Each institution offering courses through ADEC has specific policies regarding academic integrity. Those policies apply to distance courses just as they apply to face-to-face classes. If you submit writing that borrows ideas from another author, you must clearly attribute the ideas to that author. Failure to attribute borrowed words or ideas to the rightful author may result in a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course at the discretion of the instructor.

Reasons for Guidelines
Academic integrity is especially important in a distance learning environment. You are paying for an opportunity to learn and to develop your knowledge, skills, and abilities. If you short-circuit that process by copying from another author, the only person who is really hurt by that action is you. You’ve stolen from yourself the opportunity to learn, and you’ve taken your dignity and self-respect in the process. For your own sake, maintain the highest integrity in your academic experience. Make sure that all writing is your original expression. Attribute borrowed ideas to the original authors. Place all quoted ideas in quotation marks. And follow the guidelines for good writing style in your list of citations.