Academic Integrity

What is academic integrity?

Academic integrity is built on the principle of scholastic honesty. It means that honesty is essential to an academic community and is reinforced by the following:

•     Trust, so that proper cooperation is guaranteed;

•     Fairness, so that those who are honest are not disadvantaged by the dishonesty of a few;

•     Respect, so that students and faculty acknowledge the dignity, worth, and work of others;

•     Responsibility, so that we take action in the face of wrongdoing.

In the pursuit of truth, cheating and plagiarism degrade an academic community. It is not only faculty who have a role in academic integrity—most importantly, students should take ownership of it, too.

Why is academic integrity important?

Survey data show that about 20% of college students in the United States cheat frequently and that 20% never cheat. That means about 60% of students in the middle are occasionally tempted to cheat.

You are familiar with the rationalizations for cheating: “Everyone does it.” “The class is too hard or unfair.” Indeed, cheating rates in high schools are much higher than in college, and so adjusting to the demands of college can frequently be hard for young students. But think of college as a key opportunity in your life to build virtues and character that will serve you for a lifetime. Employers and professional schools value highly alumni who have earned reputations for integrity. Doing the right thing does pay off, but we have to help each other through the periods of temptation.

What should be expected at USD?

You should expect the following:

•     You will be signing a pledge to follow USD’s academic integrity policy.

•     You will hear about and talk about integrity during orientation.

•     Faculty will be vigilant.

•     Student organizations will encourage you to sign a pledge on each examination: “I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this examination.”

•     Hearing committees, with student representatives, will adjudicate reported violations fairly.

•     Attention to values and ethical reflection will occur throughout the curriculum and in student life generally.