Academic Integrity: The Challenge and the Opportunity

1. Academic Integrity: The Challenge and the Opportunity March 26th , 2008

2. In a Survey, 65 Olympic Athletes were asked • If there is an illegal drug that cannot be detected which will guarantee you the gold medal in the next Olympics but will kill you one year later, would you take it?

3. Surprisingly, 41 of the 65 athletes replied “Yes, I will take it”

4. Outline • What is Academic Integrity? • Importance of the Issue • AUC initiative • Sample of Research Data • Challenges & Opportunities

5. What is Academic Integrity? "Academic integrity is a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: Honesty, Trust, Fairness, Respect & Responsibility From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action." Guiding principles of academic integrity as set out by the Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University,

6. Forms of Dishonest Academic Behavior • Cheating • Plagiarism • Recycling Information • Fabrication • Multiple Submissions • Obtaining Unfair Advantage • Unauthorized Access • Aiding and Abetting • Criminal acts, Bribing, Stealing, etc. • Intellectual Property Right • Violations in Research Work • Others

7. Sample of research data (US) • About 75% of high school students admit to cheating on an exam within the last year (Josephson Institute of Ethics, 2002). • More than 75% of college students admit to some cheating (Don McCabe, Rutgers university, 1999) • Internet “cut and paste” plagiarism has grown from 10% in 1999 to more than 55% in 2006. • 68% of students did not believe that internet cut and paste was a serious issue. (MacCabe And others, 2004) www.shine.com/images/action/ cheating_kind.jpg

8. AUC Action Plan • Assessment • Raising Awareness • Pledge • Preventive Measures • Punitive Measures

9. The 3P’s of Academic Integrity Penalization Prevention Promotion

10. Assessment Tools its.foxvalley.tec.wi.us/iss/curric-assessment/ Image37.gif • Oral and written input from members • Discussion with faculty and students as well as forums. • Discussion and input from the AUC Senate • Input from AUC’s BOT and administration • Survey conducted at AUC campus • Data acquired from peer anonymous institutes

11. Mission of Academic Integrity Council Strengthen & promote the understanding & the implementation of academic integrity concepts, attitudes and behavior within the AUC environment, and establish an effective vehicle for continuous assessment and evaluation

12. What Did We Do In the Past • Survey and assessment of Academic Integrity Status at AUC • Establishing contact with the CAI at Duke Univ. • New Academic Honesty Policy • New Academic Integrity Committee • Reviewing & modifying AUC documents in light of new policy • Preparing AUC’s First Code of Ethics • Guide structure for students’ punitive actions • Initiating students’ contribution to academic integrity efforts • Pinpointing Action Plan for Awareness on Academic Integrity • New Website http://www.aucegypt.edu/resources/acadintegrity/ • Downloadable forms for reporting of violation cases • Developing database for previous violation cases • Developing a short movie on Academic Integrity • Filing and categorizing comments on Code and Policy

13. What are we currently doing • Providing support to AUC community in terms of awareness efforts • Updating our website • Conducting tutorial sessions for students who need them • TA and Part-time faculty awareness on integrity by CLT • Contributing to awareness campaign with students • Systemization of code endorsement • Better Ties with the Center of Academic Integrity • Working on towards a Sustainable & Institutionalized entity at AUC • Moving towards stronger a system of a student’s contribution • Coordination with Student's Affairs • Other issues

14. Preventive Measures

15. Punitive Measures

17. Nature of Cases

18. Sample of 322 Students

19. Major

20. Performance/GPA

21. How Would You Rate AUC for the Following Factors

22. Severity of Penalties

23. The Faculty’s Understanding for these Policies

24. Student Understanding of Campus Policies Concerning Cheating

25. Student Understanding of Campus Policies Concerning Cheating

26. Student Support of These Policies

27. Faculty Support of These Policies

28. The effectiveness of These Policies

29. Have You Noticed Enhanced Awareness About the Academic Integrity at AUC?

30. Reasons Given for Cheating “Everybody's cheating in the class and they get grades so it is unfair to me that I don’t cheat, especially that many instructors know but don’t exert enough effort to prevent it. The whole society cheats in everything”. “Helping each other out. Since we both studied why not remind my friend or be reminded if someone has forgotten?” “Helping someone that didn't have time to study and knowing that he's a good student or a friend in need for help.. like this he won't fail”

31. Reasons Given for Cheating “I do help other people, either friends or not if they asked for help, I believe it is not me that is cheating but them”. “I don't cheat myself, but can help my friends sometimes. its a collectivistic culture that focuses on people around u... what do u expect?” “One way or another, i am aiding such individuals get through...It isn't solely the issue of academic difficulty but the society does not enable an individual to sustain through such exams on their on or even employ simple academic skills as (time management, adequately employing the instructed ideas, etc.)”

32. How Did You Learn about These Policies?

33. First Year Orientation Program

34. Student Handbook

35. Program Counselor/Faculty Advisor

36. Peer Students

37. Faculty

38. Code of Academic Ethics

39. How Much Change Have You Witnessed in Discussing Policies Concerning the Following

40. Plagiarism

41. Group Work/Collaboration

42. Proper Attribution of Written Sources

43. Attribution of Internet Sources

44. “On matters of style, swim with the current On matters of principle, stand like a rock” Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)