Academic integrity is all about demonstrating your commitment to the academic process. It’s about being trustworthy and honest. It’s about giving credit to the researchers and writers you’ve learned from. This isn’t a subject you should avoid; You should show your commitment to academic integrity at every opportunity!
Explore the resources and FAQs below, then take our quiz to test your knowledge on the topic. If you'd like to meet with someone one on one for support, sign up for the Academic Success Program and we'll connect you with an academic success coach!
Academic Integrity Video Resources
What are some of the most common examples of academic dishonesty?
- Plagiarism
- Cheating (e.g. unauthorized cheat sheets, using two computers in lockdown, …)
- Contract cheating (e.g. buying/obtaining term papers, or assignments, subscriptions)
- Submitting the same piece of work for more than one course without the instructor’s permission.
- Impersonating another person in a test or exam
- Unauthorized collaboration on individual assignments, tests or exams
- Falsifying, misrepresenting, or forging an academic record or supporting document
- Improper computer/calculator use
- Fabrication: creating, altering, or reporting (e.g. changing lab data to fit the hypothesis, - inventing quotes to support an argument)
What are the top reasons students report for engaging in academic dishonesty?
- Tedious, frustrating, suffering, hate, stressed
- Sick, fatigue, life events
- Employment, family, academic workload
- Procrastination
- Lack of understanding of academic misconduct (Just didn’t know this was plagiarism).
- Dismiss the severity of academic dishonesty.
- Students think it's teamwork not academic dishonesty.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism – includes but is not limited to:
- Claiming, submitting or presenting the words, ideas, artistry, drawings, images or data of another person, including information found on the Internet and unpublished materials, as if they are one’s own, without appropriate referencing;
- Claiming, submitting or presenting someone else’s work, ideas, opinions or theories as if they are one's own, without proper referencing;
- Claiming, submitting or presenting collaborative work as if it were created solely by oneself or one’s group;
- Submitting the same work, in whole or in part, for credit in two or more courses, or in the same course more than once, without the prior written permission of the instructor;
- Minimally paraphrasing someone else’s work by changing only a few words and not citing the original source.
How can I avoid plagiarism?
- Start your assignment early
- Keep track of the sources you consult in your research.
- Paraphrase or quote from your sources (and add your own ideas).
- Credit the original author with an in-text citation and in your reference list.
- Still unsure? Book an appointment here.
What happens if I am accused of academic misconduct?
What is Falsifying?
Falsifying, misrepresenting, or forging an academic record or supporting document – includes but is not limited to:
- Furnishing false information in the context of an academic assignment
- Fabricating or altering information or data and presenting it as legitimate
- Providing false or misleading information to an instructor or any other university staff member
- Falsifying clearance forms, practicum and placement documentation.
- Falsifying doctor's note.
- Misrepresentation of credentials.
- Forging an instructor’s or university official’s signature on any document.
- Submitting an altered transcript of grades to or from another institution or employer.
- Putting your name on, or copying, another person’s paper or assignment.
- Altering a previously graded exam or assignment for purposes of a grade appeal.