Academic Integrity at MIT:  Expected of All Students

As an MIT student, you are a member of "the academy"—students, teachers, scientists, humanists, and engineers working together to fulfill the Institute’s mission “to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.”  Being a member of this community bestows great privilege—and great responsibility. MIT expects all students to uphold high standards of academic honesty and personal conduct. 

What is academic integrity? 

The Center for Academic Integrity offers the following concise definition of academic integrity: “a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility… that enable academic communities to translate ideals to action.”¹ As an MIT student, you are required to understand the principles of academic integrity and why it is important. This section will help you accomplish that task and learn how to maintain academic integrity throughout your studies at MIT.

• First, explore in detail the importance of academic integrity and the definitions of plagiarism and cheating.
• Then, learn the consequences of violating academic integrity at MIT.
• Finally, explore tools for maintaining integrity and avoiding situations that sometimes lead to cheating.

Reference:

1. The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity. The Center for Academic Integrity, October 1999. Available online at http://www.academicintegrity.org/fundamental_values_project/index.php.