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School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

Academic Integrity in AMPD

Academic integrity is a cornerstone of learning and creative work at York. In the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD), it means respecting the ideas, contributions, and efforts of others, and being transparent about your own. Academic integrity is essential not only for success at university but also for building credibility as an artist, designer, performer, researcher, and collaborator.

What is Student Work?

In AMPD, “student work” includes papers, research projects, tests, and exams, as well as studio, performance, and production work. The principles of academic integrity apply across all of these forms.

Breaches of Academic Integrity

York’s Senate Policy on Academic Conduct provides definitions for breaches such as plagiarism, cheating, impersonation, and research misconduct, among others. All forms of academic misconduct are taken seriously at York. In AMPD, among other forms, two particular kinds of misconduct can arise in student work: misappropriation and misrepresentation.

Misappropriation of Another’s Work (Plagiarism)

In AMPD, misappropriation means using theoretical, creative, artistic, or technical work, including AI-generated content, that you did not produce yourself, without proper acknowledgement. This applies to studio and performance work, and all other theoretical, artistic, and technical works. Examples include:

  • using text, images, video, code, scripts, music, sound, or design elements without credit, which may include the unauthorized use of AI
  • submitting work that you originally created for another course without permission

If you incorporate the work of others, you must clearly state the extent and nature of that use to your instructor.

Misrepresentation in Academic or Creative Work

In AMPD, misrepresentation means giving inaccurate credit in collaborative or creative projects. Examples include:

  • not giving appropriate credit to collaborators who contributed
  • listing people as collaborators who did not participate

Because collaboration is central to the arts, misrepresenting the contributions of others constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

What Happens if There’s a Concern

If an instructor believes a breach may have occurred:

  • The concern is referred to the Department Chair who consults with AMPD’s Academic Conduct Person of Primary Responsibility (PPR) to review it. At this stage, a breach of academic integrity is only suspected and under investigation. No decision has been made.
  • Students are informed in writing and given the opportunity to respond, explain their perspective, and provide any relevant information or evidence before a decision is reached.
  • After reviewing all the information, the PPR will make a decision and send the student a written Decision Letter. This letter summarizes the investigation, explains the outcome, and outlines any sanction(s), if applied. Students have 10 business days to respond or appeal.
  • If a student appeals, the case is first heard by the Faculty Appeals Committee (AAPPC). If the student is not satisfied with that outcome, they may make a further appeal to the Senate Appeals Committee (SAC) on the grounds set out in the Senate Appeals Committee Procedures within 30 days.

Possible Outcomes (Sanctions)

When a student is found to have committed a breach, the consequences depend on the circumstances, such as whether it is a first offence, how serious the breach is, the student’s academic experience, whether the student accepted responsibility for the conduct, and any extenuating circumstances.

Sanctions can range from educational measures to more serious academic penalties. For example:

  • a written warning or requirement to complete an academic integrity workshop or assignment
  • resubmitting or making up the work in question, possibly with a grade penalty
  • a reduced grade on the assignment or in the course, including a failing grade
  • in more serious cases, suspension or expulsion from the University, which would appear on the transcript

Resources and Support

Developing integrity in your academic and creative work is part of your growth at York. If you’re unsure about how to apply academic integrity in your work, or if you want to strengthen your skills, York has resources to help.

By practicing integrity in your academic and creative work, you are building the foundation for success at York and in all your future endeavours.