1. Ethics and Academic Integrity
Nancy A. Stanlick, Ph.D.
Department of Philosophy
University of Central Florida
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

2. Introduction What is Integrity?
Stephen Carter, Integrity (New York: HarperCollins, 1996), p. 7: “The word integrity comes from the same Latin root as integer and historically has been understood to carry much the same sense, the sense of wholeness: a person of integrity, like a whole number, is a whole person, a person somehow undivided… The word conveys … the serenity of a person who is confident in the knowledge that he or she is living rightly… A person of integrity lurks somewhere inside each of us: a person we feel we can trust to do right, to play by the rules, to keep commitments.”
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

3. Major Topics 1. Cheating and Plagiarism
2. Why Build an Academic Community?
3. Theories of Ethics
4. Application of Theoretical Approaches to Academic Integrity
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

4. 1. What are Cheating and Plagiarism?
Cheating: unauthorized assistance in graded assignments
Plagiarism: appropriating the work of others and claiming implicitly or explicitly that it is your own.
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

5. Who is Cheated? What is Lost?
Cheating Others
Cheating Yourself
Cheating the Community
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

6. 2. Why Build an Academic Community?
A common goal, purpose, pursuit
Joint projects, assistance, benefits
Development of the self/self-respect
Confidence in social arrangements
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

7. 3. Theories of Ethics Individualistic Theories Virtue Theory
Utilitarianism - happiness
Kantian Deontology - duty
Virtue Theory
Dignity, value, and interdependence of individuals to achieve the good life
Which of these theories do you adopt?
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

8. 4. Application of Theoretical Approaches to Academic Integrity
Competitive/Individualistic Model
B. Gert, in Morality: Its Nature and Justification
Playing a “Game” – to do better than others
Cheating Other Students – not the university, instructors, or self
Cheating Yourself? Why aren’t you doing so?
Why do you care (if you care) if others cheat?
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

9. Application Continued
Community/Cooperative Model
Education is not necessarily a game
Cheating self, other students, instructor, institution, society
In what sense do you cheat yourself?
Why do you care (if you care) if others cheat?
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

10. Concluding Thoughts: Value
The value of your education
How you value yourself
Arrogance, Humility, Pride
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

11. Concluding Thoughts: Prevention
Be aware of and use campus facilities
Writing Center
Research/Reference Librarians
Computer Labs
Style Manuals
Your best resource is your professor
Time management
Beware of on-line resources/use them wisely
For further information, go to
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF

12. References and Resources
Go to for a list of references and resources related to this presentation and for active links to the UCF Writing Center, Library, and other research resources.
11/15/2018
Dept. of Philosophy, UCF