Academic Integrity is a commitment, even when we are tempted or challenged, to 6 fundamental values:
- Honest
- Trust
- Fairness
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Courage
These values allow us to take ownership of our learning and engage in opportunities to develop as students and as individuals. As a UTM student, you’re a part of our learning community and we all share a commitment to academic integrity.
What does Academic Integrity Look Like?
For you, it can mean providing proper citations to acknowledge other people’s work, completing your independent work independently, and doing your fair share in a group project.
These may seem like obvious and easy things to do, but sometimes competing priorities can make it hard to remember and uphold your responsibilities.
What is the Opposite of Academic Integrity?
When you behave in ways that go against academic integrity, you are engaging in academic misconduct and you could be charged with an academic offense.
Academic Misconduct = Cheating
Sometimes people cheat by accident. They didn’t understand the rules, they were short on time, or they were overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed. Whatever the reason, cheating is never acceptable.
At UTM, there are severe consequences for academic misconduct that can range from earning a 0 on the assignment to expulsion.
What Can You Do to Uphold Academic Integrity?
By reading this webpage, you’re taking steps to understand academic integrity and ensure that your learning is fair and honest. This booklet will help you develop a variety of skills and access campus resources to support your academic career.
Pop Quiz! What do you already know about Academic Integrity?
1. Martin is having difficulty with his CHM110 course. He decides to pay for a tutor to teach him the content and help him with his assignments. Could Martin be committing an academic offence?
a. Yes
b. No
c. It depends on the type of tutoring Martin receives
2. Laura is taking MAT133 and her friends are taking MAT134. Laura’s MAT133 syllabus says that calculators are authorized aids. Her friends tell her that no calculators are allowed for math classes. Is Laura allowed to bring a calculator for her tests?
a. Yes
b. No
3. Muhammad wants to make sure that his iPhone is safe during his test. He keeps his device in his pocket during the test, but doesn’t use it. Is Muhammad committing an academic offence?
a. Yes
b. No
4. Hafsa gets a doctor’s note to excuse her absence from an exam. She notices that the doctor spelled her name incorrectly. She fixes the spelling and hands in the new note. Is Hafsa committing an academic offence?
a. Yes
b. No
5. Darya’s essay contains only her own writing and a few quotes. There are no in-text citations, but all her sources are cited in her bibliography. Is Darya committing an academic offence?
a. Yes
b. No
Pop Quiz! Answers
- It depends on the type of tutoring Martin receives: Tutoring is allowed if Martin’s tutor does not use the professor’s content or discuss Martin’s assignments. A tutor can review the textbook and course readings with Martin. Paying for a tutor is your choice. However, be aware that there are a variety of on campus resources that you can use. If you need support with the course content or clarifying assignment instructions, talk to your professor. You can also get support at the RGASC to develop your study skills. The RGASC also runs the Facilitated Study Group (FSG) program for a variety of courses. FSGs won’t teach you the course content, but you will learn the skills to be successful in the course from upper year students.
- Yes: If Laura’s course syllabus says calculators are an authorized aid, she can use them. Make sure that you always check your course syllabus to review your professor’s expectations. Courses can change from professor to professor and year to year.
- Yes: iPhones and other smart devices (including but not limited to cell phones and SMART watches) are not permitted in exams. Even though Muhammad didn’t use his device, just having it on his person is an offence.
- Yes: Hafsa committed forgery by changing the doctor’s note. If she needed any modifications (name change, date change, etc.) to the note, she should ask the person who made the note.
- Yes: Darya needs to include embedded citations in her work. As is, she could be charged with plagiarism for the lack of proper citations in her essay. If you need help with creating citations and conducting research, you can visit the UTM Library. As well, you can book an appointment with the RGASC to get feedback on your writing.