ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
What is Academic Integrity?
The International Centre for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, & courage. Check out this video on Academic Integrity to learn more:
Your Role in Academic Integrity
As a student, your number one commitment is to learn new things. You are a member of the UBC community. As a part of this university community, you are responsible for engaging with existing knowledge and contributing ideas of your own. As an academic you build knowledge through rigorous research that expands on the contributions of others, both in the past and present. This is called scholarship and includes:
- Creating and expressing your own original ideas
- Explicitly acknowledging the sources of your knowledge, especially through accurate citation practices (see citation styles here)
- Completing assignments independently or acknowledging collaboration when appropriate
- Accurately reporting the results of your research, e.g., when collecting data in a lab
- Taking exams without cheating
- Following instructions for completing assignments and exams
- Asking your instructor or TA about what is allowed or not allowed if instructions are unclear
Source: UBC Vancouver Chapman Learning Commons, Understanding Academic Integrity Resource Guide. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
What is Academic Misconduct?
Academic misconduct includes any conduct by which a student gains or attempts to gain an unfair academic advantage or benefit thereby compromising the integrity of the academic process, or helping or attempting to help another person commit an act of academic misconduct or gain, or attempt to gain, an unfair academic advantage. Examples of academic misconduct by a student include, but are not limited to, engaging, attempting to engage, or assisting others to engage, in any of the following actions:
- Receiving or giving assistance for an individual assessment activity – e.g. if a friend asks you for your help on their final exam (and you help), this meets the criteria for cheating and implicates both of you in academic misconduct;
- Use or possession in an examination of any materials (including devices) other than those permitted by the examiner;
- Use of or participation in unauthorized collaborative work – e.g. taking part in a group chat with classmates during an exam to share answers;
- Use of shared study notes during an open book test or exam;
- Falsifying or submitting false documents, transcripts, or other academic credentials;
- Submitting false records or information, orally or in writing, or failing to provide relevant information when requested;
- Impersonating a student to write or submit an assignment/exam;
- Submitting the same, or substantially the same, essay, presentation, or assignment more than once; submitting or presenting the oral or written work of another person as your own – e.g. having a friend or “tutor” complete your exam/assignment for you;
- Posting exam questions to “homework help” websites in an effort to have others provide a solution;
- Other actions as listed in the University’s Academic Misconduct
Source: McEwan University, Student Academic Integrity Policy. Retrieved Oct 8, 2021 from Link
What are the consequences?
As stated on the UBCO Academic Calendar, academic misconduct often results in a one-year suspension from the University and a notation of academic discipline on the student’s record. However, disciplinary measures which may be imposed, singly or in combination, for academic misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
- a letter of reprimand;
- a failing grade or mark of zero on the assignment or in the course in which the academic misconduct occurred;
- suspension, cancellation, or forfeiture of any scholarships, bursaries, or prizes;
- suspension from the University for a specified period of time;
- expulsion from the University;
- denial of admission or readmission to the University for a specified or indefinite period of time;
- a notation of academic discipline on the student’s record in the Student Information System, which will appear on the student’s Transcript of Academic Record;
- revocation of a degree or other academic credentials dishonestly or improperly obtained.
Self-Guided Academic Integrity Canvas Courses
These free, self-guided Canvas courses are provided to support you in learning how to maintain academic honesty and avoid misconduct.
Unauthorized Collaboration and Cheating
Academic Integrity Matters (AIM): Unauthorized Collaboration and Cheating is a self-guided, self-enroll Canvas course provided for students to learn about: the International Center for Academic Integrity‘s six fundamental values of academic integrity, what constitutes academic dishonesty, and situations where it may occur, the importance of academic integrity within the scholarly community, and the methods and resources available to maintain academic integrity.
Writing and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity Matters (AIM): Writing and Plagiarism is a self-guided, self-enroll Canvas course provided for students to learn about UBC Okanagan’s standards for academic honesty, how to properly credit, and cite research, and how to avoid plagiarism. After completing this course, you should be able to recognize plagiarism in its various forms, explain why avoiding plagiarism is important, and develop skills for avoiding plagiarism, including citing sources, note-taking, quoting, and, paraphrasing.
Academic Integrity Online Resources
Check out our Online Resources page for a list of resources to help improve your knowledge of all things related to being a successful and honest scholar.
Get 1-on-1 support from an AIM consultant
The Student Learning Hub’s AIM consultants provide one-on-one meetings for students who would like to feel confident in their understandings of academic integrity. AIM consultants will meet with you to:
- help you get answers to your questions related to academic integrity
- discuss student responsibilities and expectations for academic integrity
- share best practices for recognizing and avoiding situations where academic misconduct might arise
- connect you with appropriate resources and support
- provide writing support for written assignments with a focus on:
- avoiding plagiarism
- integrating sources
- where/when/why of in-text citations
- provide opportunities for you to practice and gain confidence in your quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing skills
To get AIM support, you can contact aim.ok@ubc.ca or book directly with an AIM consultant:
- To book a meeting with an AIM consultant,
- Login to QReserve with your CWL
- Go to the “UBCO – Student Learning Hub” Site
- Find a Writing Consultant with AIM beside their name [e.g. Stephanie – Hybrid (AIM)]
- Reserve a meeting with them (in-person and online meetings available)
- Need help creating a QReserve account or booking a meeting?
- Download our QReserve Guide or contact aim.ok@ubc.ca for assistance; we’re happy to help you arrange your meeting.
- Have questions about academic integrity and not sure who to ask? Interested in getting ongoing support from an AIM consultant throughout the academic year? Want to find out more about how you can become an AIM consultant?
- Reach out to aim.ok@ubc.ca. We’re here to help!
- Are you a graduate student looking for integrity-related support?
- Contact aim.ok@ubc.ca, and we’ll help you connect with the appropriate support.
AIM Referral Program
The Academic Integrity Matters (AIM) program is offered to help students learn about UBC Okanagan’s standards for academic honesty.
To support students in learning about the best practices for academic integrity, the AIM program’s goals are to:
- Intervene before disciplinary processes are instigated for academic integrity breaches.
- Provide individually tailored support, including 1-on-1 appointments with opportunities to clarify expectations for academic integrity, develop skills for avoiding academic misconduct/ dishonesty, practice correct citations and source integration, and understand the steps that are needed for responsible academic writing and conduct.
Typically, a student is referred to the AIM program when a faculty member notices that a student is having issues related to academic integrity or if the student expresses a need for additional support. Faculty can find out more information and submit referrals here.
If you are a student who would like to enroll yourself in the AIM program or get support for maintaining academic integrity, contact aim.ok@ubc.ca or book directly with an AIM consultant on QReserve.
