Academic Integrity

Learn what academic integrity means, how to avoid common mistakes, and what to do if you're facing an allegation. This guide covers BC-wide principles and resources, but remember: policies vary by institution. Always check your school's specific policies.

✅What This Means

Academic integrity means acting with honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage in all your academic work. It's the foundation of learning and earning credentials you can be proud of.

Core Values of Academic Integrity:

•Honesty: Being truthful about your work and not claiming others' work as your own
•Trust: Building credibility through consistent honest behavior
•Fairness: Treating everyone equally and following the same rules
•Respect: Acknowledging others' ideas and work through proper citation
•Responsibility: Taking ownership of your learning and following academic policies
•Courage: Standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult

⚠️Common Student Mistakes

Many academic integrity violations happen by accident. Understanding these common mistakes can help you avoid them.

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Patchwriting: Changing a few words from a source without truly paraphrasing or citing it. Even if you change words, if you keep the same sentence structure and ideas without citation, it's still plagiarism.
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Missing Citations: Forgetting to cite sources for paraphrased ideas, not just direct quotes. All ideas that aren't your own need attribution.
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Reusing Prior Work: Submitting the same assignment or paper for multiple courses without permission (self-plagiarism). You need instructor approval to reuse your own work.
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Group Work Confusion: Not understanding when collaboration is allowed vs. when work must be individual. Clarify with your instructor if unsure.
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Paid Writing / Contract Cheating: Paying someone else to write your assignment or buying pre-written essays. This is a serious violation that can lead to expulsion.

✓Do This Before You Submit

A quick checklist to help you avoid academic integrity issues before submitting your work.

✓Check that every source you used is cited in-text and in your reference list
✓Verify all paraphrased sections are in your own words AND cited
✓Ensure all direct quotes have quotation marks and page numbers (if applicable)
✓Review your assignment instructions for collaboration rules
✓If you're unsure about citation rules, ask your instructor or visit the Writing Center
✓Run your work through a plagiarism checker if your school provides one (as a final check, not as your only citation method)
✓Keep your drafts and notes in case you need to show your work process

📝Plagiarism vs Quoting vs Paraphrasing

Understanding the difference helps you use sources correctly and avoid accidental plagiarism.

✅ Quoting (Good)

Use the author's exact words with quotation marks and citation.

Original: "Academic integrity is the foundation of learning." (Smith, 2023, p. 45)

Your quote: Smith (2023) states that "academic integrity is the foundation of learning" (p. 45).

✅ Paraphrasing (Good)

Put the idea in your own words completely, then cite the source.

Original: "Academic integrity is the foundation of learning." (Smith, 2023, p. 45)

Your paraphrase: Learning depends on honest academic behavior (Smith, 2023).

❌ Plagiarism (Avoid)

Using someone's words or ideas without citation, even if you change a few words.

Original: "Academic integrity is the foundation of learning." (Smith, 2023, p. 45)

❌ Plagiarism (patchwriting): Academic integrity is the basis of learning. [Missing citation - even with word changes, this is plagiarism]

🤖Using AI Tools Responsibly

AI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for learning, but using them for assignments requires careful consideration and honesty.

✓Check course/instructor policy first: Some courses allow AI with disclosure, others prohibit it entirely. Read your syllabus and assignment instructions carefully.
✓Keep drafts and notes: If you use AI for brainstorming or outlining, save your process. This shows your own thinking and effort.
✓Don't upload confidential assessments: Never paste assignment questions or your own work into AI tools - this could violate academic integrity policies and privacy.
✓If disclosure/citation is required: Follow your course policy. Some instructors require you to note when and how you used AI. When in doubt, ask your instructor.
✓Remember: Submitting AI-generated content as your own work without permission is academic misconduct. The goal is to show your own learning and understanding.

📋If You're Accused

If you receive an academic misconduct allegation, stay calm and take these steps. You have rights, and there's usually a process to address this.

What to Do:

1.Stay calm: Take a deep breath. An allegation is not a conviction. You have the right to respond and defend yourself.
2.Read the allegation carefully: Understand exactly what you're being accused of, which policy was violated, and what evidence they have.
3.Gather drafts and notes: Collect all your assignment drafts, research notes, sources you used, and any documentation that shows your work process.
4.Ask for the process: Request clear information about timelines, your rights, what evidence will be considered, and the appeal process if you disagree with the outcome.
5.Contact student advocate/ombudsperson: Your school may have a Student Advocacy Office or Ombudsperson who can help you understand your rights and navigate the process. Check your school's website under "Student Services."
6.Understand appeal steps: Most schools have an appeal process. If you disagree with the outcome, you typically have a deadline to file an appeal. Read your school's appeal procedures carefully.

Related Guide:

Academic Misconduct Allegation (What to Do Next) →

📚Free Learning (BC-first)

Access free BC-based academic integrity resources and tutorials from BC post-secondary institutions.

🔗Related Guides

Step-by-step guides to help you with citations and avoiding plagiarism.