Academic Integrity

Collaborating on group projects is acceptable as long as everyone contributes equally and receives credit for their fair share of work. Although enforcing this can be challenging, academic integrity should guide you to act fairly towards your group members.

• Participate fully in all meetings and contribute your fair share of the tasks.

• Distribute tasks fairly, but remember that "fair" doesn't always mean "equal." Use each member’s strengths to create a final product everyone can be proud of.

• Scholars teach each other, offer thoughtful feedback, and provide constructive criticism.

The key takeaway regarding academic integrity in group work is that every member is responsible for the group's deliverables and submissions. This means you must ensure that no one in your group submits material flagged for an AI violation. Protect yourself by reviewing the entire project, not just your individual contribution.

The biggest risk to your academic integrity when working alone is plagiarism. To avoid this:

• Keep detailed notes on the materials you reference.
• When quoting or paraphrasing, always properly attribute the source, whether intentional or not. Unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism.
• When in doubt, document your sources.
• Learn responsible research techniques to avoid accidental plagiarism.

Another risk comes from trying to help others, like letting a friend copy your work or giving someone an answer during a test. While helping may feel good, it's actually cheating and compromises both your integrity and theirs. Resist the urge to do “favors” that undermine academic honesty.

Be cautious of course-share sites. Uploading materials to such sites is usually considered an Intellectual Property violation, and downloading materials from them is an academic integrity violation. If unsure, ask your instructor for clarification on the use of these sites.

Maintain respect for yourself and others at all times. When you commit to doing your best, academic integrity will naturally become a core part of your scholarship.

You’ll gain confidence from knowing your work is legitimate, and you’ll be confident that others are doing their work honestly, too. By practicing academic integrity, you will earn the respect of both peers and faculty, establishing yourself as a valuable contributor to the Penn State community’s success.

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your own, whether deliberate or accidental. It's a serious violation of academic integrity with significant consequences.

To protect yourself against unintentional plagiarism:

• Educate yourself on the different forms of plagiarism. Penn State’s Types of Plagiarism document and the Academic Integrity Module are great resources.
• Practice responsible research techniques. Penn State’s Citation and Writing Guides website offers valuable information on locating resources, citing sources, and more.
• Keep a writer’s guide handy. A Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker provides specific examples of citation styles and formats.
• If you're ever unsure, ask for help. Your instructor and the Writing Center tutors are available to guide you in properly citing sources.

The consequences for violating academic integrity standards are serious. Violations can lead to:

• Failing an assignment or course
• Academic probation
• Dismissal from your academic program

By proactively maintaining academic integrity, you can avoid these consequences and ensure your academic success.