What does it mean to study with integrity?

Studying with integrity means completing your own work and taking responsibility for demonstrating what you have learned. This includes citing the work and ideas of others appropriately, participating actively in group work situations, asking questions to gain clarification if you are unsure, and managing your time so that you can complete your best work.

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is submitting material, in whole or in part, that is not your own work without citing the source. Plagiarism can occur in writing, art, music, computer codes, mathematics and scientific work.

When must you give credit?

You must give credit (cite) when you use another person’s ideas, opinion, theory, facts, statistics, etc., or any information that is not considered common knowledge.

What is common knowledge?

Common knowledge refers to facts that can be found in numerous places and are likely to be known by many people (e.g. Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister of Canada). When in doubt: cite, cite, cite.

What is citation?

Citation attributes ideas to their original source. This includes in-text citations, credits for images and full reference lists. Occasionally, you may have to cite personal communication between you and a classmate or an instructor, including within social media.

What is inappropriate collaboration?

Unless your instructor has given explicit permission for you to work with other students, you should complete the assignments on your own. Inappropriate collaboration can include dividing questions among group members, posting answers online, sharing research sources and ideas, and using previous years’ labs or assignments for guidance. If you have questions about your assignments, see your instructor for clarification.

Why can’t I submit my own work for another assignment?

While the work is your own, you have already received credit for it and cannot submit it for credit in additional courses. You are not demonstrating what you have learned as part of the process of learning.

Is recording a lecture considered academic misconduct?

The Student Code of Conduct states that, “[W]ithout expressed consent, students are not permitted to tape record, video record, or otherwise record course lectures, seminars or laboratories.” If permission has been granted, lecture materials belong to the instructor and should not be shared without that person’s written consent. For more information, review the policy at Brock University’s Student Code of Conduct website.

Is posting my lecture or class notes to public websites considered academic misconduct?

You own the lecture notes and summaries that you create, and may post them online. However, be very cautious not to include or incorporate any slides, handouts, notes, tests, or any other course materials (or any substantial portion of those course materials) created by your instructor. Course materials created by an instructor are the intellectual property of the instructor. Publicly posting or selling such works without your instructor’s consent may be grounds for a finding of academic misconduct.

Is paraphrasing plagiarism?

No. But you need to do more than just use a thesaurus to substitute words. Find the main ideas and rewrite them in your own words. You still must cite the source in the body of your assignment and in a reference list.

How do I safeguard my own work?

Keep copies and drafts of your work that are time stamped. Use a password on your documents and your computer. Never leave your work in public places.

What can I bring to my exams?

You can have the items you need to write the exam (i.e., pen) with you, as well as any approved materials such as cheat sheets or books as directed by the instructor. Please note that use or possession of unauthorized materials, including phones, will now result in a charge of academic misconduct. However, underneath your desk in the exam bag would not be seen as in your immediate possession. If you must bring your phone or last minute study notes to the exam, turn your phone off and place it, and your study notes, face down in the bag underneath your desk.