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Academic Integrity

The updated Academic Integrity Policy was supported by the University Senate and approved by the Kean University Board of Trustees in September 2024.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

Kean University is committed to nurturing the growth of intellectual reasoning, academic and professional values, individual ethics and social responsibility among all campus community members.  Kean University provides academically rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs that adhere to the twin principles of honesty and academic integrity. These principles are essential for ensuring and maintaining excellence in the quality of its academic instructional programs and facilitating the intellectual development of its students, led by the faculty, staff, administration, and Board of Trustees of the University. Therefore, academic dishonesty in any form - written or non-written, media or technology - seriously compromises Kean University’s mission to provide quality programs and opportunities for the optimum development of all students and employees.

Five fundamental values characterize an academic community of integrity (five values itemized below adapted from The Center for Academic Integrity, https://academicintegrity.org/resources/fundamental-values).

  • Honesty. The quest for truth and knowledge requires intellectual and personal honesty in learning, teaching, research and service.
  • Trust. Academic institutions must foster a climate of mutual trust and respect to stimulate the free exchange of ideas.
  • Fairness. All interactions among the members of the Kean University Community should be grounded in clear standards, practices and procedures.
  • Respect. Learning is acknowledged as a participatory process, and a wide range of opinions and ideas is respected.
  • Responsibility. A thriving community demands personal accountability on the part of all members and depends upon action in the face of wrongdoing.

Maintaining high standards of academic integrity is the obligation and expectation of all members of the Kean community – students, faculty, staff, administrators and Board of Trustees. It ensures the application of the highest academic standards and principles of conduct, honesty and truth. An individual’s work must reflect that person’s own efforts and achievements. Any collaboration of effort by an individual, groups of individuals, or other entities, such as, but not limited to generated artificial intelligence (please see Artificial Intelligence Expectations on page 3 of the Academic Integrity policy) must be acknowledged. Failure to acknowledge such contributions constitutes an act of dishonesty and a misrepresentation of the individual’s work.

Academic and professional communities are built on ideas. These ideas are debated, investigated, tested, and applied. The evidence of these ideas and the work that stems from them includes, but is not limited to: published and non- published works and materials, presentations (oral or poster, etc.), research data, articles, books, computer programs, exhibitions, performances, art, music, policies, and procedures. Academic and professional communities use this intellectual material to communicate ideas and expand their body of knowledge. Reputable and respected members of these communities always acknowledge the sources of the material used.