By Madison Hansen, Academic Integrity Program Director – Office of the Dean of Students
Boise State strives to uphold a strong culture of academic integrity. Academic integrity simply means that students do their own work and take responsibility for their academics. Academic integrity creates fairness, ensures that students are engaged and learning, and graduates who have credible degrees from an institution with a strong reputation.
Examples of academic integrity include:
- giving credit where it’s due through citation practices
- collaborating ethically with peers
- avoiding the use of materials not provided by professors
- maintaining open and honest communication
Without academic integrity, misconduct like cheating, plagiarism, and unauthorized collaboration can occur. Fortunately, reports of academic misconduct at Boise State are relatively low. Students who violate the academic integrity policy face penalties ranging from a lowered or failing grade, up to being suspended or expelled. However, the Office of the Dean of Students works hard to give each student the tools to learn from their mistakes and move forward once those options are considered.
You play a critical role in helping your student maintain their own academic integrity. If your child comes to you asking for help on homework or papers, refrain from giving feedback; it’s important that they work through assignments on their own. If they come to you with concerns about academic misconduct in one of their classes, point them toward the Office of the Dean of Students for guidance. If your student is struggling in a class, let them know that it’s okay to ask for help. The Writing Center, Albertsons Library (see Library hours), the Math Learning Center, and the Advising and Academic Support Center are all excellent resources to help your student.