Academic integrity is the cornerstone of intellectual inquiry at the Humphrey School. It is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment, and all students enrolled in University courses are expected to complete coursework responsibilities with fairness and honesty (Office for Community Standards). The credibility of our academic work – teaching, research, and outreach – hinges on our commitment to academic integrity.
Students are expected to do their own academic work and cite sources as necessary. Failing to do so is scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering, forging, or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis (Student Conduct Code). If it is determined that a student has cheated, they may be given an "F" or an "N" for the course, and may face additional sanctions from the University.
Scholastic dishonesty often happens in the form of plagiarism and may happen accidentally. According to the University of Minnesota Libraries, plagiarism can occur when writers do not cite their sources completely and correctly. To avoid accidental plagiarism, writers should cite every piece of information that is not a) the result of [their] own research, or b) common knowledge. This includes crediting authors of works which are the source of ideas and when ideas are paraphrased or quoted directly.
- To learn more about how to cite sources and avoid plagiarism, see the on-line tutorials on the U of M libraries website.
- The Office for Community Standards has compiled a useful list of suggestions pertaining to scholastic dishonesty. If you have additional questions, please clarify with your instructor for the course. Your instructor can respond to your specific questions regarding what would constitute scholastic dishonesty in the context of a particular class, for example, whether collaboration on assignments is permitted, requirements and methods for citing sources, if electronic aids are permitted or prohibited during an exam.
- Visit the Center for Writing for additional assistance.