As members of the University of Toronto’s academic community, we all share the responsibility to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Participating honestly, fully, responsibly, and fairly in this academic community ensures that the U of T degree you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement, and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As an IR/HR professional, you will also be expected to exemplify the highest standard of integrity. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the importance of adhering to the university’s policies on academic conduct, especially considering the growing use of AI tools in coursework.
- Key Principles of Academic Integrity
- Plagiarism: Using someone else’s ideas, words, or work without proper citation.
- Cheating: Using unauthorized aids or collaborating inappropriately on individual assignments.
- AI Usage: Relying on AI tools to generate content without verification, proper attribution, or authorization from your instructor.
- Responsible Use of AI in Coursework
AI tools, while useful, must be employed ethically and responsibly. This means:
- Verifying all AI-generated content for accuracy and ensuring it aligns with the academic standards of your course.
- Citing AI tools appropriately if they contribute to your work, as outlined by your instructor.
- Consulting your course syllabus and instructor about the acceptable use of AI in your assignments.
The University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously, and unauthorized or improper use of AI may result in academic misconduct charges, which can lead to penalties such as failing grades, course failure, or more severe academic consequences.
- Resources to Support You
The university provides several resources to help you understand and uphold academic integrity:
- Academic Integrity Policy: U of T Academic Integrity Guidelines
- IRHR Library Academic Integrity Resources:
- Register for the upcoming IRHR Library session Citations and AI academic integrity for MIRHR students online on Wednesday, September 10th at 1:00PM-2:00PM
- Students can book a research consultation with the library to get help finding sources, discuss citations, using AI or any other questions they might have.
- Citation resources for MIRHR students are available on the IRHR Library research guide, including support for APA style and Legal Citations
- Additional writing support: Writing Centre for Graduate Students
If you are uncertain about academic integrity or the use of AI tools in your coursework, I encourage you to reach out to your instructors, academic advisors, or our library for guidance. Let us all strive to maintain the values of honesty, fairness, and respect that define the University of Toronto’s academic community.