Library Guides: Academic Integrity for Students: What is Academic Integrity?

About this Guide

The information, resources, tips and techniques provided in this guide can help you integrate principles of academic integrity into your work at the college to ensure that you earn the grades and credentials you want to achieve, and also help you develop the ethics, habits, and behaviours employers expect and value.

Academic Integrity Defined

illustration of two college students with laptops practicing academic integrity

Academic Integrity is a code of conduct that demonstrates commitment to six core values, described by the International Council of Academic Integrity as: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage.

Associated behaviours of approaching all academic work ethically and honestly, holding self and others accountable to these values, creating one’s own work and crediting or citing the work of others as appropriate and abiding by the responsibilities, duties, and guidelines set out by the policy and norms of the college.

Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity

Honesty
Students and faculty need to be honest with themselves and with each other. As they learn, they need to constantly be honest about their learning and their mistakes in learning.
Trust
When the faculty states clear objectives for lessons and clear guidelines for the assignment, and when the students produce “honest, thoughtful, and genuine” academic work, trust is promoted.
Respect
Being respectful of other people’s opinions as well as our own opinion is an integral component of academic integrity. Respect leads to diversification of ideas where there is a possibility for the best ideas to emerge and grow.
Fairness
Fairness includes “predictability, transparency, and clear, reasonable expectations” Students need to think about being fair in their academic endeavors and Faculty need to treat students and each other fairly.
Responsibility
Being responsible means standing up against wrongdoing, resisting negative peer pressure, and serving as a positive example. Responsible individuals hold themselves accountable for their own actions.
Courage
Courage often is interpreted as a lack of fear. In reality, courage is defined as “the capacity to act in accordance with one’s values despite fear”. Being courageous means acting in accordance with one’s convictions.