ethics in academic work wilfrid laurier university student to student 2008 - 2009

Ethics in Academic Work

Wilfrid Laurier UniversityStudent to Student

2008 - 2009

Introduction

• The presenters...• The purpose…• Agenda

1) Cheating – what it is2) Detection3) Consequence4) Importance of academic integrity

www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity

CHEATING

Discussion

• What are your personal experiences with cheating? (Not expecting confessionals)

• How did you react to cheating in your high school?


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


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


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


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)

DETECTION

Discussion

• How did teachers catch students in high school?

• Did students ‘tell’ on one another?


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


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)


CONSEQUENCES

Discussion

• What did your previous school do to deal with cheaters?


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


Consequences

• Offences are divided into:Minor offences have less severe consequences

Major offences have very significant and severe consequences


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


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


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







• Academic Integrity website (www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity)

IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

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.


Who does cheating harm?

• The following groups of people are all affected by academic misconduct:– The university– Your classmates– YOU!


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


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


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







• Academic Integrity Website (www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity)

ethics in academic work wilfrid laurier university student to student 2008 - 2009

Documents

cheating slide

detection slide

academic record

academic advantage

finding of academic

academic integrity website

consequences offences

types of cheating plagiarism