What is Academic Integrity?
Doing your own work, acknowledging the contributions of others, and seeking help when you need it are all part of what academic integrity means at UBC, as is avoiding tools and services that subvert these practices.
Academic integrity is a commitment to upholding the values of respect, integrity, and accountability in academic work. It is foundational to teaching and learning and is a fundamental and shared value of all members of the UBC community. UBC adopts an educative approach to academic integrity that supports students and instructors, builds awareness, and values academic misconduct processes that are fair and effective.
Academic integrity is a set of values and skills that are learned and practiced over time. Instructors are responsible for setting clear expectations around academic integrity in their courses, modelling honest behaviour as teachers and scholars, and creating a space for students to develop their understanding of academic integrity. Students are responsible for meeting these expectations in their academic work, developing an understanding of concepts, and seeking clarity when they have questions. UBC is responsible for creating and sustaining the culture of academic integrity that makes all of this possible.
Everyone plays a part in supporting and enhancing academic integrity at UBC.
Things to reflect on
How do you show respect for other learners and scholars by learning with integrity?
Why is integrity by all members of our community important?
What are your responsibilities to uphold academic integrity in your work?
While academic integrity relates to academic work, scholarly integrity (also known as responsible conduct of research) typically relates to work intended for publication and in some cases may be subject to Tri-Council Agency funding. The Responsible Conduct of Research site describes and provides information regarding scholarly integrity, and when matters may follow the University’s Scholarly Integrity Policy (SC6) rather than the University’s general academic misconduct process.
Respect
An essential and learned value: regard felt or shown towards different people, ideas, and actions
Through the lens of academic integrity, respect means having regard for not only your own work but also the work of others. Respect is reciprocal, both given and earned.
Integrity
A moral value: the quality of being honest, ethical and truthful
Honesty forms the foundation of academic integrity. Through honesty we build trust both within our community and beyond.
Accountability
A personal and public value: being responsible for our conduct and actions and delivering upon our respective and reciprocal commitments
Accountability is a responsibility shared by every member of the teaching and learning community. Each individual is accountable to themselves, but also to their peers, their faculty, and the greater community.
To be accountable means having the courage to make the right decisions in circumstances where difficult choices are in front of us.
Have questions? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions about academic integrity and academic misconduct.
This is an educative website intended to support understanding of the topics and associated processes and does not constitute legal advice nor impose legal obligations on the University. The content of this site may be updated. The Academic Calendar is the official governing document, and where there is any inconsistency or contradiction between this educative website and the Academic Calendar provisions governing academic integrity and academic misconduct, the Academic Calendar governs.
