Integrity defined
Integrity is "the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change." (Source: "integrity" Cambridge Dictionaries Online, 28 June, 2011)
Integrity is a core value closely linked with virtue, honesty, and honour. A person of integrity strives to always find and make the "right" decision.
The University of Waterloo has six Values of Integrity, adopted from the International Center for Academic Integrity:
- Honesty
- Trust
- Fairness
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Courage
Read how the values of academic integrity relate to the Seven Grandfathers Teachings (PDF resource from University of Toronto).
Why is integrity important to the University of Waterloo?
Integrity is everywhere at the University of Waterloo. Whether learning, teaching, researching or working, members of our community must conduct themselves honestly. Acting with integrity reinforces the university’s reputation as a leading teaching and research institution.
As a post-secondary institution, the value of the degrees the university awards deserving students at the end of their studies is dependent on the legitimacy of the education these students earn. A degree is valueless without integrity.
See what our former Chancellor and a past President of the University of Waterloo had to say about integrity at convocation.
When does integrity matter most?
- Academics
- Research
- Athletics
- Campus recreation
- Residence life
- Co-operative education
What is the difference between academic integrity and research integrity?
Both adhere to the 6 values of integrity (honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage), except research additionally "has its own externally imposed reporting and investigational obligations", and ethics approval must be obtained before research can begin with human subjects. For further information please visit the Research Integrity webpage or visit the Office of Research Ethics (ORE).