Ethics in Academic Work Wilfrid Laurier University Student to Student 2008 - 2009
Dec 25, 2015
Introduction
• The presenters...• The purpose…• Agenda
1) Cheating – what it is2) Detection3) Consequence4) Importance of academic integrity
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Discussion
• What are your personal experiences with cheating? (Not expecting confessionals)
• How did you react to cheating in your high school?
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Academic misconduct
• “Academic misconduct is an act by a student, or by students … which may result in a false evaluation of the student(s), or which represents an attempt to unfairly gain an academic advantage … Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant for a finding of academic misconduct.”
Source: WLU Undergraduate Academic Calendar 2007-2008
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Types of cheating
• Plagiarism– “...the unacknowledged presentation...of the work
of others as one’s own...”
• Cheating– “...involves using, giving, receiving, unauthorized
information...”
• Impersonating another studentS e.g., using another student’s clicker
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Types of cheating
• Submitting the same piece of work– “...for more than one course without permission..”
• Falsifying, misrepresenting, forging– “anything including academic record or supporting
documents”
• Buying academic work• Unauthorized collaboration
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Get help, ask questions
• Your professor / teaching assistant• University Calendars (www.wlu.ca/calendars)
• Learning Services (www.wlu.ca/learningservices)
• Library (www.wlu.ca/library)
• Counselling Services (www.mylaurier.ca/counselling)
• Academic Integrity Website (www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity)
Discussion
• How did teachers catch students in high school?
• Did students ‘tell’ on one another?
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Detection - technology
• Turnitin.com– Compares your paper to:• other student papers submitted
(over 40 million)• Internet websites (over 12 billion)• Major newspapers/magazines/journals
(over 10,000)
• Facebook groups• Google searches Source: Turnitin.com
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Detection - instructors
• Professors and teaching assistants can spot plagiarism by comparing your work to:– Previous assignments that you have submitted– Assignments that your classmates have submitted– Itself (e.g,. consistency of style within a single
assignment)
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Consequences• At Laurier there are three levels of action
depending on severity: 1) Instructor/relevant administrator (e.g., Chair, Program Co-ordinator, Associate Dean, Dean, or designate)2) Dean of faculty3) VP: Academic or President • Throughout process, students are given the
option to defend themselves and appeal the decisions made
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Consequences
• Offences are divided into:Minor offences have less severe consequences
Major offences have very significant and severe consequences
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Consequences for first-time offences
Minor Major
Plagiarism Loss of grades Zero in course and notation on transcriptCheating/copying
Unauthorized collaboration
Impersonation Zero on course work Suspension and notation on transcript
Falsification Zero in course and notation on transcript
Suspension and notation on transcript
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Consequences for first-time offences
Minor Major
Preventing access Official warning in Central Registry
Zero in course and notation on transcript
Obstruction or interference Zero on course work and notation on transcript
Suspension and notation on transcript
Improper access Suspension and notation on transcript
Improper dissemination
Unauthorized aids Zero on course work and notation on transcript
Zero in course and notation on transcript
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Consequences forsubsequent offences
• A record is established after first offence, and may remain on student’s transcript for 1-3 years following offence
• Consequences for subsequent offences are more severe
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Get help, ask questions
• Your professor / teaching assistant• University Calendars (www.wlu.ca/calendars)
• Learning Services (www.wlu.ca/learningservices)
• Library (www.wlu.ca/library)
• Counselling Services (www.mylaurier.ca/counselling)
• Academic Integrity website (www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity)
Academic integrity
• Integrity is defined as: "moral uprightness; honesty...unimpaired or uncorrupted..." – Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2004)
• The expectations placed on students at Laurier include honesty and integrity in both their academics and behaviour on and off campus.
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Who does cheating harm?
• The following groups of people are all affected by academic misconduct:– The university– Your classmates– YOU!
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
The university
• Damages the institution’s reputation and credibility
• Increases administrative and faculty workload• Devalues degrees• Bad press means:– More difficult to attract outstanding faculty /
students– More difficult to raise money for the institution
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Headlines…
University
uncovers
plagiarism
bombshell Simon Fraser wants to give
failing grades to 47 copycats
(National Post, January 7, 2002 p. A1)
Cheating scandal shocks
university (The Record, January 7, 2002, p. D9)
Your classmates
• Faculty resort to cheat-proof evaluation methods instead of what’s best for learning
• Questions about value of degree• Perception that the playing field is not level• Places classmates in a difficult or awkward
situation
Source: “Surviving with Integrity”” Presentation, Mark Baetz, 2006
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
You
• No learning• Penalties up to and including expulsion from
the university• Career difficulties (incidents of academic
misconduct are noted on your transcript!)• Stigmatization, ostracism• Embarrassment, lowered self-concept• Stress
www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity
Get help, ask questions
• Your professor / teaching assistant• University Calendars (www.wlu.ca/calendars)
• Learning Services (www.wlu.ca/learningservices)
• Library (www.wlu.ca/library)
• Counselling Services (www.mylaurier.ca/counselling)
• Academic Integrity Website (www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity)