Module 1: Introduction to Academic Integrity
These academic integrity learning modules will provide a guide you to what academic integrity means and how to avoid violating UOIT's academic conduct policies. Links to more detailed information are provided in some modules. You will have the opportunity to do self-tests as you go. At the end of each module, you may complete a quiz and submit your grade to your instructor.
1.1 What is Academic Integrity?
I've just started university and I'm constantly hearing about academic integrity, dishonesty and academic misconduct. I'm not quite sure about what it really means.
Academic misconduct/dishonesty is the violation of an institution's policy and values. If stealing is a crime, then its equivalent in the academic world would be cheating
including plagiarism, misrepresentation, lying, stealing an exam, copying from someone else, and so on. The various types of misconduct are academic offences punishable by disciplinary action. Any form of cheating is a violation of regulations and rules set out by an institution. Academic misconduct happens when an individual attempts to gain improved grades through unfair advantages such as by cheating, plagiarizing, lying, and so on.
I know academic misconduct is something to do with cheating on your tests and assignments, but I don't cheat. So why is this module relevant to me?
Simply put, academic misconduct includes a wide range of actions that you may not recognize as cheating. Most people know that when you are working on an assignment and you use information from an article, a website, or a book, you are taking someone else's ideas or words and using them as a part of your work. If you don't give credit to the author of the original work, you are stealing from them. If you don't understand how to cite, reference, paraphrase and quote correctly, you may unintentionally commit an offence in violation of the university's academic code of conduct. In addition, other actions such as working with someone on an individual assignment (i.e., unauthorized collaboration) or reusing your own old essays or ideas (self-plagiarism) are also forms of academic misconduct. And there are more, so keep reading.
NOTE: UOIT's official policy on academic conduct can be found in the most recent UOIT Academic Calendar.
