BCIT supports and encourages integrity and ethical conduct in all areas of academic work, research and scholarship. Students are expected to conduct themselves with the highest level of academic integrity.
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty includes trustworthiness and adherence to facts. It is a central element of learning and intellectual activity at all institutes of higher learning. Academic honesty includes:
- Independently producing work submitted under one’s own name.
- Acknowledgement of any and all individuals who have contributed to a piece of work in any manner.
- Properly and appropriately referencing all work.
- Acknowledging all sources used.
- Completing examinations without giving or receiving assistance, except for those students who have received authorization from the Institute to obtain accommodation through BCIT Accessibility Services.
- Respecting the integrity of examination materials and /or the examination process.
- Respecting the integrity of computer security systems, software copyrights and the privacy of others’ files.
Research ethics
The Institute expects all students engaged in research, whether funded or not, and whether a course requirement or not, to adhere to the principles prescribed by the Institute and contained in Policy 6500, Research Ethics for Human Participants; and Policy 6600, Integrity in Research.
Plagiarism
Academic integrity requires that students do not falsely claim credit for the ideas, writing, or other intellectual property of others, either by presenting such works as their own or through impersonation.
Cheating
The following activities are examples (not all-inclusive) of cheating:
- Using cheat sheets or other sources of information in an examination, without authorization.
- Communicating, in any way, with other students during an examination, to give or receive answers to exam questions.
- Preparing work in whole or in part, with the expectation that this work will be submitted by another student for appraisal.
- Offering for sale essays or other assignments, in whole or in part, with the expectation that these works will be submitted by a student for appraisal.
- Submitting the work one has completed for one class, either at BCIT or elsewhere, for appraisal in a second class without prior authorization by the instructor.
- Impersonating another student in an exam, test or interview.
- Changing the score on an examination, test, or any assignment.
- Encouraging, enabling or causing others to do or attempt any of the above.
Safety violations
Students are responsible to carry out their work in accordance with the established occupational health and safety policies and programs which include:
- Using personal protective equipment, devices, and clothing as required.
- Not engaging in horseplay or similar conduct that may endanger themselves or any other person.
- Protecting their ability to work safely by avoiding impairment by alcohol, drugs, or other causes.
- Reporting any hazards and incidents to the supervisor.
Investigations and Sanctions
For more information about how prospective incidents of academic misconduct are investigated and what outcomes are possible should a student be found to have violated the Student Code of Academic Integrity, visit the Reporting Academic Misconduct page.