University of Wisconsin-Madison Plagiarism and AI Policy
Last verified October 24, 2026 · AI-assisted research and drafting · Maintained by Plagiarism Checker Online, operated by Markus Nick
The short answer: According to the published guidance checked October 24, 2026: UW-Madison's teaching center encourages instructors to communicate AI expectations early and throughout the semester. Its possible syllabus approaches include allowing AI with documentation and citation, allowing it only in specified circumstances, or prohibiting it unless the instructor specifies otherwise. These are models, not one policy granting every student permission.
Key facts, with sources
| Topic | What the school publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School | Public, four-year institution in Madison, WI | Source |
| Official policy | Academic integrity policy | Source |
| Plagiarism definition | Info-112 includes claiming another person's work or effort without authorization or citation. Its examples also cover unauthorized materials, fabricated data, falsified records and assisting others in such acts. | Source |
| Generative AI | Instructor decides. UW-Madison's teaching center encourages instructors to communicate AI expectations early and throughout the semester. Its possible syllabus approaches include allowing AI with documentation and citation, allowing it only in specified circumstances, or prohibiting it unless the instructor specifies otherwise. These are models, not one policy granting every student permission. Instructor syllabus statements. | Source |
| Sanctions | Published options, not a mandatory sequence or an individual outcome; see the linked policy. | Source |
| Reporting office | Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards Info-112 identifies this responsible office; its sanctions page publishes conduct@studentaffairs.wisc.edu and608-263-5701. No representation or outcome guarantee implied. | Source |
| Academic evidence standards | For academic sanctions, the page describes a preponderance standard for Groups A and B and probation. Suspension or expulsion requires clear and convincing proof. It says Group C sanctions are considered for egregious acts, second undergraduate offenses and first graduate/professional offenses; considered does not mean automatically imposed. | Source |
| Summary scope | Independent AI-assisted summary of UW-Madison Info-112, the academic section of the conduct office sanctions page and teaching-center syllabus models, not affiliated with UW-Madison. Sample instructor statements and nonacademic rules are not universal academic policy; no generic appeal deadline inferred. | Source |
Published outcomes and review levels
These are the published options or review limits below, not a predicted outcome or an automatic sequence. Follow the linked policy for the applicable process.
- Group A. Instructor-determined options include oral or written reprimands and repeating work.
- Group B. Instructor-determined options include work or course grade consequences, removal from the course and a written reprimand. A misconduct course-failure sanction cannot be avoided by dropping the course.
- Group C. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards determines probation, suspension or expulsion. The page distinguishes the evidentiary standard for probation from suspension or expulsion. The groups are not a compulsory warning-first sequence.
What students at University of Wisconsin-Madison should know
UW-Madison's teaching center provides several possible AI syllabus approaches rather than a single permission rule for every course. An instructor may allow AI with documentation and citation, limit it to specified circumstances, or prohibit it unless an exception is stated. The page also includes individual instructor examples, which should not be mistaken for campus-wide requirements. Read the approach actually adopted in your course and the instructions for the specific assessment. Academic Misconduct Info-112 identifies UWS Chapter 14 as the governing framework and includes more than copied words: unauthorized materials, fabricated data, falsified records and assistance with misconduct are also covered. On the conduct office's sanctions page, academic outcomes are organized into Groups A, B and C. The groups distinguish possible outcomes and decision-makers; they are not a promise that everyone first receives a warning. The page also distinguishes the evidence required for probation from the clear-and-convincing standard for suspension or expulsion. A course-failure sanction for misconduct cannot be escaped simply by dropping the course. That same web page contains separate nonacademic and organizational sections, so students should not lift a rule from one section and apply it to an academic case without checking. This summary does not infer a universal appeal deadline from the combined appeal panel. Contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for the procedure applicable to your actual notice.
Frequently asked questions
No. The teaching center presents possible approaches and individual instructor examples. Your actual course may allow documented AI use, restrict it to specified activities or prohibit it unless otherwise stated. Follow the adopted syllabus and assessment instructions.
The academic Group B section says a failing-course sanction cannot be evaded by dropping the course. It states that the conduct office will re-enroll the student if the course is dropped.
The academic sanctions page describes a preponderance standard for instructor-level Groups A and B and for probation. Suspension or expulsion requires clear and convincing proof. These descriptions concern academic sanctions, not every other procedure on the combined sanctions page.
Every row links to its source. Independent summary, not affiliated with University of Wisconsin-Madison. Found a mistake? Report a correction.
To go further, continue with the overview of university AI policies.
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