October is Academic Integrity Month at York! Throughout October, the Academic Integrity Month website will feature practical tips, scenarios, workshops and resources to support you in making informed decisions about your academic work.
This year's theme, Academic Integrity in Practice, focuses on the everyday decisions students make while learning, including how they collaborate with classmates, navigate generative AI, use sources and ask for help.
Here are a few ways you can put academic integrity into practice.
Use sources and tools responsibly
Academic work often involves using sources and tools and building on work you have done before. Whatever you draw on, your work should reflect your own learning and follow the expectations for your course or assignment.
- Acknowledge your sources. When you use someone else’s words, ideas, images or other material, make sure you acknowledge the source appropriately.
- Use artifical intelligence (AI) responsibly. Any use of AI should follow the expectations for your course or assignment and be acknowledged or documented as required.
- Be careful when reusing your own work. Reusing the same orsimilar work for more than one course or assignment without permission may be considered self-plagiarism. If you are unsure, check with your instructor.
If you need help developing your academic writing or strengthening your own voice, York’s Writing Centre offers one-on-one support.
Think critically about AI
AI can be useful for tasks like brainstorming, exploring ideas or getting started, but it can also produce inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information.
- Check what is allowed. Expectations for using AI can vary by course and assignment. Review your syllabus, assignment instructions and eClass announcements, and ask your instructor if you are unsure.
- Verify what AI produces. AI can provide incorrect information, invent sources or present uncertain information as fact. Check its claims against reliable sources.
- Stay engaged in your own learning. AI should not replace the thinking, analysis and decision-making that your assignment is designed to assess.
For more support, explore the Libraries workshops on AI and research. You can also find guidance and resources on the AI technology & Academic Integrity webpage.
Work with others appropriately
Working with your classmates can be an important part of learning.
- Know what kind of collaboration is permitted. Some assignments encourage students to work together, while others are intended to be completed independently.
- Keep collaborative work collaborative. When group work is allowed, make sure everyone understands their responsibilities and how the work should be completed and submitted.
- Check before sharing. If you are not sure whether you can share ideas, notes or other materials, ask your instructor or teaching assistant.
Stay organized and ask for help early
Good study habits can make it easier to complete your work with integrity, especially when deadlines start to pile up!
- Keep track of your sources. Taking clear notes while researching can help you remember where ideas and information came from and avoid citation mistakes later.
- Give yourself enough time. Starting assignments early gives you more time to understand the task, clarify expectations and make thoughtful decisions about your work.
- Ask for help when you need it. If you are confused about an assignment or unsure about what is permitted, reach out to your instructor or teaching assistant rather than guessing.
Know where to get support
York offers a range of resources to help you strengthen your academic skills and make informed decisions about your work.
- Explore York’s Student Papers and Academic Research Kit (SPARK) for guidance on collaboration, responsible use of AI, citing sources and applying academic integrity in your own work.
- Build your learning skills with resources on topics like time management, studying, note-taking and exam preparation.
- Get help with citations. The Libraries’ citation style guides can help you cite sources correctly.
- Review the Senate Policy on Academic Conduct for York’s formal academic conduct requirements.
- Check out York's academic student integrity resources for practical guidance and support.
Academic integrity is part of the everyday choices you make as a student. Knowing what is expected, asking questions and using the supports available to you can help you approach your academic work with confidence and take ownership of your learning.