GUIDE TO ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
II. CODE OF STUDENT LIFE & ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
III. MANAGING INCIDENTS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Policy outline for instructors
The role of OCSSE
IV. CONFRONTING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Policy outline for instructors
Confidentiality
Confronting during exams
Confronting for take-home assignments
Confronting for written assignments
V. INSTRUCTOR OPTIONS.
Option 1: Assess a sanction
Option 2: Refer the case to OCSSE
Figure 1: the Process
VI. PROMOTING INTEGRITY & PREVENTING DISHONESTY
Tips for preventing academic dishonesty
Tips for preventing plagiarism
Tips for examinations
VII. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VIII. RESOURCES
I. INTRODUCTION
Maintaining the integrity of the academic process at the University of Arkansas should be of utmost importance to the entire university community. Academic dishonesty undermines the value of university degrees, hinders scholarship, and impairs intellectual progress.
The Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics (OCSSE) staff is available for personal or departmental consultations to assist in the management of academic dishonesty cases. OCSSE has formed a student peer education program (PEERs, Peers Educating Ethical Razorbacks) which has been very effective in addressing academic dishonesty and other conduct issues through informative and entertaining presentations. Faculty members are encouraged to contact the OCSSE to arrange a presentation.
Faculty members play a key role in the management of academic dishonesty cases. OCCSE provides resources and support services to faculty members to aid them with the management of academic dishonesty concerns and student disciplinary issues.
This guide provides faculty with resources for prevention, detection, and administration of the academic dishonesty process. This information augments the policies outlined in the Code of Student Life and Academic Regulations printed annually in the Student Handbook.
II. ACADEMIC REGULATIONS AND THE CODE OF STUDENT LIFE
The Academic Regulations are printed annually in the Catalog of Studies and in the Student Handbook. The Academic Regulations define academic dishonesty and outline faculty options for handling instances of academic dishonesty. The Code of Student Life identifies student conduct violations, outlines the student disciplinary process and is printed annually in the Student Handbook.
Additional policies that pertain to graduate students appear in the Graduate School Catalog.
Here is a summary of violations of university policy on academic integrity:
• Altering of grades or official records.
• Use of unauthorized materials during an
examination.
• Copying from another student’s paper during an exam.
• Collaborating during an exam.
• Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining information about an exam not yet administered.
• Collaborating when instructed to work independently.
• Substituting for another person or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself during an exam.
• Submitting as one’s own work prepared totally or in part by another.
• Submitting, without permission of the instructor, work that was previously offered for credit in another course.
• Plagiarism.
• Sabotaging of another student’s work.
• Falsifying or forging any University form or document.
• Submitting altered or falsified data as experimental data from laboratory projects, survey research, or other field research.
• Committing any willful act of dishonesty that interferes with the academic process.
• Facilitating or aiding in any act of academic dishonesty
III. MANAGING INCIDENTS OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
The procedures for dealing with cases of academic dishonesty are approved by the Faculty Senate and are outlined in the Catalog of Studies and the Student Handbook. These procedures provide each faculty member the authority to manage an incident of academic dishonesty autonomously within certain guidelines. Faculty are expected to manage cases of academic dishonesty according to the established policy in the Academic Regulations, and should be aware that failure to follow established guidelines may adversely affect his or her ability to defend any action taken or sanctions imposed. The fundamental elements of the policy are:
- Instructors may determine whether a student is responsible or not responsible of academic dishonesty.
- If the instructor determines that a student is responsible, the instructor may impose a grade sanction and must refer the case to OCSSE for additional educational or disciplinary sanctions if appropriate and to create a record of the violation.
- If the student appeals the case to the All-University Conduct Board (AUCB), the instructor will be expected to appear at a hearing and provide testimony to the board. Failure to attend a board hearing may adversely affect the instructor’s case.
The role of OCSSE in cases of academic dishonesty is to provide support and consultation to faculty, administer an appeal process for the accused student, and to conduct an educational meeting with the student regarding the policies, procedures, and potential consequences of further acts of academic dishonesty. Sanctions imposed and reported through this process do not appear on the student’s transcript, but student’s are warned that a second violation will likely result in a suspension from the university.
IV. CONFRONTING AN INCIDENT OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
CONFIDENTIALITY: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act afford students confidentiality in regards to information in their disciplinary records. Faculty may not use personally identifiable information about a student to discuss an incident of academic dishonesty with other faculty, staff, or students unless there is a legitimate educational interest in doing so.
If you suspect a student of academic dishonesty, the steps outlined below may be used to confront the student and to confirm or disprove your suspicions.
- Faculty is encouraged but neither expected nor required to meet with the student to discuss the incident. Often this is the teachable moment during which the instructor can help the student understand why what he/she did was wrong and how the situation might have been handled differently.
- If the student denies the violation, this also is the instructor’s opportunity to let the student explain what he/she believed happened and to assess the student’s explanation.
- It is important that you provide the student with enough information that he/she understands why you believe a violation occurred and that he/she has a reasonable opportunity to respond to you.
- It is also important that you explain to the student what steps will follow and what grade sanction, if any, you plan to assess.
- Inform the student that they will be required to meet with a staff member from the OCSSE and that they will have the right to appeal your decision.
- Remember that until the matter is fully resolved, the student should be allowed to remain in class and complete course work.
- Although faculty is encouraged to meet and communicate with the student beforehand, it is not required.
DURING EXAMS:
- If possible, have another proctor observe the behavior.
- Stop the behavior (e.g.: confiscate the notes, separate collaborators).
- Identify the involved student(s) for yourself but allow the student to complete the exam.
- Retain any unauthorized materials as evidence.
- When two students are involved, speak with the students individually.
- Ask the student for his/her explanation of similar/identical language, unique wrong answers, and other indicators of shared information.
FOR OUT-OF-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
- Ask for an explanation of how the assignment was completed.
- When two students are involved, speak with the students individually.
- When an assignment corresponds to another student’s, ask how the assignment was completed and why he/she believes the assignments corresponds to one another.
FOR TERM PAPERS:
- Attempt to locate the source text.
- Ask the student for copies of cited materials.
- Ask the student for rough drafts or notes.
- Ask the student questions about information contained in the paper.
- Ask for definitions of terms used and for further explanation of ideas expressed.
- Colleagues may be of assistance in identifying the source. If you do discuss an incident with a colleague, remember that the student’s identity should not be revealed
V. INSTRUCTOR OPTIONS.
As outlined in the Academic Regulations, an instructor has two options for reporting an incident after meeting with the student. If the instructor has determined or believes that a student is guilty of academic dishonesty deserving of sanction, the instructor may:
Option 1: Assess a sanction
- Determine whether the incident is deserving of a grade sanction and communicate this to the student. Allow the student to continue in class until the matter is fully resolved.
- Within five days after becoming aware of the violation, report the incident and sanction to OCCSE. The instructor may request additional educational or disciplinary sanctions. Upon receiving notification, OCCSE will request that the student schedule an appointment for a conference/pre-hearing interview.
- Reporting within the allotted time frame is imperative. An instructor who fails to report the information within 5 days will forfeit the right to have OCSSE investigate the case, uphold grade sanctions and institute educational sanctions.
- If the student denies responsibility and challenges the grade sanction, a hearing before the AUCB will be scheduled. The instructor should attend the judicial board hearing and will be notified of the time, date and location of the hearing.
- If the student accepts responsibility and the grade sanction, the student is required to meet with a representative from OCCSE to discuss the consequences of their actions.
Option 2: Refer the case to OCCSE. This course of action is appropriate in cases where there is doubt about student responsibility, or if the offense deserves sanctions beyond the grading system.
- The instructor files an incident report with the OCSSE for determinations of responsibility and the application of sanctions if appropriate. Allow the student to continue in class until the matter is fully resolved.
- OCCSE will summon the student for a conference.
- If the student admits responsibility or is found responsible by the AUCB, educational and/or disciplinary sanctions may be imposed and the finding reported to the instructor so that he/she may impose a grade sanction.
- If the student denies responsibility, or has been found responsible for academic dishonesty previously, an AUCB hearing is scheduled to determine responsibility. The instructor should attend this hearing.
Figure 1: The Process for Academic Dishonesty Cases
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Instructor suspects academic dishonesty and meets with the student to discuss the evidence and ask for more information. During this meeting, the instructor decides whether a violation has occurred. If the instructor cannot make a determination, the case may be referred to OCSSE for a determination. |
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Instructor informs the student and OCSSE of their finding and the grade sanction that will be imposed. The instructor may request OCSSE to impose additional educational or disciplinary sanctions, or request no additional action. Student is allowed to continue coursework until the matter is fully resolved. |
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OCSSE receives instructor notification and requests a conference with the student. During this conference, the student is afforded the opportunity to appeal the allegation of academic dishonesty to the AUCB. |
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If the student admits responsibility, OCSSE staff will counsel the student, review the academic integrity policy, and have the student sign a form indicating comprehension and that any future violations will likely result in suspension. If requested by the instructor, additional educational or disciplinary sanctions may be imposed at this time. |
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If the student denies responsibility and wishes to appeal, the student receives a hearing before the AUCB. The AUCB makes a determination regarding responsibility. If the student is found responsible, a grade sanction may be imposed. If requested by the instructor, additional educational or disciplinary sanctions may be imposed at this time. If the student is found not responsible, the grade is restored. |
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The student may appeal the decision of AUJ to the Provost and the Chancellor. The decision of the Chancellor is final. |
VI. PROMOTING INTEGRITY & PREVENTING DISHONESTY
Tips for Preventing Academic Dishonesty:
- Discuss academic integrity with students on the first day of class.
- Include in your syllabus and discuss what constitutes academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and the limits of collaboration.
- Encourage students to consult with the instructional faculty for the course whenever there is a question about legitimate procedures for assignment completion.
- Include in the syllabus and discuss the consequences and potential sanctions for academic dishonesty. Here is a sample statement, “Students who violate University standards of academic integrity are subject to disciplinary sanctions, including failure in the course and suspension from the University. Since dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students and the University, policies concerning academic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. I expect you will familiarize yourself with the University’s Academic Dishonesty Policy which may be found in Student Handbook and Undergraduate Catalog.”
- Have the students sign an honor statement at the beginning of the semester and/or at the end of each test. Here is a sample statement, “I affirm that my work is my own, that I have maintained the utmost standards of academic integrity, and that I have not received unauthorized assistance.”
- Include a clear plan on assignments and tests.
- Check students photo ID’s prior to an examination. ID’s are now available for instructors to view online.
- For writing assignments, require the student to focus on a narrow topic and have them turn in drafts well in advance of the final due date.
VI. PROMOTING INTEGRITY & PREVENTING DISHONESTY
Tips for Preventing Plagiarism
The following strategies help prevent plagiarism in written assignments completed outside of class:
- Explain to students what plagiarism is. Provide examples of citations as you expect it in written assignments.
- Assess a grade based on both the process and the final written work.
- Individualize the assignment
- Limit topic selection with a specific list, and narrow topics sufficiently that acquiring or purchasing a paper becomes less likely. Change topics each semester if possible.
- Provide specific objectives for papers and establish precise criteria for paper format.
Require students to identify their topic and submit a preliminary bibliography on a specific date. - Require students to submit an outline and/or an initial reference list for papers which must be approved before they proceed. Meet with students individually to discuss their progress when possible.
- Do not allow students to change topics late in the assignment.
- Instruct students not to dispose of research notes and drafts prior to the distribution of final grades. An alternative is to require submission of an intermediate draft and/or notes with the final paper.
VI. PROMOTING INTEGRITY & PREVENTING DISHONESTY
Tips for Examinations:
The following strategies can help deter dishonest behavior on examinations:
- Require students to present University photo-I.D. cards for admission to the exam and/or when handing in the exam.
- Separate students with vacant seats or assign seating randomly.
- Provide alternate forms of the exam to discourage copying.
- Require students to submit blank bluebooks during a class meeting prior to the exam. Distribute the bluebooks randomly at the exam.
- Prohibit students from having anything at their desks/seats which is not specifically allowed during the exam (i.e. bookbag, notebook).Provide adequate proctoring and enforce silence during the exam.
- Do not allow students to leave the exam room to use the bathroom, get a drink, etc. (Be sure to announce this policy in the course syllabus and in class prior to the exam). Please note that if a student has an accommodation through the Center for Educational Access it must be observed. Number exams and distribute them in order to seated students. This identifies students sitting adjacent to one another during the exam. Collecting exams from students while they are still seated is an alternate strategy for maintaining exams in the order students were seated.
- Photocopy Scantron sheets or portions of the exam subject to subsequent alteration prior to returning them to students.
- Distribute blank paper with exams for calculations and to cover completed work.
- When grading exams, clearly mark incorrect answers and/or blank answers with an “x” in colored pen.
- Alter exams and questions often, preferably every semester.
- Explaining the strategies used to safeguard the exam can help students avoid dishonest behavior. Prior announcement of the consequences for talking during the exam, roving eyes, copying, using a cell phone, etc. also helps students avoid cheating.
VII. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What standard do I use to determine if a student is responsible of academic dishonesty? In order to find a student responsible of academic dishonesty, there must be significant factual evidence to support the finding. Evidence that a student “more likely than not” committed a violation is sufficient.
Do I have to report every instance of academic dishonesty?
If you impose a grade sanction, then yes, you must report the incident to the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics (OCSSE). If the instructor does not impose a grade sanction, then the instructor is not required to report the case to OCSSE.
Will an instance of academic dishonesty adversely affect the student?
Aside from the grade sanction and any disciplinary sanctions imposed at the instructor’s request, there is very little negative impact on the student. Their file remains confidential and does not become part of their permanent student record; their file will be destroyed after they graduate. Instructors may explain to students, if possible, that many graduate programs and government agencies requests both academic and disciplinary information of potential applicants and that this type of behavior may have negative implications for future opportunities.
Why is it so important that I inform OCCSE of my action?
Failure to report violations may adversely affect the instructor’s ability to defend any action taken or sanctions imposed. Also, students with multiple offenses may be able to avoid disciplinary sanctions if these incidents go unreported. By reporting an incident to OCSSE, the University is able to keep a centralized record regarding a student’s involvement in incidents of academic dishonesty.
For further information or consultation contact the Office of Community Standards and Students Ethics at 479-575-5170. You may also contact us via email at judicial@uark.edu.
VIII. RESOURCES
Center For Academic Integrity: www.academicintegrity.org
Journal of College and Character: www.collegevalues.org/
Center for Applied Ethics: www.ethicsweb.ca/resources/
UA Code of Student Life: http://www.dos.uark.edu/
UA Academic Regulations: http://catalogofstudies.uark.edu/
Detection Resources:
http://www.google.com/
http://www.mydropbox.com/
www.canexus.com/eve/index3.shtml
http://www.plagiarism.org/
CONTACT US
For further information or consultation, contact us at:
Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics
Monica Holland
Director
Community Standards & Student Ethics
634 Arkansas Union
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-5170
mholland@uark.edu
Rachel Eickenberry
Assistant Director
Community Standards & Student Ethics
634 Arkansas Union
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-5170
mailto:mholland@uark.edu
