1 Academic Integrity: Introduction
Academic Integrity: A shared responsibility
As a student at TCC you are a part of an academic community that is governed by the fundamental principles of academic integrity. It is important for all members of the community, professors and students alike, to uphold these principles for the advancement of academic scholarship and the continued building of knowledge.
In today’s educational environment, this shared responsibility extends to the ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools. Just as we maintain integrity in traditional research and writing practices, we must also approach AI tools with the same commitment to honesty, transparency, and educational growth.
Why you should care
A degree or certificate that is achieved without compromising your own integrity, and simultaneously upholding TCC’s academic integrity standards, is a true representation of all the hard work and dedication you put into your studies. You can therefore rightfully be proud of your achievement as you maintained your reputation as well as that of TCC.
You will also be well prepared for success in your career as you have put the necessary time and effort into your work, gained much knowledge and developed many valuable skills, such as research, critical thinking and writing skills and much more. Understanding how to use AI tools ethically and transparently will also prepare you for future workplace environments where these technologies are increasingly common.
So what does Academic Integrity mean?
Key Takeaway
The International Center for Academic Integrity (2013), defines Academic Integrity as a commitment to uphold six fundamental values in the academic community, even when faced with adversity:
- honesty
- trust
- fairness
- respect
- responsibility
- courage
These values apply to all aspects of your academic work, including how you engage with traditional sources, collaborate with peers, and utilize emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The following pages will define the six academic integrity values in more detail and will give you various real life scenarios to illustrate appropriate and inappropriate actions. The scenarios are adapted from the Integrity Matters app (MusicCentric Technologies, 2018).
