Academic Integrity – What is Academic Dishonesty?

Academic dishonesty refers to unethical practices in educational settings, such as cheating, plagiarism, and the improper use of technology like artificial intelligence tools. It includes actions like submitting someone else's work as your own, copying without proper attribution, receiving unacknowledged assistance, reusing your own previous work without permission, and using AI-generated content contrary to your teacher's or institution's policies. By understanding these forms of misconduct and adhering to guidelines on AI use, students will be better prepared to uphold academic integrity and responsibly incorporate technology in their work.

illustration of a student looking at phone during a test

Tempted by shortcuts: A student risks their academic future by sneaking a glance at their phone during an exam.

Academic dishonesty, often synonymous with cheating, encompasses various unethical behaviors in educational settings. This includes situations where individuals ask others to write part or all of a document on their behalf, as well as the misuse of technology like artificial intelligence tools.

High schools and colleges in the United States have distinct policies for addressing plagiarism and academic misconduct. Some institutions may expel students after a first offense, while others might place an “FF” (indicating failure due to academic dishonesty) on the student’s transcript, permanently affecting their academic record.

Students are guilty of academic dishonesty when they:

Submit work written by others as their own: Secretly arranging for someone else to write an entire document and submitting it to an instructor.
Plagiarize: Copying all or parts of passages from others’ works without proper attribution.
Receive unacknowledged assistance: Accepting help from others without acknowledging their contributions.
Self-plagiarize: Submitting the same paper to multiple courses without permission.
Misuse AI tools contrary to policies: Using artificial intelligence to generate content for assignments without following their teacher’s or institution’s guidelines.

With the growing use of AI tools, new challenges have emerged. Some students use AI-generated content in ways that violate academic integrity policies. However, detection tools designed to identify AI-generated text are still in their infancy and do not always work effectively. This means educators cannot rely solely on technology to prevent AI-related misconduct.

In response, educators are adopting a range of strategies, including:

Educating about plagiarism and AI misuse: Requiring students to visit websites that define plagiarism, review citation conventions, and understand appropriate AI usage.
Setting clear AI policies: Establishing guidelines for AI use in coursework, so students understand what is permissible.
Enforcing honor codes: Having students sign honor codes affirming their commitment to academic integrity.