What is Academic Integrity?

To put it simply, Academic Integrity is doing your own work.The International Center for Academic Integrity defines Academic Integrity as a commitment,even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values:

Honesty

Respect

Trust

Responsibility

Fairness

Courage

What is Academic Misconduct?

While Integrity is doing your own work, Academic Misconduct is doing the opposite:

University of Utah Student Code

Cheating

“Involves the unauthorized possession or use of information, materials, notes, study aids, or other devices in any academic exercise, or the unauthorized communication with another person during such an exercise.”
– Student Code II-B-1

Misrepresentation

“Representing material prepared by another as one's own work or submitting the same work in more than one course without prior permission of both faculty members.”
– Student Code II-B-2

Plagiarism

“The intentional unacknowledged use or incorporation of any other person's work in, or as a basis for, one's own work offered for academic consideration or credit or for public presentation.”
– Student Code II-B-3

Fabrication & Falsification

“includes reporting experiments or measurements or statistical analyses never performed; manipulating or altering data or other manifestations of research to achieve a desired result; falsifying or misrepresenting background information, credentials or other academically relevant information; or selective reporting, including the deliberate suppression of conflicting or unwanted data. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data and/or results.”
– Student Code II-B-4

What is Self-Plagiarism?

Self-Plagiarism, also known as text recycling or duplicate publication, refers to the act of reusing one’s own previously published work or substantial parts of it in a new publication without proper citation or acknowledgement. It occurs when an author presents their own work as original and unique in a different context or to a different audience, while failing to disclose that the content has been previously published elsewhere.

Self-Plagiarism can apply to various forms of intellectual work, including research papers, articles, essays, books, and other scholarly or creative works. It is generally considered unethical within academic and publishing communities, as it undermines the principles of originality, integrity, and the expectation of providing new contributions to the field.

How to Avoid Academic Misconduct?

Sourced from Northern Illinois University 

Pro-tip: No matter the cause, academic dishonesty is NEVER acceptable

Know the causes

  • Peer Pressure
  • Self-justification
  • New to the demands of collegiate life
  • Anxiety
  • Unfamiliar with the definition of academic dishonesty

Assess other options

  • Submit what you have - A 70% is better than a 0%!
  • Form a study group and work with your classmates
  • Visit the University Writing Center for assistance with your essay or sign up for a tutor to better understand core subjects
  • When in doubt: Ask your professor! That is what office hours are for!

Analyze the consequences

  • Can range from simply retaking the exam or rewriting the paper all the way to losing your degree!
  • Lose the respect of your peers
  • Lose your chance at a career
  • Lose a valuable part of your self-esteem
  • Potential legal consequences

Check out these resources!

Situational Dos and Don'ts

Do This

  • Verify all sources
  • Stay tuned in to class discussions
  • Check you work!
  • Paraphrase or use direct quotes when using existing ideas

Don't Do This

  • Copy + Paste a Wikipedia article
  • Skip class because you "already know it"
  • Steal the answers from your roommate
  • Fake a quote to meet paper requirements

Do This

  • Properly cite your sources
  • Properly document experiment steps
  • Use the scientific method to run experiments
  • Report instances of academic misconduct

Don't Do This

  • Fake your results to show a desired outcome
  • Sabotage an experiment to remove competition
  • Exclude data to support your expected conclusion
  • Ignore safety rules and put others at risk
  • Help others cheat

Do This

  • Take detailed notes during lectures
  • Begin studying in advance
  • Use resources provided or authorized by your professor
  • Keep ALL information regarding exams confidential

Don't Do This

  • Write answers inside your forearm
  • Access unauthorized exam resources
  • Find a copy of previous years' exams if not authorized
  • Pay a friend to take it for you

Do This

  • Be an active participant of your group
  • Maintain clear and consistent communication
  • Complete assigned role to group expectations
  • Show respect to all group members

Don't Do This

  • Skip group meetings
  • Ghost your group
  • Let your team carry you to the finish line
  • Ignore a group mate due to age, race, sexual orientation, or other

True or false?

Test your knowledge with the 4 questions below!

It is Academic Misconduct to have your friend take an exam for you.

It is Academic Misconduct to send pictures of your work to others, allowing another student to copy one's own work during a take-home assignment.

You would be guilty of Academic Misconduct if you leave your screen unlocked and your roommate copies your work as their own.

It would be considered Academic Misconduct to have your spouse complete your lab reports in your place.