In recognition of the International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating, Brock University’s Academic Integrity Advisory Committee is cautioning students against engaging in any forms of contract cheating and other forms of academic misconduct.  

The term ‘contract cheating’ is used to categorize a form of academic misconduct when student work is obtained or outsourced in any form, such as through family members, friends, providers of academic writing, learning and non-learning sites, exam-taker impersonators, sites providing tutoring services, and depositories of academic content also known as ‘paper mills’ and ‘essay banks.’ 

Students face serious personal, professional and academic risks when engaging in any form of contract cheating activity, no matter the context in which it is represented.  

Brock University is represented at different forums and professional networks dedicated to academic integrity in Canada and abroad. One common theme heard and supported by Brock’s Academic Advisory Committee is that the breadth of academic misconduct extends beyond the academic context.  

For this year’s International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating on Wednesday, Oct. 19, the International Center for Academic Integrity is promoting the theme of ‘Addressing Contract Cheating and Beyond in the New Learning Environment’ with focus on ‘how each of us has a role to play in supporting academic integrity.’ 

At Brock, the Academic Integrity Advisory Committee reiterates the role of the University’s Academic Integrity Policy, which provides a detailed account of terms, procedures and scenarios associated with academic misconduct. In the classroom, Brock University instructors are encouraged to discuss expectations for academic work with their students and the importance of academic integrity, including in their program of study. It is students’ responsibility to study with integrity, which means completing their own work, giving credit to the work and ideas of others, and actively participating and contributing to group work. 

The A-Z Learning Services website offers several resources that can help students identify academic misconduct and learn how to avoid it. Additional information for students and instructors is available on the Academic Integrity website, including resources and departments each can consult with regarding academic integrity policies, procedures and best practises.