Academic Integrity for Students

Academic integrity is fundamental to Sheridan's reputation. When awarded a degree, diploma or certificate by Sheridan, it represents all of the hard work, dedication, commitment and integrity students have put into their work. Furthermore, completing work with integrity ensures that students are well-prepared for success in their careers and ready to be ethical and contributing members of society.

Sheridan is strongly committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity; it expects that all of its members maintain the highest standards of academic integrity throughout all areas of academic life, including teaching and learning, research, writing and all other scholarly work.

As a Sheridan student, you are responsible for:

• Understanding what constitutes academic integrity, as defined in Sheridan's Academic Integrity Policy
• Knowing the consequences of an academic integrity breach, as outlined in Sheridan's Academic Integrity Procedure

Academic integrity breaches are acts of academic misconduct. For more detailed information about breaches, review Sheridan’s Academic Integrity Policy

Plagiarism: Presenting another person’s words or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgement (citation).

Contract cheating: Using a third party to complete your work for you. Third parties include essay mills, assignment completion services, friends or relatives. Contract cheating is a serious breach of academic integrity.

Cheating: Gaining unauthorized assistance on academic work and on tests or exams. This includes getting help on tests and exams or submitting someone else’s previous assignment, including a friend’s assignment or an assignment from a note-sharing site.

Impersonation: Taking someone’s place in a situation that involves evaluation (e.g. test, exam, presentation, etc.). Impersonation is a serious breach of academic integrity.

Improper Research Practice: When conducting research, presenting a dishonest reporting of results.

Falsification: Forging a document or the signature on a document such as a doctor’s note or placement or co-op form.

Obstruction of the Academic Activities of Another: Not allowing other students to complete their work or not allowing them access to resources they need.

Improper Use of Digital Technology: Unauthorized entry into a computer file (including SLATE) in order to use, read, transfer or change its contents; using another student’s ID and password.

Aiding and Abetting: Encouraging, enabling or causing others to commit any of the above with intent to mislead.

To learn how to avoid engaging in breaches, see Avoid a Breach.

If you have been suspected of a breach of academic integrity, your first steps are to:

1. Read over Section A of the breach form from your professor.
2. Reply to your professor within 2 business days of receiving the notification. Within these 2 days, be sure to:
   • Write your reply in the “Student Comments” section of the breach form on page 2 and email the form back to your professor.
   • If appropriate, request a meeting with your professor to tell your side of the story and present evidence. Before doing so, review Sheridan's Academic Integrity Policy for detailed explanations of breaches and examples, and be prepared to supply evidence to support your case.

Once a decision has been made on whether or not a breach has occurred, you will be notified by email about this decision 5 days after the original email/meeting.

For a full description of your rights and responsibilities regarding breaches of academic integrity, see Academic Integrity Procedure