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Academic Integrity
The University is committed to learning and research, and hence is committed to truth and accuracy. Integrity and intellectual honesty in scholarship and scientific investigation are, therefore, of paramount importance. Any practice or conduct by a member of the University community that seriously deviates from those ethical standards for proposing, conducting and publishing research that are commonly accepted within the professional community constitutes academic misconduct in violation of University policy. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Fabrication or falsification of data, including intentionally misleading, selective or deliberately false reporting of credentials information.
- Unacknowledged appropriation of the work of others, including plagiarism, the abuse of confidentiality with respect to unpublished materials, or misappropriation of physical materials.
- Evasion of, or intentional failure to comply with research regulations or requirements, including but not limited to those applying to human subjects, laboratory animals, new drugs, radioactive materials, genetically altered organisms, and standards of safety.
Differences of interpretation or judgment, or honest error, do not constitute academic misconduct.
Any member of the University community who becomes aware of an apparent instance of fraud or other academic misconduct relating to research or scholarship has the responsibility to try to resolve the issue, if possible, in consultation with those directly involved. If consultation is inappropriate or unsuccessful, it is incumbent upon the individual to report the suspicious circumstances to the Head of the Department (or a comparable administrator) of the unit concerned, or to the person appointed by the vice-chancellor for research as the research standards officer.
The unit executive officers, deans, other administrators involved, and the entire academic community are charged with protecting the academic careers of persons who have in good faith reported possible fraud or misconduct in scholarship or research.
Graduate students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity in all areas of their training. Typical areas in which graduate students have concerns about infractions of academic integrity (called academic misconduct) include honesty in the classroom and laboratory, fabrication or falsification of data, plagiarism, lack of compliance with research regulations, allocation of credit, authorship of publications, and priority of discovery. Plagiarism is often a sensitive issue because many world cultures do not have the legal restrictions of the U.S. on the unacknowledged use of the work of others. Questions on academic integrity should be directed to your faculty advisor.
You are responsible for knowledge of, and compliance with, University of Illinois policies on academic integrity. Policy and Procedures on Academic Integrity in Research and Publication (http://www.research.uiuc.edu/) describes University policy and prescribes procedures for fact-finding and adjudication of allegations of academic misconduct. Although it focuses upon deterring and penalizing unacceptable conduct, its purpose is to promote compliance with the highest scholarly standards.
Background reading on issues of academic integrity is highly recommended to all graduate students and faculty advisors. Discussion of academic and research standards between graduate students and their advisors is strongly encouraged. A good starting point is On Being a Scientist published by the National Academy of Science, National Academy Press, 2101 N.W. Constitution Ave. Washington, D.C.