Framework of Considerations for Academic Integrity in Quality Assurance in Canadian Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter examines quality assurance processes for academic integrity in Canadian higher education institutions. Canada does not currently have a federal quality assurance organization with mandatory requirements or an organization that oversees academic integrity in higher education institutions. However, the Council of Ministers of Education published a ministerial statement on quality assurance in 2007 which outlines the expectations for degree programs in Canada. One of the standards includes academic integrity as a degree-level expectation. Quality assurance processes are under provincial jurisdiction, with many provinces adhering to the ministerial statement. Therefore, discussing academic integrity issues should be embedded within many quality assurance processes. In this chapter, several provincial quality assurance processes are discussed, and examples from three higher education institutions from different regions are examined. Next, a quality assurance framework is proposed for exploring academic integrity as part of a curriculum or program review. The framework can be adapted as needed to examine academic integrity issues at the program level and enhance processes and supports related to academic integrity.