Academic Integrity in a Nutshell (or H.E.L.P.) Danielle Istl, LL.M. Academic Integrity Officer For Centre of Executive and Professional Education Students January 2011

“Earn Your Degree” “Earn Your Degree” The University is a learning-centred environment with high expectations and standards for all its members. The University is a learning-centred environment with high expectations and standards for all its members.

H.E.L.P. H omework and assignments H omework and assignments E xams, Ethical Behaviour & Etiquette E xams, Ethical Behaviour & Etiquette L earning “the Canadian way” L earning “the Canadian way” P lagiarism Prevention & Professionalism P lagiarism Prevention & Professionalism

1. Homework and assignments Assume a homework assignment or class assignment is for a grade. Assume a homework assignment or class assignment is for a grade. Assume you must do your own work. Assume you must do your own work. What are the boundaries within a learning-centred environment? What are the boundaries within a learning-centred environment? –Discussion ? –Collaboration ? –Submission ?

Collaboration “the act of working with another or others on a joint project” “the act of working with another or others on a joint project” “something created by working jointly with another or others” “something created by working jointly with another or others” Source: World English Dictionary

Cheating or Collaboration? The Tale of the Three Mice

Extent of collaboration permitted Extent of collaboration permitted What does the professor allow? What does the professor allow? ■ Final work must be your own. ■ Identical or similar work will result in plagiarism charges. result in plagiarism charges.

2. Exams, Etiquette, and Ethical Behaviour First... Everyone’s favourite >>>>>> EXAMS!

Jill is sitting near the back and off to the side. She pulls a book out of her bag for assistance. Jack finds this exam difficult so he consults the small print on the paper wrapped around his pen.

What will happen to Jack and Jill? A. Their exams will be taken away. B. They will have to leave the exam site. C. They will be asked to stop consulting outside sources and put them away. sources and put them away. D. They will be permitted to continue with the misconduct until they bury themselves. misconduct until they bury themselves. E. No one will say anything. F. They risk suspension for exam cheating.

Best advice Study, study, study. Study, study, study. Read the Rules for Conduct of Examinations : Senate Policy E3 Read the Rules for Conduct of Examinations : Senate Policy E3 Don’t take chances. Don’t take chances. Know that medical notes are verified. Know that medical notes are verified. Report misconduct when you see it occur. Report misconduct when you see it occur.

Examinations are serious business. Take them seriously. Note: In-class exams and take home exams are take home exams are treated the same. treated the same. You may be asked to sign a Statement of Academic Honesty.

Etiquette Meet Wayne. Meet Wayne’s girlfriend.

Meet Wayne’s party habits. Meet Wayne’s alarm clock.

Meet Wayne’s breakfast. Meet Wayne’s professor.

What is wrong with this? A. Wayne should eat healthier food. B. Wayne shouldn’t drink green beer until St. Patrick’s Day in March. C. Wayne ignored his alarm clock too many times. D. Wayne’s professor needs to retire. E. Wayne is disrupting the class.

Key classroom etiquette issues Key classroom etiquette issues –Punctuality and attendance –Conversation –Noise and disruptions (e.g., phones) –Food and drink

Ethical Behaviour How would a professionally employed engineer or accountant be expected to behave in his/her profession? How would a professionally employed engineer or accountant be expected to behave in his/her profession? And as a future member of a professional licensing body? And as a future member of a professional licensing body?

Learning the “Canadian way” Expect things to be different. Expect things to be different. Take responsibility to find out how things are different. Take responsibility to find out how things are different. Ask questions of people who know. Ask questions of people who know. Saying “But that’s how it’s done in my country” won’t help. Saying “But that’s how it’s done in my country” won’t help.

Being an International Student in Canada * Three main challenges: Three main challenges: –Perhaps mastering English –Expressing your own viewpoint in papers, classes, research –Learning the rules of academic honesty as they are understood here. * Ideas for the slides in this section are taken from: Lipson, C. (2008). Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

What is valued here? Original work and creativity Original work and creativity Thinking for yourself Thinking for yourself Acknowledging others’ work when you use it Acknowledging others’ work when you use itNOT Conformity Conformity Rote repetition Rote repetition

What do Canadian professors want? both expertise (what the scholars have to say) and originality (what you have to say) both expertise (what the scholars have to say) and originality (what you have to say) Your work combined with other authors’ (scholars’) work, AND Your work combined with other authors’ (scholars’) work, AND Showing what work is yours and what work belongs to the scholar or research source. Showing what work is yours and what work belongs to the scholar or research source.

Other Tips Class syllabus Class syllabus –Sets out what the professor expects –Read it! Refer to it often. Assignments and readings Assignments and readings –Expect more than you may be used to. –Time management is very important.

Admission is only one hurdle. Admission is only one hurdle. Great performance is the next hurdle. Great performance is the next hurdle. Graduation is not guaranteed. You must work towards it. Graduation is not guaranteed. You must work towards it. You must earn your degree. You must earn your degree.

Avoiding problems before they occur Attend classes and participate. Attend classes and participate. Meet with professors during office hours. Meet with professors during office hours. Learn the rules of academic honesty and follow them carefully. Learn the rules of academic honesty and follow them carefully. If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help. If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help.

4. Plagiarism What is it? “the act of copying, reproducing, or paraphrasing... portions of someone else’s published or unpublished material (from any source, including the Internet), and representing these as your own.” “the act of copying, reproducing, or paraphrasing... portions of someone else’s published or unpublished material (from any source, including the Internet), and representing these as your own.” Student Code, para. 3.A) i. Student Code, para. 3.A) i.

It “applies to all intellectual endeavours: creation and presentation of music, drawings, designs, dance, photography, and other artistic and technical works.” It “applies to all intellectual endeavours: creation and presentation of music, drawings, designs, dance, photography, and other artistic and technical works.”

Avoiding Plagiarism Read the Graduate Studies Policy on Authorship and Plagiarism (Senate Policy P5). Read the Graduate Studies Policy on Authorship and Plagiarism (Senate Policy P5). –E.g., rule re drafts of work submitted for review Keep track of what is your writing and what you borrow from another source. Keep track of what is your writing and what you borrow from another source. Know when and how to cite. Know when and how to cite. Use citation manuals (e.g., APA / MLA) Use citation manuals (e.g., APA / MLA)

What he said or wrote that you write word-for-word: QUOTATION MARKS AND A CITATION Paraphrasing: What he said or wrote that you put in your own words: CITATION An idea of his that you refer to: CITATION

Your opinion, thoughts, conclusions, analysis or synthesis: No citation required

Professionalism As a student in the Centre for Executive Education As a student in the Centre for Executive Education As a student in a professional program As a student in a professional program Under the University Student Code of Conduct Under the University Student Code of Conduct Under University Senate Bylaw 31 Under University Senate Bylaw 31

Expectations Under The Student Code of Conduct Practise “personal and academic integrity.” Practise “personal and academic integrity.” “Take responsibility for [your] own personal and academic commitments.” “Take responsibility for [your] own personal and academic commitments.” “Contribute to the University community to gain fair, cooperative and honest inquiry and learning.” “Contribute to the University community to gain fair, cooperative and honest inquiry and learning.”

Offence Under Bylaw 31 Student Affairs & Integrity “actions that demonstrate a lack of integrity defined as a lack of adherence to this University’s bylaws and policies that touch upon instruction, evaluation, curriculum, admission, and other matters that affect the academic standing of a student” “actions that demonstrate a lack of integrity defined as a lack of adherence to this University’s bylaws and policies that touch upon instruction, evaluation, curriculum, admission, and other matters that affect the academic standing of a student”

Dilemma #1 Some friends want to borrow your work “to see how you did it.” You lend it to them, they use some of it, and they pass it off as their own when they submit their work to the professor. Some friends want to borrow your work “to see how you did it.” You lend it to them, they use some of it, and they pass it off as their own when they submit their work to the professor. A. You are responsible because you helped them. B. You are responsible because you were “wilfully blind” as to whether they might use your work. C. You are not responsible because you were just trying to be helpful. D. You are not responsible because you had no idea they would use your work.

Dilemma #2 Someone in your class is writing an exam after you (due to an illness or scheduling conflict) and wants to know what questions were on the exam. Someone in your class is writing an exam after you (due to an illness or scheduling conflict) and wants to know what questions were on the exam. A. It’s okay to tell them the questions, but not the answers. B. It’s okay to share information if their exam will be different from yours. C. You should hang up on them when they call. D. You should say nothing about the exam and explain why.

Examples of Misconduct Plagiarism Plagiarism Cheating on exams Cheating on exams Furnishing false information (lying) Furnishing false information (lying) Forging medical notes Forging medical notes Harassing others on campus Harassing others on campus

Common Sanctions A failing grade in the assignment or course A failing grade in the assignment or course Censure Censure Suspension Suspension Many sanctions appear on academic transcripts Many sanctions appear on academic transcripts

To learn more... Visit Visit Reach me at ext or Reach me at ext or Rooms 201/203 Assumption Building Rooms 201/203 Assumption Building –Print resources –Citation guides

Welcome! Wishing you much success here at the University of Windsor!