"Honesty forms the indispensable foundation of integrity and is prerequisite for full realization of trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility" (ICAI, 2021, p. 5).
Honesty is considered foundational to the teaching and learning relationship. Humber College provides clear expectations about the responsibility for faculty and staff related to honesty in all academic endeavours through Academic Regulation 17 https://academic-regulations.humber.ca/2022-2023/17.0-ACADEMIC-MISCONDUCT.
Honesty is demonstrated through behaviours and actions that include, but are not limited to:
"The ability to rely on the truth of someone or something is a fundamental pillar of academic pursuit and a necessary foundation of academic work" (ICAI, 2021, p. 6).
An honest approach to academic work results in a relationship of trust. Students can expect clear guidelines around expectations for work and behaviour in classrooms, online, and work-integrated placements. Students inspire trust by completing and submitting honest work and committing to the six fundamental values of academic integrity. Faculty inspires trust by setting clear expectations for assignments and adhering to expectations around academic integrity. Trust is intrinsic to the sharing of information and ideas that will support learning among the teaching and learning community members.
“All members of the academic community, including faculty, students, administration, and staff have a right to expect fair treatment and a duty to treat others fairly” (ICAI, 2021, p. 7).
As members of the FHSW learning community we are committed to creating educational environments that recognize and value equity, diversity, and inclusion in all of our programs and services.
Evaluation is a key component to the learning process. Clear evaluation criteria for course work and monitoring for academic misconduct/dishonesty, supports fairness for all students and ensures scholarly excellence. The Academic Misconduct policy for Humber College (Regulation 17) provides clear definitions, outlines faculty responsibilities in reporting, and describes potential outcomes for students found responsible for breaching academic integrity.
These policies are available on the Humber College main web page through the Admission Requirements and Academic Regulations for Degree, Diploma and Certificate Studies link and the Admission Requirements and University Regulations for the Bachelor of Nursing Degree Program link.
“Respect in academic communities is reciprocal and requires showing respect for oneself as well as others. Respect for self means tackling challenges without compromising your own values. Respect for others means valuing the diversity of opinions and appreciating the need to challenge, test, and refine ideas” (ICAI, 2021, p. 8).
Respect begins on an individual basis and extends to other students, faculty, staff, leaders, and our external partners. Respect is demonstrated when students are on time, prepared and attend all classes and work-integrated experiences, are active and fully engaged throughout class and work-integrated experiences, meet set academic deadlines, and work to their best abilities. Faculty demonstrate respect by providing critical, timely feedback that aims to support student development and learning, and availing themselves to students through teaching, learning, and mentoring experiences. All members of the FHSW learning community demonstrate respect through honest, respectful written and verbal communication.
“Upholding the values of integrity is simultaneously an individual duty and a shared concern. Every member of an academic community—each student, staff, faculty member, and administrator—is accountable to themselves and each other for safeguarding the integrity of its scholarship, teaching, research, and service… Being responsible means standing up against wrongdoing, resisting negative peer pressure, and serving as a positive example” (ICAI, 2021, p. 9).
All members of the FHSW learning community must take responsibility for their own honesty toward scholarly endeavours and interpersonal relationships in the academic and work-integrated settings. Members of the community must commit to the fundamental values and seek opportunities to support it with students, faculty, staff, and leaders and identify and act if academic integrity is threatened. Breaches to academic integrity must not be tolerated nor ignored.
“Courage differs from the other values by being more a quality or capacity of character. However, as with each of the values, courage can be practiced and developed…courage is the capacity to act in accordance with one’s values despite fear” (ICAI, 2021, p. 10).
Courage requires everyone in the FHSW learning community to demonstrate their character and do the right thing even when it may be the hardest thing to do. As a student you will meet deadlines and experience competing responsibilities that will challenge you as a person and as a future professional. Those that we provide services to will expect us to be courageous and do the right thing later in professional practice, care, and service.
References: International Centre for Academic Integrity. (2021). Fundamental values of academic integrity (3rd ed.). https://academicintegrity.org/images/pdfs/20019_ICAI-Fundamental-Values_R12.pdf