauthorized collaboration, unattributed AI use, and more. Because academic dishonesty can carry serious consequences, it's worth taking the time to ask questions and get clarity early in the writing process.

If you're ever unsure about when attribution is needed—or how to use AI tools ethically—we can be a part of that conversation. For more information, read the CSU Student Code of Conduct or reach out to CSU’s Office of Community Standards and Compliance with questions about policies or what happens if a violation is reported.