Academic integrity forms the backbone of our college community, one dedicated to learning, to the search for understanding, and to open, critical inquiry. In practice, academic integrity refers to a complex of ethical principles and behaviors that pertain to everyone -- not just students -- teaching, learning, and working in an academic context. The International Center for Academic Integrity identifies six foundational values intrinsic to integrity-driven behavior -- honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage.
For students in particular, academic integrity is most often associated with course-work, and the TCTC Catalog (2019-20) directly addresses student responsibilities in this light.
Students are expected to carry out all of their responsibilities, including course-related assignments, with honesty. The engagement in academic dishonesty by a student is unfair to fellow students who are working with integrity and negatively impacts the value of the degrees, diplomas, and certificates awarded by the College. (p.34)
Transgressions of the principles of academic integrity are deemed academic misconduct and tend to fall into four basic categories – cheating, collusion, fabrication, and plagiarism (p.150). Each of these are examined in the course of this guide.
The catalog also notes that all forms of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action. Students have a presumed obligation to report academic misconduct, if and when they become aware of it. Failing to do so could violate the Student Code and potentially place the student at risk.
