Academic Integrity Office

Academic Integrity at UC Santa Cruz

The Academic Integrity Office views a commitment to academic integrity as the foundation of academic success, collaboration, and personal growth that a UC Santa Cruz education is known for. Integrity means approaching all aspects of teaching, learning, and research with honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect. It involves having the courage to create an environment where everyone contributes their most authentic work; holds each other accountable for learning without unfair advantages, misrepresentation, or deception; and works together to repair trust if trust is breached.

Integrity is not about following arbitrary rules or meeting expectations set by outside entities. It is about actively engaging with processes of ethical decision-making together, even during times of stress and pressure and especially in the face of competing priorities.

While the AIO’s focus remains on building a positive culture of integrity, we work with campus partners to develop, communicate, and enforce clear guidelines for addressing misconduct when it arises, in ways that remain transparent, equitable, and in keeping with our shared standards.

AIO priorities are informed by the International Center for Academic Integrity’s values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. We also draw on our own Principles of Community, which encourage us to be open, purposeful, caring, and just, ensuring our actions align with a shared vision of mutual respect and intellectual growth.

As we grow, AIO will reimagine the university’s approach to academic ethics, with a focus on student-centered learning, mentorship, and restorative practices. We aim to engage with the community every step of the way–so please feel free to get in touch.

Greer Murphy, EdD (she/they)
Director, Academic Integrity Office
Contact: aio@ucsc.edu

In addition to directing the Academic Integrity Office, Greer serves on the International Center for Academic Integrity’s Board of Directors. As an applied linguist with additional degrees in Political Science and Education, Greer’s professional interests include academic integrity, teaching, learning, and faculty development; multilingual writers and writing programs; leadership; and policy process as it supports institutional development and change. Outside the university setting, you are likeliest to find her hiking, reading longform journalism, or practicing some form of martial arts. Getting Greer to name her top 10 favorite movies is an impossible task.

Jessa Kirk (she/her)
Education Specialist, Academic Integrity Office
Contact: aio@ucsc.edu

As the Education Specialist for the Academic Integrity Office, Jessa gets to work directly with students to further develop UCSC’s culture of integrity through After Education curricula and our peer educator team. Before becoming a Slug, Jessa worked locally in secondary education as an English teacher, Department Head, and Academic Dean. She believes that clear and accessible language and direct communication are vital parts of a healthy and equitable community. Jessa has developed and taught literature courses on banned books, comics, and queer voices and welcomes reading recommendations in any of those categories. Jessa also likes hot yoga, cold swims, and dessert at all hours of the day.