Creating a Campus Climate That Promotes Academic Integrity Dane M. Partridge, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Management Student Academic Honesty Task Force,

Overview Communicating Importance of Academic IntegrityCommunicating Importance of Academic Integrity College freshmen as mature cheatersCollege freshmen as mature cheaters DefinitionsDefinitions Deterrence and DetectionDeterrence and Detection Policy and ProceduresPolicy and Procedures Learning EnvironmentLearning Environment Legal IssuesLegal Issues ImplementationImplementation

Communicating Importance of Academic Integrity Reliance on code of conduct and faculty handbook insufficientReliance on code of conduct and faculty handbook insufficient Evidence suggests students enter college well- versed in academic misconductEvidence suggests students enter college well- versed in academic misconduct –“Cheatin’, Writin’ & ‘Rithmetic,” Washington Post Magazine, 9/15/2002

Cheatin’, Writin’ & ‘Rithmetic MD AP lit teacher: “By our standards it’s cheating. By theirs, it’s efficiency.”MD AP lit teacher: “By our standards it’s cheating. By theirs, it’s efficiency.” –SparkNotes.com (online version of Cliffs Notes) –Word AutoSummarize MD student in elite magnet program: “It’s like an arms race. And teachers are always playing catch-up.”MD student in elite magnet program: “It’s like an arms race. And teachers are always playing catch-up.”

Cheatin’, Writin’ & ‘Rithmetic Rutgers’ Donald McCabe finds cheating is starting younger – in elementary school.Rutgers’ Donald McCabe finds cheating is starting younger – in elementary school. Technology has made cheating much easier.Technology has made cheating much easier survey of H.S. students2001 survey of H.S. students –74% said they had cheated at least once on big test –72% reported serious cheating on written work 15% had turned in paper bought or copied from Internet sources15% had turned in paper bought or copied from Internet sources –97% reported at least one questionable activity –More than one-third admitted to repetitive, serious cheating –“You do what it takes to succeed in life.”

Cheatin’, Writin’ & ‘Rithmetic Students report they copy and cheatStudents report they copy and cheat –When they feel sure they won’t get caught –When they think the teacher doesn’t care or doesn’t work very hard –When they think the assignment is busy work –When they’re struggling in a class that was supposed to be their sure “A”

Cheatin’, Writin’ & ‘Rithmetic Turnitin.com’s software can catch anything copied from the Internet down to an eight-word string, but it can’t detect students who crib ideasTurnitin.com’s software can catch anything copied from the Internet down to an eight-word string, but it can’t detect students who crib ideas –H.S. student working on paper on Hamlet for AP lit went to “I took a good idea that wasn’t given much effort in the online paper and put it into my paper with correct grammar and clear sentence structure. Added a little quote. Touched up the final thought. Is that wrong?” Do we have to change the way we teach?Do we have to change the way we teach?

Center for Academic Integrity Study 27% of college students questioned during academic year said falsifying lab data happened “often” or “very often” on their campus27% of college students questioned during academic year said falsifying lab data happened “often” or “very often” on their campus Plagiarism on written assignments: 41%Plagiarism on written assignments: 41% Cheating during tests and exams: 30%Cheating during tests and exams: 30% Collaborating on work assigned as individual: 60%Collaborating on work assigned as individual: 60% 55% said it was not serious cheating to get questions and answers from student who had previously taken test; 45% said falsifying lab data wasn’t serious55% said it was not serious cheating to get questions and answers from student who had previously taken test; 45% said falsifying lab data wasn’t serious Source: New York Times, 11/2/02Source: New York Times, 11/2/02

Student Academic Honesty Task Force Revised Section 3.01, Definitions of Academic Misconduct, in particular 3.01.A. CheatingRevised Section 3.01, Definitions of Academic Misconduct, in particular 3.01.A. Cheating Revised Section 3.02, Penalties and ProceduresRevised Section 3.02, Penalties and Procedures –Clarified process and right to appeal –Developed flow chart of process –Developed Report Form to be used when penalty imposed Revised Section 3.03, AppealsRevised Section 3.03, Appeals

Definitions (Section 3.01) “requires each student to do his or her academic work without recourse to unauthorized means of any kind”“requires each student to do his or her academic work without recourse to unauthorized means of any kind” “Both students and faculty are expected to report violations of academic dishonesty”“Both students and faculty are expected to report violations of academic dishonesty” –Mngt 361 whistle-blowing exercise: Sherron Watkins case (Enron financial VP who warned CEO) “Faculty should explain the special hazards regarding academic honesty in their discipline”“Faculty should explain the special hazards regarding academic honesty in their discipline” “Faculty should also plan and supervise academic work carefully so honest effort will be encouraged” “Faculty should also plan and supervise academic work carefully so honest effort will be encouraged”

Definitions (Section 3.01) CheatingCheating –Includes submitting same work in more than one class without approval FabricationFabrication PlagiarismPlagiarism InterferenceInterference FacilitationFacilitation

Deterrence and Detection New technologyNew technology “Era of ‘cut and paste’”“Era of ‘cut and paste’” Plagiarism detection servicesPlagiarism detection services –Front for “paper mills”?

Legal Issues Risk of faculty handling cases on their ownRisk of faculty handling cases on their own –Failure to follow official procedures could be deemed to be acting outside scope of one’s employment

Learning Environment Close student-faculty relationships single strongest deterrent to cheatingClose student-faculty relationships single strongest deterrent to cheating Special case: Academic integrity in the professionsSpecial case: Academic integrity in the professions

Student Academic Honesty Task Force Implementation recommendationsImplementation recommendations –Better educate students as to what constitutes academic misconduct Coverage on syllabi, course introductionCoverage on syllabi, course introduction Freshman orientationFreshman orientation –Promote dialogue among faculty to increase awareness and consistency –Communicate seriousness to students (supported by SGA) Publishing outcomesPublishing outcomes