MIT Sloan Academic Policies

MIT Sloan Classroom Policies and Norms

MIT Sloan has established a set of policies and norms for students and faculty in the classroom. Students are expected to understand and adhere to the policies outlined in this document: MIT Sloan Classroom Policies and Norms

MIT Sloan Policy on Recording Classroom Sessions

MIT Sloan has an established policy for classroom recordings (i.e. audio, visual, live streaming, photography, and other similar formats). Classes may be recorded without additional notification to students for the following reasons:

Student or faculty needs to view a class session because of absence for long-term illness, religious holiday, or similar accommodation
Faculty use for training and development or co-teaching

Students will be notified, and appropriate permission will be obtained, if a class is being recorded for any other purpose. Students are not permitted to make video or acoustic recordings of any class or recitation sessions. Students who will be absent from class due to a religious holiday, a serious illness, or other emergency, should contact their faculty or TA to discuss the possibility of receiving a recording of any missed class session(s).

MIT Sloan Career Development Office Recruiting Policy and Classroom Attendance

The MIT Sloan Career Development Office Recruiting Policies for the 2023-2024 Academic Year can be found here.

Academic Honesty: Integrity in Practice

As a member of the MIT Sloan academic community, you are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and facilitating academic dishonesty. Please see Academic Integrity at MIT: A Handbook for Students for more information. A number of these standards are discussed below, specifically regarding plagiarism, individual work, and team work.

It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of and adhere to MIT’s standards of academic integrity. Per MIT guidelines, if academic misconduct is suspected, faculty are expected to contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and your corresponding MIT Sloan program office. If misconduct is found to have occurred, possible consequences may include academic action (grade reduction, failing grade for assignment, or failing grade for course) and/or disciplinary action ranging from a warning to suspension to expulsion, in severe cases.

The discussion of academic integrity below is not exhaustive, and there may be areas that remain unclear to you. If you are unsure whether a particular course of action is acceptable, it is your responsibility to consult with the faculty member and/or teaching assistant for clarification.

Plagiarism

The Writing and Communication Center at MIT offers more information about avoiding plagiarism.

Plagiarism occurs when you use another’s words, ideas, assertions, data, or figures and do not acknowledge that you have done so. Plagiarism is a very serious offense. If it is found that you have plagiarized deliberately or inadvertently you will face serious consequences, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

The best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite your sources, both within the body of your assignment and in a bibliography of sources used, at the end of your document. Materials gathered through research via the internet must be cited in the same manner as more traditionally published material. Lack of such citation constitutes plagiarism. For more information, see Why and What to Cite and Citation Style Guide.

Individual Assignments

Many MIT Sloan course assignments are expected to be completed individually. The information below outlines what is meant by “individual” work. These policies should be observed unless otherwise defined by the instructor. When you are asked to do individual work, you are expected to adhere to the following standards:

Do not copy all or part of another student’s work (with or without “permission”).
Do not allow another student to copy your work.
Do not ask another person to write all or part of an assignment for you.
Do not work together with another student in order to answer a question, or solve a problem, or write a computer program jointly.
Do not consult or submit work (in whole or in part) that has been completed by other students in this or previous years for the same or nearly the same assignment.
Do not use print or internet materials directly related to a case/ problem set unless explicitly authorized by the instructor.
Do not use print or internet materials without explicit quotation and/or citation.
Do not submit the same, or similar, piece of work for two or more subjects without the explicit approval of the two or more instructors involved.

Please note that many classes will require a combination of team and individual work. Be sure that you follow all the guidelines for individual work when a faculty member identifies an assignment as an individual one. If you are unsure whether a particular form of interaction is acceptable in individual or team work, it is your responsibility to consult the instructor and/or teaching assistant for clarification and guidance.

Team Assignments

When you are asked to work in teams, there is a broad spectrum of faculty expectations when it comes to collaboration (i.e., if collaboration is allowed or required). The instructor will indicate what their expectations are. If there is any uncertainty, it is your responsibility to clarify with the faculty member or TA the type of team work that is expected.

Collaboration Allowed with Individual Deliverable

You are allowed to discuss the assignment with other team members and work through the problems together.
What you turn in, however, must be your own product, written in your own handwriting, or in a computer file of which you are the sole author.
Copying another’s work or electronic file is not acceptable.

Collaboration Allowed with Team Deliverable

The team may divide the work of any one assignment as they deem appropriate as long as each team member contributes to the assignment. It is not acceptable for teams to divide assignments across classes (e.g., certain team members complete a project for one class while others complete the written assignment for another).
The team may not collaborate with other students outside of the team unless the faculty member explicitly permits such collaboration.
Regardless of how work is shared or responsibilities are divided among individual team members, each member of the team will be held accountable for the academic integrity of the entire assignment. If, for example, one member of the team submits plagiarized work on behalf of the team, the entire team will be subject to sanctions as appropriate.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools and Usage

MIT Sloan does not have a definitive policy on using generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to complete individual or team assignments or prepare for a class discussion. Rather, faculty will set their own policies pertaining to the use of AI tools in their courses, including permitting or prohibiting some or all uses of such tools. Faculty will clearly communicate their policies on generative AI usage (e.g., through their course syllabi). If you have any questions as to whether the use of these tools is permitted, please clarify with the faculty member or TA.

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Additional Norms and Expectations

MIT Sloan has developed a number of additional norms that support a healthy learning environment. These include the following:

Use your laminated nameplate at all times.
Remain seated for the duration of the class unless it is absolutely essential that you leave, in which case make every effort not to disrupt the class.
Participate actively and thoughtfully. Quality of contribution matters as much as quantity.
Allow others to participate — be careful not to dominate conversation.
Recognize others’ contributions in the discussion. Use language such as, “to build on what Pat has just said...”
When disagreeing, do so respectfully. Use language such as, “I’d like to offer a different perspective...” Acknowledge the possibility that multiple perspectives on complex problems can be valid.
Be sensitive to the potential impact of comments and behavior on all members of the community. Be open to perspectives of others who come from different personal, cultural, or professional backgrounds from your own.
Refrain from sidebar conversations.
If you bring food into the classroom, be sensitive to the noise you are generating. Be sure to remove all trash and dispose of it appropriately (using trash, recycling, and composting facilities).

MIT Sloan Student Policies and Resources to Support Expectant or New Parents

If you are expecting a child or have an infant, Sloan staff can help you with both planning and addressing any unexpected circumstances related to your expanded family. Please contact the MBA Program Office, Student Life, or Sloan Educational Services as early as possible. Advisors will help you design a tailored plan for your academic program during pregnancy, at the time of your child's birth or adoption, and in the early months of your baby’s life. They will also work with you to identify resources at Sloan, elsewhere at MIT, and in the greater Boston community. Every family has different circumstances. Typical considerations can include:

Planning for a lighter academic load in the semester of birth through the use of independent study projects, or using the previous/next semester of Independent Activities Period (January) to earn extra units and reduce academic load in the semester when the baby is due;
Excused absences and options for make-up work in classes missed due to childbirth;
Access to nursing mothers' rooms at Sloan and elsewhere around campus. These secured rooms provide privacy and refrigeration facilities.

There is also a range of other accommodations that can include:

Excused extended medical absences from classes for earlier than expected childbirth or medical complications for mother or baby;
Leave of absence for a semester or longer.

Please note that students expecting a child are not able to:

Exceed their program credit limit in the semesters before or after they plan to have a child;
Receive priority in any class bidding for particular professors or premium class times.

Students whose partners are expecting are also encouraged to meet with Sloan staff in the departments listed above to see what accommodations might be necessary for them at the time of the birth and what resources would best support them, their partner, and the child in the weeks and months afterward.