The following materials retrieved from: http://libguides.kpu.ca/academicintegrity

What does it mean to be a person of integrity?

First and foremost, it means to be honest and therefore trustworthy. It means having strong moral principles and striving to always “do the right thing”, even when it is difficult to do so and even if easier, but less honest ways of doing something are available.

Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures

Researchers and scholars at KPU have to adhere to the institution’s Integrity in Research and Scholarship Policy. Any integrity violations are outlined in and will be dealt with according to the Integrity in Research and Scholarship Procedure document.

The same high standards of academic integrity that are central to all research and scholarship are expected from students in their coursework. The policy for KPU students is Policy ST2, entitled Student Academic Integrity Policy. Integrity violations are outlined and will be dealt with according to the Procedures for Dealing with Academic Integrity Violations document. Consequences for students include:

• a grade of zero for an assessment (such as a paper)
• a failing grade in the respective course
• suspension from the university.

Integrity Violations

Integrity violations are defined as “engaging in, attempting to engage in, or assisting others to engage or attempt to engage in conduct that violates the standard of academic integrity required from Students by the University”. Violations include:

• Cheating and plagiarism, which is “an act of deception by which a Student misrepresents that he/she or others have mastered information for an Academic Assessment that the Student or others have not mastered.” Examples are:
  • Cheating:
    • using crib sheets
    • copying a classmate’s answers or exchanging information with another person during an examination
    • using calculators, dictionaries, electronic devices etc. during or related to an exam, unless expressly permitted
    • using any unauthorized device or aid in the preparation of or completion of an Academic Assessment
    • Ghost writing/Contract cheating: paying someone to write your paper/buying a paper online
  • Collusion:
    • submitting a paper as your own that was done entirely or partially by someone else
    • working with others on assignments if told you are to work individually
  • Plagiarism:
    • making unacknowledged use of someone else’s words, ideas or data regardless of source
      • not citing the sources you used
      • citing a source only in text
      • citing a source only in the reference list
      • not identifying direct quotes properly
      • paraphrasing or summarizing information from a source without acknowledgement
      • patchwriting
      • submitting all or part of the same Academic Assessment more than once without prior approval (self-plagiarism)
• Fabrication: the intentional use of invented information or the falsification of research or other findings (for example: data from an experiment; creating a reference to a source which does not exist)
• Forgery or Falsification of Documents: falsely completing, altering or falsifying any documentation required by the University in respect of academic matters, including medical notes, an academic record or transcript, or an application form
• Assisting Another Student in Committing an Integrity Violation:
  • allowing another Student to see examination answer
  • impersonating or agreeing to be impersonated on an Academic Assessment or online posting
  • helping another Student falsify documents
  • writing or producing a work for another student that they submit as their own work
  • sharing of information and resources in person or online and via social media platforms that may lead to an unfair advantage over other students
  • assisting another Student in any other Integrity Violation
• Infringement of Copyright: failing to comply with the provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act or any University policy pertaining to copyright compliance, in the preparation of an Academic Assessment

See KPU’s Procedures for Dealing with Academic Integrity Violations for more details.

Properly citing sources is an essential component of academic research. Original ideas or concepts are considered to be a person’s property. If you do not cite a source, you do not acknowledge the creator’s rights and therefore commit intellectual theft.

Academic Consequences of Plagiarism

At KPU, academic consequences for plagiarism range from a grade of zero for the paper to a failing grade in the respective course and even to suspension or expulsion from the university.

Avoiding Plagiarism – Quick Tips

Quoting

• Use quotation marks whenever quoting an exact phrase, sentence or short paragraph
• Longer quotations should not be included in quotation marks, but indented, as indicated by the citation style in use
• Always include a citation

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

• To correctly paraphrase or summarize, you must change both the language AND sentence structure
• Always include a citation

Citing

• Acknowledge ALL sources of borrowed ideas and materials, whether they are written, spoken, visuals or in any other format
• Properly format your in-text citations and your reference list (also called works cited or bibliography)
• Cite your sources both in your text AND in your reference list

Online Activities: Complete the KPU Academic Integrity Tutorial

Course requirements: You will need to read the first four modules of the Academic Integrity Pressbook and do the related exercises (modules 5-7 are optional, but may be assigned to you by your instructor; see info below). You will then need to complete 4 Module Quizzes in Moodle and check and submit an Academic Integrity Declaration. 

Click here to enroll in the Academic Integrity Moodle Course

• Step 1: Enrol in the Academic Integrity Moodle course.
• Step 2: Read the first module and do all the exercises in the Academic Integrity Pressbook  (there is a link to the book in the Moodle course as well) and then do Quiz One in Moodle.
• Step 3: Continue reading modules 2-4 and do the corresponding quizzes in Moodle after having finished each module. Go back to the Academic Integrity Pressbook if you get stuck on a question.
• Step 4: Read the Academic Integrity Declaration, check off the statements you agree with and submit it.