Academic Integrity and Misconduct - Student Information
Academic Integrity
In general, academic integrity means that the evidence of learning you provide on exams and the work you do on assignments, papers and projects is genuinely yours, and not produced in a fraudulent manner. University learning builds on a foundation of knowledge from other people; learning how to use that knowledge, acknowledge it correctly, and add your own thought is the reason you are here! It can be tricky to figure out, but if you use authenticity as your guiding principle and ask for help when you are uncertain of the best course, you will do fine!
The easy availability of material on the internet makes cheating and plagiarising easier than ever, but it also makes catching cheaters easier than ever. Be sure you know how to use material obtained on the internet correctly. Copying and using website material without citation is still plagiarism!
Students' Responsibilities
UFV students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner, and will be held responsible for their actions, whether acting alone or in a group. Students must take responsibility for ensuring they meet the requirements for academic integrity and for avoiding academic misconduct.
Students who are uncertain if they are violating the Student Academic Misconduct Policy have an obligation to seek advise, preferentially from their instructor. Further advise can be sought from Department or Program Heads and the Office for Academic Integrity and Appeals. A lack of familiarity with this senate policy or with the appropriate standard of academic honesty on the part of a student does not constitute a defense against its application.
NOTE: This website is intended to provide students with general information only. Please refer to UFV Academic Misconduct Policy (70) for more detailed.
Avoiding Academic Misconduct
Many plagiarism and cheating offences start off when a student is feeling pressured and panicky due to an upcoming deadline, and decides to 'cut corners' in order to complete work by that deadline. At that moment, it is important to remember that while handing in lesser quality work, or handing work in later, can certainly affect your grade, choosing to use plagiarism or cheating will have significant and far-reaching consequences that are much more serious. Cheating during an exam can occur for the same reasons.
Anytime you have a question about an action (e.g., Should I work with another person on an assignment? Should I share your paper notes? How should I cite a source? Can I copy from a website? The best thing to do is ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR FIRST. A quick email or visit in office hours can help you to know what choice to make and protect you against a misconduct offence.
Misconduct offences are taken very seriously at UFV and at all other academic institutions, and must be taken seriously by YOU. Whether you are caught or not, you know that you acted fraudulently.
Definitions of Academic Misconduct
Academic misconducts includes, but is not limited to the following:
1. Plagiarism See definition.
1.1. Plagiarism occurs when a student presents as his or her own the work or data of someone else.
1.2. Plagiarism occurs when paragraphs, phrases, sentences or ideas are taken from another source without referring to or citing the author. It can include the presentation of all or part of another person’s work as something one has written, paraphrasing another’s writing without proper acknowledgement, or representing another’s artistic or technical work or creation as one’s own.
1.3. Any use of the work of others, whether published, unpublished, or posted electronically, attributed or anonymous, must include proper acknowledgement.
Hide definition 2.1. Cheating includes, but is not limited to the following:
2.1.1. Communicating or attempting to communicate with another individual or other individuals during an exam without the permission of the instructor or invigilator.
2.1.2. Using or attempting to use answers of another student or students, providing answers to other students, or failing to take measures deemed reasonable to the instructor or invigilator to prevent the use of one's answers by other students in assignments or examinations.
2.1.3. Using text books, materials, or technologies not sanctioned by the instructor during an examination.
2.1.4. Consulting other students, materials, or technologies during an exam outside the confines of an examination room.
2.1.5. Submitting work prepared in collaboration with another individual or individuals, when collaborative work on a project has not been authorized by the instructor; this includes unauthorized collaboration in an online or electronic format.
2.1.6. Misrepresenting one's contributions to group projects.
2.1.7. Submitting work prepared in whole or in part by another person, including work purchased, and representing that work as one’s own.
2.1.8. Offering for sale essays or other assignments, in whole or in part, with the expectation that these works will be submitted by the purchaser to meet course requirements.
2.1.9. Preparing work in whole or in part, with the expectation that this work will be submitted by another student to meet course requirements.
2.1.10. Submitting any academic work containing a purported statement of fact or reference to a source that has been fabricated.
2.2. In the absence of specific approval from the instructor, students should assume that all assignments, exams, presentations, etc., are to be completed independently, without any form of collaboration.
Hide definition 3.1. Impersonation occurs when one individual claims to be another in class; in an online class or environment; in a test, examination, or interview; or in connection with any other type of assignment or placement associated with a course or academic program.
3.2. Both the impersonator and the individual impersonated may be subject to discipline.
Hide definition 4.1. Improper access to examination materials occurs when a student acquires, possesses, and/or distributes examinations, examinations materials, or information from an examination without the instructor’s authorization.
4.2. Both the distributor and recipient of such materials may be subject to discipline.
Hide definition 5.1. Falsifying, fabricating, or in any way modifying an academic document or record used in support of an application, record, petition/appeal, or endeavor constitutes academic misconduct.
5.2. An academic document or record includes but is not limited to a course student examination or test, transcript, grade, letter of recommendation or related document, note of instructor's permission for any activity, a degree, or a physician’s letter/form.
Hide definition 6.1. Submitting, in whole or part, an essay, presentation, or assignment more than once, whether the earlier submission was at this or another institution, unless prior approval has been obtained from the instructor(s), constitutes academic misconduct.
Hide definition 7.1. Academic research includes the collection, analysis, interpretation, and publication of information or data.
7.2. Improper research practice includes but is not limited to the following: dishonest reporting of investigative results, either through fabrication or falsification; taking or using the research results of others without permission or due acknowledgement; misrepresentation or selective reporting of research results or methodologies.
7.3. Violation of UFV’s policies regarding research ethics will be regarded as improper research practice.
Hide definition 8.1. Obstruction of an academic activity occurs when a student interferes with the scholarly activities of another in order to harass or gain or attempt to gain unfair academic advantage.
8.2. Obstruction includes but is not limited to the interference or tampering with experimental data, with a human or animal subject, with a written or other creation (e.g., a painting, sculpture or film), with a chemical used for scientific study, or with any other object of study.
Hide definition 9.1. Aiding and abetting occurs when a student encourages, enables, conspires with, or causes others to do or attempt any of the above.
Hide definition Penalties for Academic Misconducts
5.1. Penalties for academic misconduct may include but are not limited to the following:
5.1.1. A written reprimand
5.1.2. A requirement to complete the Academic Integrity Workshop offered by the Office of Academic Integrity and Appeals
5.1.3. Score of zero for the applicable assignment, exam, online posting, artwork, presentation, paper, project, or submission.
5.1.4. A grade reduction or no credit for the applicable course.
5.1.5. A recommendation to the President to expel the Student from the University
5.1.6. Revocation of an award.
5.1.7. Revocation of a degree, diploma, certificate, or other academic credential.
5.1.8. Denial of admission or readmission to the University, and forfeiture of University awards or financial assistance.
5.2. All penalties for academic misconduct will be recorded with the Office of Academic Integrity and Appeals.
5.3. No fees will be refunded to a student who is required to withdraw or lose credit for any class taken, or who is suspended or dismissed from any class or program as a result of a penalty for academic misconduct.
5.4. No student will be permitted to withdraw from a course to avoid incurring the penalty for academic misconduct.
5.5. A student under suspension from the University cannot receive transfer credit for courses taken in that time period at other institutions.
5.6. In determining the severity of the penalty for academic misconduct, the Dean or designate shall take into consideration any other instances of academic or non-academic misconduct.
Dealing with an accusation
Students have the right to appeal any disciplinary action using the Academic Appeal Policy (310.01). Appeals must be initiated within 10 UFV working days after an incident is determined to have taken place.
For more information please see the Academic Appeal Guide.
Helpful links and resources for promoting academic integrity and preventing academic misconducts:
