Explore the information below to learn more about the core principles of academic integrity.

HONESTY

Honesty in learning, teaching, research, and service is an indispensable foundation of academic integrity. Falsification of data, lying, cheating, and other dishonest behaviors are unacceptable in academic communities of integrity.

TRUST

Climates of trust encourage and support the free exchange of ideas which in turn allows scholarly inquiry to reach its fullest potential. When honesty is established as a value it allows for and encourages the development of trust. Trust accrues over time, with experience, and is built on a foundation of actions more important than words.

FAIRNESS

Fair treatment is an essential factor in the establishment of ethical communities. Important components of fairness include predictability, transparency, and clear, reasonable expectations. Consistent and just responses to dishonesty and integrity breaches are also elements of fairness.

RESPECT

Scholarly communities succeed only where there is respect for community members and for the diverse and sometimes contradictory opinions they express. They honor, value, and consider diverse opinions and ideas. Students show respect when they value and take advantage of opportunities to gain new knowledge, by taking an active role in their own education, contributing to discussions as well as listening to others' points of view, and performing to the best of their ability.

RESPONSIBILITY

Cultivating responsibility means learning to recognize and resist the impulse to engage in unscrupulous behavior. Being a responsible member of an academic community also means holding others accountable when they fail to uphold the values of the group. Holding oneself and others to high standards of integrity is often challenging; it requires courage.

COURAGE

To develop and sustain communities of integrity, it takes more than simply believe in the fundamental values. Translating the values from talking points into action - standing up for them in the face of pressure and adversity - requires determination, commitment, and courage. Being courageous means acting in accordance with one's convictions even when doing so involves risk of negative consequences or reprisal.

These principles are taken from International Center for Academic Integrity, Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)