Ron Belter, Facilitator
Kimberly Tatum, Scribe
Amanda Clonts, Student

 

Introduction by Moderator

• Academic Integrity is an issue that is embedded in the culture of the university, which will be addressed in other break-out sessions. The classroom represents a microcosm or subculture in the University, which is the focus of this session.
• We must address this problem from day one at the university level, but also in the classroom.
• First impressions are very important. We must model what integrity is all about. Students do not always get to see us in our professional roles exhibiting integrity (like when we are publishing articles). They meet us for the first time in our class and they do not know us yet. We need to show them what integrity means, by example.
• We must build individual relationships with students. When they know us, this helps to foster integrity through a sense of commitment and responsibility to each other.

So how do we do this?

Build Relationships with Students and Foster their Relationships with each other to Promote Integrity

• The Monday after drop/add, one professor uses a digital camera to take pictures of all the students in class in order to get to know their names. She does this in a class of 100+ and she learns all of their names. She tells them that she will shred these pictures after the semester ends.
• Put pictures on class rosters like FSU does so we can all learn students’ names more easily.
• Use name plates in all classes to get to know names. Getting to know students’ names shows them how important they are.
• Make sure students know the penalties for violating your rules of conduct. This does not have to be negative in tone, but can focus positively on helping the student maintain integrity.
• Wait until the 3rd week of class to give the strong speech (“fire and brimstone”) about plagiarism policy. This is after students have gotten to know you.
• Talk about the methods you use for detecting plagiarism, including the Turnitin software. Talk about this again near the time that papers are due.
• Discuss the concept of the “honorable C” with them. It’s better to receive a “C” honorably, based on your own work, than to try to cheat and earn a higher grade and risk all of the consequences.
• Discuss the professionalism of the profession students are entering. Talk about the code of ethics of that profession. Tell students to practice that code now.
• Tell students you do not care about the grade they earn. What is important is the learning. Knowledge is what you will need when you enter the profession—transcripts don’t help then. Set up an environment where students can ask questions freely. 
• Have students introduce themselves and tell them that they are meeting their future colleagues in this class. Make students accountable to each other.
• Have students introduce themselves or interview and introduce each other. If you have a relationship with them, and they have relationships with each other, this builds the culture of integrity.
• In a family class that one professor teaches, she has students form family units and bond with each other during the semester. This class always demonstrates more integrity than other classes.
• Research tells us that attachment with others is important and can keep students from committing bad acts. Work on establishing these peer relationships early.

Define Integrity, not just Plagiarism, in your Syllabus and Discuss it Clearly

• In your syllabus, include the word integrity, and explain what it means.
• Have students read the conduct code and plagiarism policy from the syllabus out loud in class.
• Have them sign a contract that says they understand your policies.
• Remember that students’ definitions are different from ours. You must clearly define the words and give them clear examples to follow.
• Set boundaries and follow through. Tell students that there are consequences for failing to follow your policies (lower grades; reporting their behavior to university officials).
• Explain reasons for your policies. If you have a strict attendance and punctuality policy, explain why. Explain that in your profession, punctuality is mandatory. You can monitor these behaviors in a kind but firm way. For example, just mark the tardiness to class on the roster without calling out the student in front of everyone.
• Have students set the ground rules for the class culture—discuss policies on attendance, punctuality, texting, surfing the internet, etc.
• Follow through and call out students who display disrespectful behavior in class. It bothers other students when their classmates are texting and surfing the internet. Students want you to enforce the rules.
• Remember that there are a lot of components to integrity. These include policies on texting, surfing the internet, talking in class, sleeping, etc. Be sure to address all of these.
• Follow through with the University’s official channels on reporting misconduct so students know there are boundaries. You may not be aware that a student has cheated in another class. That’s why you must report this, to address repeat offenders.
• How can faculty help to encourage other students to report academic misconduct when they are aware of it? Set ground rules. Encourage students to have peer-to-peer relationships. Tell students you are there to help them if they are having problems.
• Consider a no-laptop policy in class. This helps to prevent distractions.
• Do not assume that students know what plagiarism is. Some faculty consider paraphrasing a real problem. Be sure to define exactly what you consider misconduct to be.
• Many of our students come out of high school or a community college without knowing what constitutes plagiarism. We need to be clear about it.
• Have students complete an online module on plagiarism (like the one the library has) within the first 2 weeks of class. They must earn a 100% on the module to pass the class.
• The more explicit you can be in your communication the better.
• Raise issues of ethical problems by giving students examples from the profession. Show how a slippery slope has led to many problems for business executives who get into trouble. Tell students that small compromises of ethical standards add up.
• Make attendance a mandatory/graded component of the course. This makes students understand how important good behavior is for the learning culture.
• Remind them that grades are earned. This makes students accountable.

Apply a Standardized Policy on Academic Integrity University-Wide and Have Resources Available for Faculty to use to Promote Integrity

• Many units at UWF are involved in this issue (library, writing lab, CUTLA, Academic Affairs, etc.).  It would be helpful to have a policy and centralized unit to address academic integrity and materials available so we, as faculty, can be consistent in our message to students.
• This could also help faculty in reporting instances of academic misconduct.
• Resources could be utilized to help explain this to students in a more consistent manner.

Updated 04/17/13 lrg