Is this cheating?

Hi!  My name is Nicole Leonard and I am a senior English major training to be an orientation advisor this summer.  With finals coming up, everyone is starting to stress about papers and last minute assignments before the actual exams start.  I remember my first bout of final exams and the shock of how much more work there was than high school, surprisingly, the shock never really seems to go away. 
With so much work coming up for everyone, I wanted to remind everyone of the honor code.  Most students at UMD are honest and want to do well in school on their own; I know very few people who set out with the intention of copying a paper or plagiarizing.  However, not everyone realizes how easy it is to "accidentally" break the honor code.  When writing papers, always be sure to carefully cite every single source you use; it is better to have a citation in every single sentence than take credit for something that isn't yours!  Also, be sure to follow the correct format, as even incorrect citing can be considered plagiarism.

Study groups are a great way to study for many students.  When you are working on homework problems or essays, however, be sure that you do not cross the line between "helping" and "cheating."  Even if you work through difficult concepts together, always be sure that you are doing your own work and are not sharing answers.  Even if you are not directly copying and are working together, answers that are too similar can be considered dishonest.  Be careful of a professor's instructions regarding working with others.  If a professor prefers that you don't work together, there are always other options for learning hard material such as attending office hours, speaking with a professor after class, or finding a tutor on campus (the Office of Mulicultural Students offers free tutoring for certain classes!).
The best way to avoid being caught in a sticky situation, even accidentally, is to always question yourself.  Plan ahead so you don't get caught the night before an assignment is due without anywhere else to turn, and always ask the professor if you question your own judgment.  Good luck on finals and with the rest of your semester!