Academic Integrity: Collaboration

Collaboration is important, both in college and the workplace, and instructors encourage learners to participate in collaborative study. When collaborating, all individuals should participate equally, thus taking personal responsibility for their own learning.

It is important to remember that assignments and projects may be the result of a group with many contributors. In this case, the group has joint ownership of the intellectual property.  Therefore, permission from each contributor must be obtained before materials can be shared beyond the group (University of Regina, n.d.).

Should you have any questions regarding collaboration or group work, contact your instructor for clarification.

Romane, L. (2013, May 28). Academic integrity: Collaboration [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Wm0oZCVDV2A

Always ask your instructors what their expectations are regarding collaboration. Instructors' expectations regarding collaboration may differ from one course to another.

Acceptable Collaboration:

• Group work that clearly follows course instructions.
• Studying together to better understand the course material, concepts from lectures, etc.
• Sharing research findings or discussing course materials with others and acknowledging their contribution.

Always ask your instructors what their expectations are regarding collaboration to ensure that you are working within the guidelines of the assignment. Instructors' expectations regarding collaboration may differ from one course to another.

Unacceptable Collaboration:

• Working in groups when group work has not been approved by the instructor.
• Dividing sections of an assignment or project among several learners, and presenting it as an individual’s work.
• Splitting the tasks for group work unevenly where some students do most of the work while others do very little.

University of Regina. (n.d.). Contract cheating sites. https://academic-integrity.uregina.ca/?page_id=109