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Importance Of Academic Integrity Essay

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According to the online Oxford English Dictionary, integrity is the “soundness of moral principle; the character of uncorrupted virtue, esp. in relation to truth and fair dealing; uprightness, honesty, sincerity.” How does the dictionary definition of integrity apply to personal thoughts on academic integrity and the importance and impact of such? It provides a firm starting point for the effective communication of ideas (or ideals, in this instance). Academic integrity may mean different things to different people; some may doubt its importance or underestimate its impact while some may cling to it as one of the most critical aspects of their college community. On a personal level, however, academic integrity means holding oneself and …show more content…

When students do not hold each other accountable and require each other to be honest, could there be any credibility? Other colleges would not accept grades on transcripts because there could be no guarantee that the student did not just plagiarize their way through assignments. Workplaces would not accept degrees because they could not be certain that the student genuinely had the skills they needed. In order for anything to be considered as properly earned in a student-led honor system, the college and the students must have a strong sense of academic integrity and have a reputation for being an honorable community. Academic integrity affects more than just the collegiate experience, however. It impacts the campus community and becomes a cornerstone of the society. When the campus community values academic integrity, that respect bleeds over into other aspects of life. If students hold each other accountable for their academic actions, the same thought processes can be used to hold each other accountable for social actions. When a community requires each member to have a certain level of respect for each other-- respect that prevents students from taking each other’s work and prevents students from allowing others to make bad academic decisions-- the respect goes beyond academic matters. When students respect one another, they will consider the needs their fellow students may have and they will help them become not only better students but better people in

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