Understanding Academic Integrity

What is academic integrity?

At the University of Florida (UF), academic integrity is considered a core responsibility of all faculty, staff, and students.  When you enrolled at the University, you committed to upholding the principle of academic integrity, which means you will “uphold the highest ethical standards of academic conduct.”  The standards of academic conduct are defined by the Student Honor Code and require students to approach their learning in an academically honest manner. This is reflected in the UF Honor Pledge: 

“We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. On all work submitted for credit by students at the university, the following pledge is either required or implied: On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” 

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University, as a College of Public Health and Health Professions student, you are expected to demonstrate appropriate ethical conduct and to uphold the ethical principles of your individual discipline. If you are unfamiliar with the discipline code for your career path of interest, we encourage you to review and discuss it with your program’s academic integrity representative, faculty and other students.

Codes of ethics for disciplines within the College of Public Health and Health Professions:

What is academic misconduct?

Academic misconduct is defined in the Student Honor Code and includes student participation in any unauthorized activities while completing or assisting someone else in completing any part of a course.  Examples of unauthorized activities include cheating (e.g., using unauthorized materials, collaborating with an unauthorized person), plagiarism (e.g., claiming the work of someone else is yours), and using false or misleading information.  There are several other categories of academic misconduct, and it is important that you understand each of them as defined in the Student Honor Code.