Writing Centre

Students are expected to act with academic integrity throughout their studies at Georgian College, in alignment with the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI)'s Fundamental Values.

This includes the obligation to

• acknowledge sources;
• protect one’s work;
• avoid suspicion, falsification and fabrication; and
• to tell the truth.

If your professor suspects a breach of academic integrity in your work, they will:

• notify you of their concerns and ask to discuss the issue with you
• inform and consult with the program coordinator
• check for previous breaches of academic integrity with the Registrar's office

Review the Georgian College Academic Integrity Regulations for full details about academic integrity and breaches, including definitions, policies and procedures, and consequences.

This guide will provide you with information and resources to help you avoid breaches of academic integrity.

Image source: "6 Fundamental values of integrity" by Taylor Institute, University of Calgary, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) has identified 6 fundamental values for academic integrity:

honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. 

The ICAI's Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity, Third Edition [PDF], identifies ways to demonstrate each of the 6 values:

All first semester students must complete the Georgian College's Academic Integrity Modules (AIM).

Information about the modules, troubleshooting, and other resources can be found on the Academic Integrity Module page on the student portal.

Penalties for Breaches of Academic Integrity range in severity, depending on the situation and the number of prior breaches.

The initial penalties for breaches of academic integrity at Georgian College may include:

• verbal warning
• resubmitting work
• mark of zero in the work involved

Depending on the breach, your professor may also ask you to complete additional academic integrity training, attend a workshop or seek individual help to ensure that you can learn from the mistake and move on to be successful in your future assignments.

Breaches of Academic Integrity are recorded by the Registrar's office.

After one or more offences, penalties increase in severity and may also include:

• mark of zero in the course (after multiple offences)
• suspension from the college for one or more semesters
• dismissal from program or college for varying periods of time

Review the Georgian College Academic Integrity Regulations for full details about academic integrity and breaches, including definitions, policies and procedures, and consequences.