Academic integrity

We at Concordia University value academic integrity. Academic integrity means that every student must be honest and accurate in their work. This means that there are rules and regulations to follow when presenting your work as your own.

Plagiarism—taking someone else's work and presenting it as your own—is one of the most serious forms of academic misconduct. Find out What is Plagiarism? and how you can avoid it.

Plagiarism is just one form of academic misconduct. Find out about other forms of Academic Misconduct and how to avoid them.

"My dog ate my homework!" People can come up with many reasons why they did something wrong. Find out why Excuses Won't Work.

Concordia's Academic Code of Conduct sets out the rules for academic integrity at the University. Learn more about it.

Plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct are serious matters. Learn about the Penalties you could face if you break the rules.

It's NOT OK to: (But if you do...)

• Copy from ANYWHERE without saying from where it came.
• Let another student copy your work and then submit it as his/her own.
• Hand in the same assignment in more than one class.
• Have unauthorized material in an exam, such as cheat sheets, crib notes. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CAUGHT USING THEM - JUST HAVING THEM WILL GET YOU INTO TROUBLE!
• Copy from someone else's exam.
• Communicate with another student during an exam by talking or using some form of signals.
• Add or remove pages from an examination booklet or take the booklet out of an exam room.
• Get hold of or steal exam or assignment answers or questions.
• Write a test or exam for someone else or have someone write for you.
• Hand in false documents such as medical notes, transcript or record.
• Falsify data or research results.

But if you do...

• The Professor will file an incident report.
• You will be asked to come to an interview with the Associate Dean.
• A decision will be made to uphold or dismiss the charge.
• If the charge is upheld, one or more of the following sanctions will be given:
  • A letter of reprimand
  • Resubmit the assignment or redo the exam
  • A grade of "0" in the assignment, exam or course
  • A failing grade in the course with no right to a supplemental exam
  • Requirement to take up to an additional 24 credits
• In the case of a second offence, one or more of the following sanctions will also be given in addition to the possible sanctions above:
  • Suspension of up to three years
  • Expulsion from the University
• A charge of academic misconduct will appear on your student record.
• If you believe the charge was incorrectly upheld, you have the right to request a hearing before an Academic Hearing Panel composed of three professors and two students. This is not an appeal but is a complete rehearing of the case.