Academic Integrity

When you chose to become a member of the University of California San Diego community, you affirmed your commitment to excel with integrity because there can be no academic excellence without integrity. Integrity means having the courage to be honest, trustworthy, fair, respectful, and responsible, even when it is difficult (adapted from the definition of academic integrity provided by the International Center for Academic Integrity).

Think about why you chose UC San Diego. Perhaps it was for the tremendous learning opportunities we provide. Perhaps it was for our stellar international reputation. Regardless of your reason, integrity will be critical to achieving your goals. You cannot learn without integrity. You cannot benefit from what we offer if there is no integrity. And you cannot depend on a degree that was given without integrity.

Be informed. UC San Diego is a unique community. Discover how you can excel with integrity and help others do the same. You can learn more about academic integrity at UC San Diego by visiting the peer educators and resources in the Academic Integrity office, exploring the academic integrity website, taking the integrity tutorial, or reading UC San Diego’s Policy on Integrity of Scholarship. Also, be sure to talk with your instructors and teaching assistants for the integrity standards specific to your classes. In order to excel with integrity at UC San Diego, you must make sure that you understand what constitutes honest, trustworthy, fair, respectful, responsible, and courageous academic behaviors in each and every class.

Be involved. Living, working, and studying with integrity is a continuous process that requires your active involvement and commitment. You can volunteer or apply for a paid position with the Academic Integrity office, become an AS student advocate, or take on an ethical leadership role with another campus unit or student organization.

Be mindful. Studying during the pandemic throughout 2020–2021 revealed new temptations and opportunities for cheating. Online sites and companies encouraged students to use their services to cheat by receiving answers to assessment questions or purchasing an entire paper written by someone else. Platforms like Discord were intended to enable honest collaboration for learning but easily turned into sites for cheating during exams. Be mindful about your use of these sites and platforms. Stay away from sites that provide you answers, and know where the line is between learning and cheating and do not cross it.

Be informed. Be involved. Be mindful. Take the pledge to excel with integrity.