Memorial University Libraries

Academic work is complex. Studying at university and doing academic work - writing research papers, completing labs, doing group work, and much more - requires time, energy, and attention to do it well.

We are all at different stages in our academic journeys. This page discusses academic integrity and offers guides and resources for all students - whether you are new to university or an experienced student looking to refresh your knowledge and improve your work.

See also: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and your academic work

Test your knowledge!

Find out how much you already know about academic integrity by taking our short Academic Integrity Quiz.

What is academic integrity?

The Memorial University Code states that “students, faculty, and staff shall treat others with respect and fairness, be responsible and honest, and uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.” (Memorial University of Newfoundland, University Calendar, Section 2.0)

Academic integrity means taking full responsibility for the academic work you submit for your courses, so that your professors can evaluate you on the basis of your own knowledge and effort. It means acting honestly in all academic pursuits, even in difficult circumstances.

You can learn more about the fundamental values of academic integrity from the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI).

Help with academic work

There are many supports available to help students maintain academic integrity.

• Finding sources - Librarians can help you find appropriate scholarly sources on any topic.
  • Drop in for an online chat
  • Drop in to visit our help desks, book a one-on-one appointment, email us, ask a Newfoundland question, and more: Ask us.
• Academic writing
  • Book an appointment with a Writing Centre tutor
  • The Writing Centre has many online guides to help you, including Strategies to Avoid Plagiarism, which discusses paraphrasing, summarizing, quotations, and citations.
• Citation guides
  • The Library can help you cite anything in any style! Check out our Citation and Style Guides. If you can't find what you need, Ask Us.
• Time management and study skills
  • Managing your time and studying effectively are essential skills that help you maintain academic integrity: Learning Skills Resources
• The Academic Integrity Checklist (PDF) - Use it when submitting assignments
• Other MUN supports
  • Some faculties and schools have established help centres for students for particular subjects:
    • Cahill Engineering One Student Success Centre
    • Chemistry First-Year Help Centre
    • Computer Science Help Centre
    • Economics Help Centre
    • Math Help Centre
    • Statistics Help Centre
  • Academic Advisors can help to address your academic concerns or questions. Book an appointment:
    
    • St. John's campus students
    • Grenfell campus students

Fast facts about academic misconduct

Aritifical Intelligence (AI) generators

• See Artificial Intelligence (AI) and your academic work

Online tests and exams

• You are only permitted to bring the items specified by your professor to your test or exam. Unauthorized devices (cellphones, calculators, translators or dictionaries, etc.) are not permitted during tests or exams, even if you are not using them. This also applies to test written online: you cannot have your cell phone or other unauthorized aid with you, even if you don’t use it.
• Using “Homework help” sites is also considered cheating. Examples include:
  • Uploading an exam or assignment question to a website and asking for a solution.
  • Copying a solution you found on a website and submitting it for an assignment, test, or exam.
  • Even if you post the question and don’t receive an answer or don’t use the answer you receive, you have still committed academic misconduct. 
  • Being in contact with other students while writing a test or exam is also cheating if you are not given permission to collaborate. Other students can be “unauthorized aids.” 
  • Obtaining or sharing questions or answers to an upcoming test or exam is academic misconduct.

Collaborative work

• Unless your professor has given permission for students to work on individual assignments together, it is not acceptable to work on individual assignments in a group. Sure, you might want to chat about your approach with classmates, but be sure that you write your own assignment, and share it only with your professor.  
• If you’re not sure about your professor’s expectations about an assignment and group work, ask for clarification. It’ll help you and your classmates to work with integrity.

Plagiarism

• Plagiarism means using words, images, or ideas that you took from elsewhere and presenting them as your own. All information (including data, tables or charts) you take from other sources must be cited in your assignments and reports. Citation guidelines are available for you to use.
• Students at Memorial University are expected to produce their own work. Buying or borrowing work from elsewhere is considered cheating.
• You must produce new work for each course you do. If you have previously submitted work in one course (or for a work term report, for example), you cannot submit the same work in another course unless you get specific permission to do this from your professors.
• It is not acceptable to change your answers on a test or assignment after it has already been submitted and graded.

Academic misconduct

• All academic offences are taken seriously, even if it is your first time.
• "But I didn't know" will not excuse you from the consequences of academic misconduct.
• Academic misconduct can be discovered years after you've graduated and can affect your career and accomplishments.
• The above list contains some examples. To learn more about potential breaches of academic integrity, see the Memorial University Calendar:
  • Undergraduate students - General regulations: Academic misconduct
  • Graduate students - General regulations: Academic misconduct

INTG 1000: The Academic Integrity course

INTG 1000 is an online course designed to help you learn more about academic integrity and the important role it plays at Memorial University. It is a non-credit course that is required for all undergraduate students new to Memorial. Students cannot register for their second term until they pass INTG 1000.

Find out more about INTG 1000 or contact the course coordinators, Erin Alcock and Wendy Rodgers, at academicintegrity@mun.ca.

Ask us

If you still have questions about academic integrity, we're here to help you! Ask us.