Academic integrity: Community expectations and resources

Dear Students,

As we begin the second half of the fall semester, you are all in the midst of the many interesting educational challenges that come with being a student at MIT. Whether you are working on p-sets, writing a paper, conducting research, or continuing your work on your dissertation, each of you is working hard to attain your own academic goals.

Fundamental to the work we do in our academic community is an expectation that each of us will make choices that reflect integrity and responsible behavior. While most embrace this principle, a misunderstanding of what constitutes academic integrity, the pressure to perform, and time limitations lead some to make choices that compromise this core value. The result can be plagiarism, unapproved collaboration, or cheating. These actions are detrimental to the reputation of both the individual and the Institute.

Students, teaching and research staff, and faculty form the core of our academic community. As such, it is important that we all have an understanding of the standards and expectations that constitute academic integrity at MIT. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with The MIT Academic Integrity Handbook. It clarifies acceptable and unacceptable actions and their consequences. At the same time, it should be your go-to reference on how to properly cite materials, paraphrase, and quote. For information on responsible conduct of research, one resource is the National Academy of Sciences publication, video, and podcast, “On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research.” This online resource covers topics such as advising and mentoring, the treatment of data, responding to violations of professional standards, as well as authorship and the allocation of credit.

While our community values and fosters a culture of honesty, we also recognize the need for resources and support systems that foster academic success. When you feel overwhelmed by your work, fall behind in a class, or feel pressured to show results, there are many ways in which you can get the help you need. We urge you to use the resources below as much and as often as you need.

Get advice from:

• Your advisor and your professors
• Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE)
• Student Support Services
• Ombuds Office

Get help and learn better study habits from:

• Tutoring Resources and Academic Support
• Tutorial Services Room (TSR)
• Attend a Learning Strategies Program
• Writing and Communication Center
• MIT Libraries
• Learning to Learn website

As members of the MIT community, we all need to ensure that our work is guided by standards of honesty and excellence which make us proud to be here. Through a common understanding of academic integrity as well as through the use of resources and support systems that help students succeed, we can minimize both intentional and unintentional violations of academic integrity. We wish you all a successful fall and spring semester.

Sincerely,

Professor Daniel Hastings, Dean for Undergraduate Education

Professor Christine Ortiz, Dean for Graduate Education