The definition of academic integrity

integrity, n. \in-ˈte-grə-tē\

1. “the quality of being honest and fair”, and
2. “the state of being complete or whole.” (“Integrity,” n.d.)

How do these definitions of integrity relate to what we mean by academic integrity? In terms of the first definition, academic integrity means being honest and fair with regard to all scholarly activity — from completing assignments to sitting exams.

But the second definition of integrity is also relevant. You shouldn’t be “honest and fair” just because you’ve been told to do so or because you are afraid of the consequences of not doing so. Rather, it’s important for you to understand and value academic integrity as an expression of your own beliefs about what is good and right. In other words, by conducting your study and research with integrity, you make “complete” or “whole” the relationship between your own judgement and action. This means that you “achieve with integrity”, according to both definitions given above.