Awareness regarding academic integrity is growing on campuses around the world. This is a very serious topic in which students and faculty should take extra steps to educate themselves. A good example of this exposure is the fact that Mississippi State University holds an annual Academic Integrity Week during the last week of October. “This program was established to educate students about plagiarism and academic honesty and prevent future cases” (msstate.edu). Intentionally or unintentionally stealing or using another individual's work verbatim without paraphrasing is considered plagiarism. Rules and regulations are put in place to inform students how to cite, when and where to cite, as well as possible consequences if the rules are not followed. “Differentiation between cultures can often blur the true meaning of plagiarism” (Vessal, K). In this research paper, I will outline the details of academic integrity, the consequences if rules and regulations are not followed, and finally the tools available to avoid plagiarism. Academic integrity was put in place to protect the ideas to which they belong. A code between students and teachers has been created to support this policy. When developing a research paper, a number of sources are necessary to support or create an argument in relation to the topic of an assignment. These sources can include many types of media such as articles or documents found on the Internet, magazines, books, interviews or video evidence. A student may choose to exhaust one or all of the sources mentioned above; however, they must paraphrase or correctly cite the source to keep the originality standard in place. "Technological advances have created additional resources where... middle of paper......Nice). In conclusion, plagiarism can happen intentionally or unintentionally, but overall, it is up to the student to avoid it at all costs. Acknowledging the ideas of those who created them should be second to none when using information to support your hypothesis or theory. The Academic Integrity Policy is in place for good reason and establishes a code of honor between students and faculty. A student should ask lots of questions and use available resources when unsure whether to cite a source or create enough originality to create a legitimate product. Reference sources often provide credibility and reinforce a student's point of view (Neville). To successfully complete this process, a student must understand the policies and procedures in place, the consequences for failing to follow rules and regulations, and the tools available to prevent academic dishonesty..