Academic Integrity

 

What is Academic Integrity? Why Is It Important?

The International Center for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as "..a commitment to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. By embracing these fundamental values, instructors, students, staff, and administrators create effective scholarly communities where integrity is a touchstone. Without them, the work of teachers, learners, and researchers loses value and credibility. More than merely abstract principles, the fundamental values serve to inform and improve ethical decision-making capacities and behaviour. They enable academic communities to translate ideals into action." 1

 

 

Academic Dishonesty

What does academic dishonesty look like?  As per Brandon University's Academic Integrity Policy:

 

Plagiarism

Representation of another person’s thoughts, writing/creative work, or inventions as one’s own. In the University community, plagiarism includes, but is not limited to the following:

 

• Work which is submitted or presented in partial fulfilment of course/degree requirements as one’s own work that was completed, in whole or in part, by another individual

• Portions of the work extracted from another source without proper and full credit to the original author (e.g. concepts, sentences, graphics, data, ideas presented through paraphrase)

• The entirety of a work copied from another source

 

Plagiarism can also include re-using one’s own work without permission, such as submitting work in one course that has     been or is simultaneously being submitted for credit in another course without the expressed written permission of all   instructors involved. In such cases, the entirety of the work may originate with the student; nevertheless, plagiarism has occurred.

Plagiarism can also include performing the same musical piece for credit in more than one course without the expressed written permission of all instructors involved.

 

Cheating

Any dishonest and/or deceptive action carried out as part of a University activity or within a  University relationship. In the

University community, cheating includes, but is not limited to the following:

 

• Using, giving, receiving, or the attempt to use, give or receive unauthorized information related to an examination in oral, written or other for

• Sharing information or answers when doing take-home or online assignments, tests or examinations except where the instructor has authorized collaborative work

•  Copying an essay, examination, report or like form of evaluation

•  Allowing another to copy an essay, examination, report or like form of evaluation.

• Impersonating another person in an examination or test, being knowingly impersonated by another person in an examination or test, and/or serving as a confederate in such activities

• Buying or otherwise obtaining term papers or assignments for submission as one’s own

• Unauthorized use of an editor:

 - When applicable, the instructor should specify the extent of editing that is being authorized.

 - Review by fellow students and tutoring that do not include editing are normally permitted. In  

   addition to consulting with their instructors, students are encouraged to seek review of and feedback

   on their work that prompts them to evaluate the work and make changes themselves.

• Giving false reasons for absence (e.g. from an in-class test, final examination, requires classroom activities

 

Academic Interference

Any activity that hinders another student from fairly and fully participating in their educational experience at the University. In the University community, academic interference includes, but is not limited to the following:

 

• Blocking or hindering another student’s fair access to University materials and facilities

• Failing to fulfill one’s obligations or assigned responsibilities as part of an evaluated group activity or project

• Destroying or tampering with another student’s academic work or materials

 

Falsification
In the University community, falsification includes, but is not limited to the following:
    

        • Creating fake references
        • Misrepresenting one’s credentials
        • Submitting false documents
        • Tampering with academic records, transcripts or other University documents
        • Falsifying documents from outside agencies required by the University (e.g. medical notes, letters of reference)  

Aiding Others to Depart from Academic Integrity
It is a violation to help others or attempt to help others to engage in any of the conduct described above.