Cornell University has a Code of Academic Integrity, which explains clearly what is academic cheating and what is not. This website explains the academic integrity procedures from the standpoint of the student, the instructor, and the members of an Academic Integrity Hearing Board.
We recommend that you spend some time to read this document. However, you will notice that some of the terms (such as unauthorized assistance) are a little vague. Therefore we define these terms in the context of Academic Integrity Policy for CS 1110.
One thing that can be a little hard to glean from the Code of Academic Integrity is the actual penalty for violating the Code. A quick browse through the text makes it appear that the instructor just assigns a grade penalty. As a result, students who are doing poorly feel that they have nothing to lose and so take the risk. However, this is a bad idea, because the penalties are much more severe than a grade penalty.
If we believe that you have violated the code, you will be called in for a primary hearing. The primary hearing is our chance to present the evidence that we have uncovered, and you are given a chance to respond to the evidence. Guilt or innocence is not determined until you have had a chance to respond. If we determine you are innocent (which commonly happens when only one partner cheats), then all correspondence will be destroyed and there will be no evidence that a hearing was held.
If you are found guilty, we are authorized to assign a grade penalty. We have the authority to give you a negative score on the assignment or exam, or even fail you for the course. But we rarely do that, because the real penalty is the letter. For any student found guilty of an academic integrity violation, a letter goes on file with the registrar of his or her school recording the violation.
The letter does not become part of your transcript. Cornell likes to give students a second chance after just one violation, and so will not advertise it to the world. However, any employer or graduate school can ask Cornell if a letter was ever submitted, and Cornell is required to answer if they ask. Historically, only medical schools ask this question. But this means that pre-med students can destroy their careers with a single violation.
For all other students, Cornell keeps the letter on file and only takes action if it receives a second letter (for an additional violation). In that case the student has to go before an official board, where they talk about suspension or permanent expulsion. At that point, grades are irrelevant.
This is why the letter is very bad. Do not get the letter.
Sometimes your assignment partner may have violated academic integrity without your knowing about it. If we can determine that this was the case, then you will be found innocent. However, this determination can only happen after the academic integrity hearing, for which your presence will still be required.