Beginning on your first day, all courses and instructors will expect that you strictly adhere to the Code of Academic Integrity and Code of Student Conduct.
Academic integrity is important:
- Because academic dishonesty inhibits learning – students learn when they try, even if they don’t get a perfect score on every assignment.
- So people can trust your work – A reputation for being untruthful will overshadow how smart and how motivated you really are when you go to take the next step in your academic or professional life.
- So you stay true to your own expectations – You are constantly depending on people to act with integrity, for example, you expect your doctors to have completed medical school by learning the material in an honest way—make sure that people can trust you now and during your professional career.
- To maintain the integrity of a University of Maryland degree – If you have a degree from the University of Maryland, others will expect you to have earned your degree from one of the best institutions in the country. They believe you have learned as much about your major as anyone, that you are prepared to apply that knowledge to the real world, and be an innovator, a problem-solver, and be a leader.
- To uphold the standards of the University of Maryland community – Ethical action and strong moral character are expected from all community members. Acting with academic integrity is one of the most important ways you can show Maryland Pride.
- Because it implies a vigilance in doing work the right way.
- Most students who are referred to the Office of Student Conduct are referred for behavior they were unaware was a violation, or for something done in a moment of haste.
Student experience (PDF of script):