Awareness about academic integrity is growing on campuses around the world. This is a very serious topic in which students and teachers should take additional steps to educate themselves. A great example of this exposure includes Mississippi State University hosting an annual Academic Integrity Week during the last week of October. “This program was put in place 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 established to inform students how to cite, when and where to cite, and the consequences available if the rules are not followed. “The differentiation between cultures can often confuse the true meaning of plagiarism” (Vessal, K). In this research paper I will highlight the details of academic integrity, the consequences if rules and regulations are not followed, and finally, the tools available to avoid plagiarism. Academic integrity has been put in place to protect ideas where they belong. To support this policy, a code was created between students and teachers. When developing a research paper, a number of sources are needed to support or create an argument regarding the subject matter 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. The student may choose to exhaust some or all of the above sources; however, they must paraphrase or cite the source correctly to maintain the standard of originality. “Technological progress has created additional resources where… half of the card… Owl). In conclusion, plagiarism can occur 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 among students and faculty. A student must ask many questions and use available resources when he or she is unsure whether he or she is citing a source or creating enough originality to create a legitimate product. Reference sources often provide credibility and reinforce a student's point of view (Neville). To be successful in this process, a student must understand the policies and procedures in place, the consequences if rules and regulations are not followed, and the tools available to prevent academic dishonesty.