Academic Integrity
“Integrity” is traditionally equated with honesty and “moral uprightness” (OED.com). And this is certainly true; in fact, many of the resources on this page delve into various aspects of this idea. But there is a second definition that is also common: “The state of being whole and undivided” (OED.com). This is typically used in the context of geography; yet in a way, this is very relevant to academic integrity. All of us have many roles to play in our lives: sibling, friend, partner, employer or employee, student, teacher…the list could go on and on. When we don’t operate with integrity, we are not being true to a part of ourselves, and in some cases not being true to our relationship with others. In other words, we are dividing ourselves from who we are, and who we are meant to be.
For example, in an academic context when we break an honor code in our institution, we are doing ourselves a significant disservice, and also potentially dividing ourselves from relationships with fellow classmates, our professors, and in extreme cases, the university with which we are a member.
The resources below will help you gain a better understanding of the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding academic integrity in all of its facets; taking the time to learn how to operate with integrity will not only ensure a successful experience along your academic journey, it will equip you to be true to who you really are.
ConnectED skills related to Academic Integrity: Ethical reasoning; Global and cultural responsiveness; Information literacy; Problem solving
Academic Integrity
- Cite My Sources and Avoid Plagiarism Guide – VCU Libraries
- VCU Code of Conduct – VCU Student Services
- The VCU Honor System & Standards of Academic Conduct – VCU Student Affairs
Attribution & Copyright
- Creative Commons: Finding and Using Free Multimodal Content – Dr. Amber Pearson & Dr. Frank Cha, VCU
- What do Public Domain and Creative Commons Mean? – Harvard University
- Understanding Copyright – VCU Libraries
For more information on how to cite properly in order to avoid academic integrity violations, see our Citation Guide.