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Academic Integrity - Referencing, Citation & Avoiding Plagiarism: What is Academic Integrity?

This guide explains what referencing and citation is and how to use the APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA and Vancouver Styles. It includes links to each style guide.

What is Academic Integrity?

What is Academic Integrity?

 

Academic Integrity is the compliance with ethical and professional principles, standards, practices and consistent system of values, that serves as guidance for making decisions and taking actions in education, research and scholarship. (NAIN Academic Integrity: National Principles and Lexicon of Common Terms, p. 3)

There are six core values that underpin the concept of  Academic Integrity: 

  • Honesty
  • Trust 
  • Fairness
  • Respect
  • Responsibility 
  • Courage

 

This guide aims to help you develop the understanding needed in order to maintain your own academic integrity in your writing and research while at UCD.

UCD is committed to supporting faculty and students in embedding and nurturing a culture in which academic integrity flourishes and in which breaches of academic integrity are promptly, efficiently and appropriately addressed according to their severity.
 

Further reading:

 

Protecting your Reputation

Academic Integrity is relevant not just during your time at University. How you behave at university can impact your future career. There have been numerous instances in the press recently, where public figures have been exposed as plagiarists. Careers have been ruined and reputations destroyed by this type of revelation. Good academic practise throughout your academic studies will ensure that you need never fear future discovery and exposure.

 

Promoting your Research Skills

Acknowledging the work of others has a secondary benefit for your reputation as it provides tangible evidence of your research skills. Knowing how to conduct a thorough and efficient search is a very desirable and transferable skill that may translate in to career opportunities as you enter the workforce and assist your career progression.

 

Demonstrating the Breadth of your Understanding & Expertise

When submitting your work, proper referencing and citation also clearly demonstrates that you have done the required research and have gained sufficient knowledge to make your argument. 

Understanding appropriate and inappropriate behaviours is not simple. Here is a brief, but not exhaustive list:
 
Appropriate behaviours include:
  • citing & referencing the sources you have consulted, quoted or paraphrased in your work
  • submitting your own work and sitting your own exams
  • accurately reporting your findings and abiding by research integrity guidelines
  • using information appropriately and ethically
  • using tools, such as generative AI, in an approved manner and with appropriate acknowledgement
  • acting with integrity even in difficult circumstances
  • maintaining respectful interactions with your peers, faculty and staff
 
Behaviours that are counter to integrity:
  • plagiarism
  • recycling or resubmitting work (self-plagiarism)
  • fabrication or falsification of information
  • collusion
  • exam cheating
  • contract cheating and impersonation
  • being disresectful of others or acting towards others in a manner that is inappropriate or offensive
  • using tools to generate content for submission without approval or appropriate acknowledgement
  • inappropriate or unauthorised use of generative AI without transparency
Your interactions matter just as much as your written work.

There is an expectation of respect within the UCD Community as described in full in the UCD Student Code of Conduct. Behaving with integrity includes conducting respectful and considerate interactions with your peers, faculty and all members of staff at UCD.
 

Standards of good conduct

The Student Code of Conduct is established on three principles: respect, responsibility and academic integrity.


Respect

The University promotes a culture which protects the dignity and respect of everyone and which supports your right to study in an environment which is free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. All members of the University community are expected to respect each other and to contribute to the creation of a positive environment. See the UCD Dignity and Respect Bullying and Harassment Policy and the Dignity and Respect Sexual Misconduct Policy for more information.


Under this Code you are expected to:
  • Conduct yourself in a manner that demonstrates respect for your fellow students, staff members and the University’s facilities and property.
  • Respect those living around you and members of the local community. Behaviour that adversely impacts on others may impact the University’s reputation. If you are living in University Residences, you must abide by the requirements of the License to Reside.
  • Communicate with your fellow students and staff members in a respectful and courteous manner. This includes formal communications with the University such as feedback mechanisms and surveys.

Responsibility

You are expected to act in a responsible way and take responsibility for your conduct. You should familiarise yourself with the standards of behaviour that the University expects and ensure that you are aware of your responsibilities as a UCD student.

You are expected to 

  • Abide by the University’s academic and student regulations, policies and procedures including this Student Code of Conduct.
  • Acknowledge and respect the authority of staff of the University in the performance of their duties and co-operate with them accordingly.
  • Take responsibility for your behaviour, on and off campus, and ensure that your actions don’t have a negative impact on yourself, others or the University.
  • Uphold the same high standards of good conduct while undertaking internships or work experience placements.
  • Be responsible for your student ID ensuring it is not used by others. ID cards must be presented to university staff on request.
  • Ensure that you understand and adhere to your responsibilities and obligations under any regulations or codes required by placement providers or host institutions. Students registered to programmes with student fitness to practise requirements should consult their Student Fitness to Practise Programme Statements.


(UCD Student Code of Conduct 2023/24, Part 1 Standards of Good Conduct, p.2)

 

Relevant Links

 

Understanding what help is available at UCD

 

In the event of an allegation of Academic misconduct, respondents will be notified through their UCD Connect email of the date and time of the Student Disciplinary Committee Hearing within 10 working days in advance of the hearing. Prior to the Student Disciplinary Hearing a respondent student is entitled to:

  •  request the participation of witnesses, within reason.
  •  review all relevant evidence that the University intends to rely on at the hearing, including the summary note of the student conduct meeting and any other relevant material.
  •  be supported at the hearing by a person of the respondent's choice; a support person may be a Student Adviser, SU Officer, Chaplain or parent.
  •  may provide written submissions to the Student Disciplinary Committee, in advance of the hearing. Documents for the hearing will be provided to the respondent and the Student Disciplinary Committee members at least five working days in advance of the hearing.

 

Additional information is provided on the UCD Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals, Student Conduct webpage

 

Links to UCD student supports

 

 

Additional support, beyond UCD

 

European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI) Victim Support Portal

 

The Victim Support Portal was created in 2020 by ENAI and is now managed and developed as part of the Erasmus+ FAITH project. The Portal seeks to build a community of support and guidance for victims of misconduct and questionable practices in research and education. We recognise that victims of unethical practices in academia or research are often left unsupported and afraid to seek help from their Institutions. Through this Portal, anyone can ask a question or discuss their problems in confidence and receive support from one or more dedicated mentors.

      
What are the Possible Consequences if I Breach the UCD Student Code?

 

If you are found to have breached the Student Code of Conduct a penalty will be applied from the options below. The penalty selected will depend on the nature of the breach and related circumstances. Penalties may be applied in combination:

  • a written reprimand
  • a fine not exceeding €1000
  • reduction of a component assessment grade or module grade up to and including the application of No Grade (NM) for the module
  • exclusion from sittings of examinations for a specified period
  • withhold ​of any academic award, scholarship or prize ​including on a permanent basis​
  • require the reparation of any damage or loss caused, either to the University or to any of its members of staff or students or members of the public
  • suspension from accessing specific University facilities
  • permanent exclusion from accessing specific University facilities
  • suspension from a UCD Residence
  • permanent expulsion from a UCD Residence
  • suspension from the University for a specified period, or until such time as any requirements laid down by the Committee such as payment of a fine or the restitution of damage or loss are fulfilled
  • permanent expulsion from the University

 

In addition to the penalties above, a student may be required to complete an activity / action intended to satisfy the University that a student understands the consequences of their actions. Committee may in exceptional cases, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, decide not to impose any penalty. 

(UCD Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals)

 

UCD Links

 

Additional Links