Title: What is Academic Integrity?
Course: Academic Integrity > Section: Pages You Can Show Students

What is Academic Integrity?

Let's start with the word integrity. Merriam-Websters dictionary online defines the word as, "1. a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility; 2. an unimpaired condition: soundness; and 3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness"  (Merriam-Webster.com, accessed 12/11/20). Not only does the word involve specific traits of a moral code, such as honesty and decency, but also a state of completeness.

The words integrity and honesty are often used interchangeably, especially when it comes to academic integrity. However, there is a difference. Honesty is an important trait and means telling the truth, being sincere, and not attempting to deceive someone in any way. Acting with integrity encompasses honesty, but it is also more than honesty because it is a code you choose to live by.

Academic integrity, likewise, encompasses a wide array of practices meant to maintain high academic standards. And once academic integrity has been breached, it can be difficult to repair the damage done to reputations of the individuals and institutions involved. That can have far-reaching consequences, including loss of money, loss of prestige, loss of opportunity, and even loss of life.

So what does it mean to have academic integrity? What can we do to uphold academic integrity in our own work, and in our courses? Let's explore this further.

Dos and Don'ts of Academic Integrity

Do your own work!

Seems obvious, right? But when it comes down to crunch time, it can be so tempting to "outsource" the issue and get someone else to write the paper, or search for the answers online. But even if you don't get caught, you'll know that you didn't get the grade by doing the work. Maybe that doesn't bother you now, and maybe it won't later - but by not doing the work now, you're not only robbing yourself of a valuable learning opportunity and experience at mastering a skill, but you are setting yourself up for future failure when you can't perform those skills later.

Don't do others' work for them!

Students who cheat on exams have to get the answers from somewhere, and that means that other students are sharing that information. Whether by handing the answers to a friend in the class or posting the answers to a website online, it's not only unfair that you do the work and they don't have to, but it's unfair to all the other students in the class who put in the time and effort to study. Cheating can reinforce systems of inequity because students who don't cheat get lower grades - and that can add up to a lower GPA and fewer job opportunities.

Do report instances of dishonesty when you encounter them.

This is one of the hardest situations to find yourself in. No one wants to be thought of as a snitch, and especially when someone is trusting you with information, it can be difficult to know how to handle that. It's in our nature to want to help our friends and stay loyal to them - and loyalty is an important value to have. But a friend who is putting you into that situation is also asking you to compromise your own integrity.

Part of the temptation of cheating can be the idea that "everyone does it." But you have the ability to change that. You have the ability to promote academic and personal integrity by telling them how important it is to you that they do their own work - and not to put you in a situation in which you have to choose between loyalty to them and your own moral code.

Don't make assumptions.

Some professors allow open-book for online exams. Others don't. If it's not written out in the instructions or the syllabus, don't assume it's open book, ask the professor to clarify. This will not only help you, it can also help your peers.

Likewise, ask questions when you don't understand the material. If you think it might be a silly question, you can always ask privately in an email or by using their office hours. Others might have the same question but be too afraid to ask. But your instructor is there to help. They want to help you learn and be a good student. If you're struggling, whether that's with a particular reading passage, an assignment, the class as a whole, or even outside of class, your instructor is there to help you, and most will be more than happy to head off any issues before they get too entrenched. The earlier they can assist with a problem (in other words, not right before the exam), the better. They are a vital resource of information, including where to get assistance, even if it's not something they can do themselves.

Do get together a study group

There's nothing wrong with quizzing each other, sharing notes to study from, and helping each other learn. In fact, studies show that students learn as much, if not more, from their peers, as they do from their instructors.  (Boud, What is Peer Learning and Why is it Important?). When you gather together students who are all motivated to learn, you can support each other and help everyone get better. Reach out to students you might not normally engage with and marginalized students, and not only do you make new friends and gain valuable leadership skills, you also help promote fairness and equality for all students.

Don't procrastinate

It can be difficult to juggle and know what to prioritize, but studying over time will lessen the stress of taking those higher-stakes exams. While it may seem counterproductive, if you're worried about how you will perform on a test, ask the instructor if they offer practice quizzes or other ways you can practice learning the material. If they don't offer them, make flash cards that you can use to quiz yourself or use with your study group.

Do seek help if you need it

If you are struggling academically, there are plenty of resources on campus that are available to help. Contact the writing center for help on writing papers, or seek out tutors approved by the department. If it's health and wellness support you need, or even financial, there are resources for that, as well.

And if you have a question about whether something is considered academically dishonest or not, your instructor, your advisor, and even other faculty and staff on campus, are available to assist.