Academic integrity refers to the rules and regulations for students in an educational environment. It also refers to behavior that violates the rules and regulations. This includes cheating on exams, plagiarism, stealing or reproducing examination materials, and concealing them. These violations can result in punishment.

Plagiarism by accident

Accidental plagiarism is when someone borrows someone else’s work without realizing it. It is usually a result of poor paraphrasing or a misreading of the source’s citation style.

A less experienced writer might commit unintentional plagiarism. They may need to learn the difference between direct quotations and paraphrasing. This can lead to plagiarism because billions of articles, essays, and research papers are available for students.

The most common type of accidental plagiarism is when a student uses the exact words, phrases, or writing patterns as another. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the idea was changed.

Another common form of accidental plagiarism is when a student uses a phrase in a different context. Often, this happens when a student needs more practice with paraphrasing.

Intentional plagiarism, on the other hand, is when a student plagiarizes someone else’s work on purpose. This severe offense can result in suspension or expulsion from the college.

When you want to avoid plagiarizing, be sure to write original content. Take the time to learn about citation and attribution style and document your research. If you need help citing and attributing a source, you can seek advice from your university librarian or a Highline Library expert.

Stealing, reproducing, circulating, or concealing examination materials

For students looking to excel academically, stealing, replicating, distributing, or covering examination materials is the antithesis of student achievement. To avoid such a colossal breach, students need to be aware of the laws of academic integrity.

Academic dishonesty is defined as the deliberate concealment of information in a manner that will mislead the intended recipient. This can include but is not limited to plagiarism, fraudulently claiming credit for the work of others, altering graded exams, or using artificial materials. Other forms of academic dishonesty include obstructing another student’s academic success and gaining an unfair advantage in the course of a course. Fortunately, these activities are relatively commonplace and are not viewed as acceptable in most institutions.

The most egregious academic dishonesty may include obtaining or retaining unauthorized access to computerized systems, altering computerized records or programs, or obtaining or circulating confidential information. Generally speaking, any act of this nature violates the Code of Conduct.

While there is a small risk of getting caught, the consequences of such an action are not only minor but can harm the integrity of the entire educational process. If a student is guilty of such a transgression, they may face disciplinary action. In the event of a suspected academic dereliction, the faculty must be willing to investigate the charge in detail, make use of the judicial system if warranted, and take reasonable measures to mitigate the damage.

Sanctions for breaches of academic integrity

Students who violate academic integrity face sanctions. For example, a student’s final grade may be lowered, or they may be barred from taking future courses. In addition to these consequences, violating the student’s academic integrity can result in a notation on the student’s transcript.

Academic misconduct includes cheating, forgery, altering responses, and fabrication. These acts are defined by the University’s Honor System and the standards of academic conduct. Students who commit these offenses are often required to enroll in an educational integrity education program.

The Academic Conduct Officer investigates the alleged incident. An investigation will involve interviewing witnesses and reviewing documentation. If the alleged action is found to be academic misconduct, the Academic Conduct Officer will discuss the sanction with the accused.

The level of the sanction will depend on the facts of the case and the severity of the infraction. If the student admits to the violation, the Academic Conduct Officer will decide whether to recommend an academic sanction. Alternatively, the accused may ask for a hearing.

The Academic Integrity Violations Report will be sent to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. This document is confidential and will not be made public. However, it will be considered in determining the severity of future violations.