Academic integrity, student cheating, and plagiarism are concerns of the utmost importance to university faculty, administrators, writing center and tutoring staff, librarians, and academic advisors. These short, straightforward definitions of academic integrity and plagiarism are meant to assist persons interested in understanding more about these issues.
Academic Integrity:
Most sources define academic integrity (or academic honesty) as the foundation of academic life. It is the manner in which you behave in an academic environment when you do research, write a paper, or create a project. The fundamental five values in this academic process are honesty, trust, respect, fairness, and responsibility. Academic integrity is the commitment to live by these values. Plagiarism is an aspect of academic integrity in that using another's ideas, words, theories, illustrations or graphics, opinions, or facts without giving credit is dishonest.
Plagiarism:
To use, steal, or represent the ideas, words, or products of another as your own ideas, words, or products. Use of someone else's ideas, words, or products without giving credit to the author or originator is considered plagiarism.
When using or quoting word-for-word the words of another person, it must be acknowledged. Summarizing or paraphrasing the words or ideas of another without giving that person credit is also plagiarism.