Academic Integrity

Integrity in academic work is a central element of learning and is the basis of intellectual pursuits in any academic community. It is also your responsibility to abide by the Student Conduct Code and Student Academic Code of Conduct.

Why is this important?

When you come to VIU you are entering a community of learners—people like you, who are here to gain a better understanding of the world and develop the skills, attitudes and habits that will help them find their place in the world of today. For your new community to work well and be a place where everyone can learn well, all of us need to play by the same rules of fairness. This means that we all have to give credit to other people for their ideas, take responsibility for our own ideas, and respect others’ privacy. To make this community work, all students are expected to meet the standards of academic integrity.

Standards of Academic Integrity

Include, but are not limited to:

  • independently producing work submitted under their own name;
  • properly and appropriately referencing all work;
  • identifying all collaborators in work;
  • completing examinations without giving or receiving assistance, excepting those students requiring assistance due to a documented disability;
  • respecting the integrity of examination materials and/or the examination process; and respecting the integrity of computer security systems, software copyrights and file privacy of others.

Academic Misconduct

Includes, but is not limited to:

  • Cheating
    Cheating is an act of deception by which students misrepresent that they or others have mastered information for an academic exercise.
  • Fabrication
    Fabrication is the intentional use of false information or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent to deceive.
  • Plagiarism
    Plagiarism is the intentional unacknowledged use of someone else’s words, ideas, or data. When a student submits work for credit that includes the words, ideas or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references, in a style appropriate to the area of study, and, if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks or block format as well. By placing their names on work submitted for credit, students certify the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgments.
  • Facilitation of Academic Misconduct 
    Helping or attempting to help another to commit act(s) of academic misconduct   
  • Non-attendance
    Not attending, where attendance is deemed to be mandatory. Absences due to personal illness, family illness, death of an immediate family member, religious ceremonies, or sports events in which the student represents Vancouver Island University are allowed and must be approved by the appropriate instructor or coordinator. Non-attendance must be for valid reasons and not falsified. Some departments have specific attendance requirements, and details may be obtained from the instructor, department chair, or program coordinator.

More information about the Student Code of Conduct.