Academic Integrity

Introduction

Academic integrity is vital for the sustenance and advancement of any educational community that attempts to facilitate the active and honest search for and use of knowledge. The Center for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as “a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility” (4). All members of the UAH academic community, including administrators, faculty members, and students are responsible for upholding the values of academic integrity. The UAH Student Handbook sets out the policies and procedures to “uphold the integrity of the educational process and protect persons and property” (88). As a student, you can make a conscious effort to keep academic integrity at the heart of your educational career by learning about and practicing the policies in the UAH Student Handbook, but also by practicing the following principles of academic integrity.

Honesty

• The first component of academic integrity is honesty, which serves as an anchor for the other four components.
• At the heart of honesty is truth, meaning that learning, teaching, research, service, and all other educational activities should focus on the search for truth. Institutional policies and procedures require honesty from faculty and students, in that cheating, lying, fraud, plagiarism, and other dishonest behaviors are prohibited.
• As a student, you must take the initiative to honestly participate in your courses by turning in your own work, properly acknowledging sources, and practicing honesty with other students and faculty.

Trust

• If honesty is firmly in place in the educational environment, trust is inevitably established.
• The Center for Academic Integrity states: “An academic community of integrity fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages the free exchange of ideas, and enables all to reach their highest potential” (6).
• As a student, you should be able to trust your instructors to present you with clear course expectations and meaningful instruction.
• Faculty members need to be able to trust you to come to class on time, actively contribute to class, and to uphold academic honesty.
• You need to be able to trust other students and faculty members to allow you to freely express yourself and contribute to the learning process. Other individuals must be able to trust you to allow them to be a part of the learning community.

Fairness

• Fairness is related closely to honesty and trust.
• Students must expect faculty members to clearly explain course expectations, instructional activities, and assessments.
• As students, you must give your teacher adequate attention and participation in order to make learning active and meaningful.

Respect

• If the academic community has atmosphere of honesty, trust, and fairness, members of that academic community will respect one another and the principles of academic integrity.
• Worthwhile learning requires active engagement and participation by all members of the learning community.
• Students must first respect themselves and then, respect other students and faculty’s ability to offer effort and energy to the learning process.
• Faculty members display respect for their students by clarifying course expectations, including those expectations for academic honesty, providing intriguing and meaningful learning experiences, and creating fair and relevant assessments and evaluations.
• Students show respect by attending class, contributing to learning activities, and upholding academic honesty, by doing their own work.

Responsibility

• Academic integrity is the responsibility of all members of the academic community, including administrators, faculty members, and students.
• Administrators and faculty members must fully explain, exhibit, and encourage principles of academic integrity so that students understand those principles and are able to carry out academic integrity.
• Article I of the Code of Student Conduct, it provides: “These policies must uphold the integrity of the educational process and protect persons and property. They necessarily entail recognition of both rights and responsibilities for all members of the University community” (88).
• It is the choice and responsibility of administrators, faculty and students to uphold academic integrity—if they choose to do so, UAH will continue to grow and flourish.