A summary of the fundamental values of academic integrity

Your professor gives you an essay question on your exam, and you think to yourself, “I can totally grab that open study guide from the back of the room and use it to write my paper for me.” Wrong! As a student, academic integrity means making ethical decisions, asking questions, and following instructions - even when faced with difficult situations.

If you have a paper that you’re proud of, it’s probably because you put in the extra effort to ensure it was done well. You might have re-written it several times, talked to your friends about it, or even asked another student for their opinion.

Academic Honesty

Honesty is a core value of college and university life. Your instructors and teaching assistants will expect you to be honest in your academic work, assignments, and tests.

In fact, you’ll be expected to be honest in all aspects of your university life. Student honesty is vital to the university community’s integrity because it supports the principle that students are rewarded for their own achievements based on their own efforts.

A good rule of thumb for students is that honesty means doing your own work. It also means acknowledging when you consider someone else’s work as more than a source of information or inspiration. As with all things in life, if it seems too good to be true, then perhaps it is.

In some cases, when students submit papers or projects in someone else’s name, they are committing academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is a severe offense, and when caught, it has significant consequences for both parties.

Honor Pledge

Honor Pledge is an oath that students take to indicate that their academic work is their own and not plagiarized from any source. It is the very foundation of academic integrity.

Honor Pledges are a promise to refrain from cheating, plagiarism, stealing, and other forms of academic dishonesty. By signing the pledge, students take responsibility for their own academic honesty.

All students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct and all associated policies adopted by the University. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct may result in dismissal from class, suspension, or expulsion from the University.

Trust

Being dependable means that you carry out your work and responsibilities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner as a student. You meet deadlines, honor promises, and fulfill expectations. As with any relationship, trust is built over time.

Letting your teacher know that you trust her or him to help you will inspire their trust in you, and it will be reflected in the quality of their teaching. The best way to do this is by doing your homework assignments on time and giving your best effort.

When you complete assignments ahead of time, it gives you more time to fix any mistakes, ask questions, and make sure you understand. Whenever possible, follow the instructions provided by your instructor precisely as they are written.

If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification. When an assignment is due, do it right away so that you can get the highest grade possible. By demonstrating trust in your instructor, he or she will be more likely to trust you and give you a chance when things get tough.

Respect

In the academic world, “academic integrity” refers to the standards of honesty and fairness that apply to all educational activities. Students are expected to adhere to these standards in all academic work, including assignments, tests, and examinations.

Treating your instructors with respect means that you understand the importance of academic integrity. It also means that you will do your best to be honest in all your coursework, whether an assignment, presentation, exam, or some other task.

As a student, you should respect the intellectual property rights of others. You should not steal or use any written, graphic, or electronic material without permission for which copyright, patent, trade secret protection, or other legal restriction applies.

Fairness

As a student, you have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the learning environment. Taking any unfair advantage in assessments, mid-terms, or tests is cheating. It can include:

• using your phone during an exam
• talking or texting during an exam
• copying someone else’s work without them knowing
• accessing the internet without permission
• using a calculator when not permitted
• bringing prohibited material, e.g., notes, into an exam room

You should not seek to gain an advantage for yourself or cause disadvantages for others through cheating and plagiarism in any form. The University takes a strict stance on examinations misconduct and will meet with students found to have cheated or plagiarised regardless of whether another student has reported them.

Responsibility

As a student, you are expected to complete all assignments on time. This is an important responsibility and will be part of your grade. It is also likely that you will do so in a conscientious manner.

If you have an excused absence, this will not be considered delinquency concerning academic deadlines. Please note that while instructors may extend due dates for papers and projects, there is no guarantee that this will occur each time. It would help if you planned to complete all assignments within the required time frame given by your instructor.

You can demonstrate your responsibility by:

• completing all assignments by their due dates
• turning in assignments that are not complete so they can receive feedback on how to improve their work
• completing group work that has been assigned and receiving group members’ final products
• asking questions if you are struggling or confused about assignments or expectations
• seeking help if you are struggling

Courage

Being courageous means stepping forward in the face of uncertainty. As a student, you demonstrate courage when you provide information to authorities about someone who may be dangerous to others.

This could be a faculty member, staff member, or another student. When you observe illegal activity, you should not participate and contact the appropriate authorities.

You demonstrate courage by reporting academic offenses. If you think someone has committed an academic offense or violates a rule, you alert their instructor, Associate Dean, or a staff member.

YOU STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, EVEN IN CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.

Conclusion

In the end, the most important thing to remember is that citation is scholarly communication. When citing or sharing, as a student, you create an academic paper that accurately reflects a source and creates a checkable record of your research and understanding. This one skill will benefit you throughout life—from being a better presenter to strengthening your group work.

Academic integrity is the honor code of education.