- Summarize the issues surrounding the violation.
This academic integrity issue involves an exam environment. The incident happened during the course of an exam in Management 301 class. It is a requirement by any code of academic ethics that each student presents his or her own work during examinations. It is the only way that instructors can be in a position to ascertain whether a given student is making progress or not. In this incidence, my behavior during the exam period was the boron of contention. The instructor was concerned that I might have gained access to the work of a fellow classmate who was seated next to me during the exam period. According to the instructor, I had been spotted peeping onto my classmate’s exam paper. This was a probable cause of alarm that prompted my instructor to spring into action.
The first action that my instructor took was to approach me and inform me of the concern that he had. In order to confirm that his fears that I was cheating during the exam period, my instructor took both my exam answer sheet and that of my classmate. After looking through the answers that we had provided for various questions in the exam, my instructor determined a pattern. He realized that there was a similarity in the pattern of wrong answers. Based on this observation, my instructor forwarded me to the Student Standards and Accountability department for disciplinary action.
- Identify and describe your level of responsibility for the incident. How could you have prevented the violation from occurring?
First of all, I was in the exam room at the time of the incidence. In addition, I provided the answer sheet that my instructor used to substantiate the claim that I was cheating during the exam period. This means that the allegations of exam malpractice that were leveled against me had a solid ground. In addition, the observation by my instructor substantiates the idea that there was a likelihood of exam cheating during the examination period. I understand that I prevented the violation from occurring through a couple of ways. I would have sat a reasonable distance from my classmate to make sure that I was not attracted to peep on somebody else’s exam. In this way, the instructor would not have had the idea that I might have cheated during the exam period. Another way that I would have avoided the incidence was through conducting myself in the right manner during the exam period. This would mean that I would seat in an upright manner and not get preoccupied with what is happening in the exam environment except my own exam. In this way, the work that I would present would be original and not subject to scrutiny.
- Discuss in a detailed written narrative what you have learned from this incident.
I have to admit that I have learned a lot from this incidence. First of all, I have gained a better understanding of the reason behind exams. Exams are the only way that we can be able to gauge our own progress. There is no reason to cheat during examination just for the mere fact that we would like a grade. This is because as much as one might earn a grade that they do not deserve, one will be lying to him or herself. Considering that education is not only within the classroom environment, cheating during exams complicates our future. This is because the knowledge that we gain in the classroom environment should be applied in our future careers (Kibler, 1988, p.41). This means that we might be qualified into careers that require high academic attained but might be deficient of content if we focus on cheating during examinations. In addition, we might not gain the assistance that we need from instructors if we cheat on exams.
- What is your personal definition of integrity? Does your personal definition conform to that of WSU’s definition? Why or Why not?
Personally, I would define integrity is the ability to believe in oneself and one’s potentials. This would include the presentation of one’s work and ability any time that one is required to do so. Therefore, one would rely on one’s own property and ability to demonstrate that they are capable of accomplishing a given task that is set before them. My personal definition of integrity conforms of WSU’s definition because the University encourages students to present their own work for grading. Presenting one’s own work allows students to build trust in their own potentials. This is because it is the only way that students can be in a position to know their own capabilities. Every exam and test that students approach using their own potentials they learn from their own mistakes. It is through these mistakes that students can be in a position to make improvements by being able to work on their weaknesses. Using integrity to approach the academic process at WSU allows student to gain assistance from their instructors. Instructors within the learning environment are not meant to punish students using exams, but are meant to provide assistance to students so that they can gain optimally from the learning process.
- Why is academic integrity the cornerstone of the university? Summarize WSU’s academic integrity policy.
Academic integrity is a cornerstone at WSU because the University believes that it has the necessary resources and staff essential for facilitating academic progress among students. This means that the mechanisms such as exams and lectures that are within WSU’s curriculum are meant to enhance the learning process of the student. Students who do not adhere to academic integrity are likely to lose in the long run because they will not have exploited the different forms of assistance that WSU has to offer. Therefore, there is no need for academic dishonesty during the education process at WSU.
- What is intellectual property and how it is connected to plagiarism?
Intellectual property is one’s ideas either spoken or written (Spiegel, 2001, p.23). This is connected to plagiarism in that plagiarism is the use of another person’s intellectual property without the acknowledgment the owner of the intellectual property (Karper, 2001, p. 37).
- What happens if you get a second academic integrity violation?
One is likely to be terminated from WSU if he or she faces a second academic integrity violation. This is because a second incidence would illustrate that an individual did not learn from the first incidence.
- What are your academic goals?
I intend to pursue a career in economics. I plan to use the knowledge attained at WSU to work for large corporations around the world and also actively run and manage my own private firms.
References
Karper, E. (2001). Plagiarism. West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University [Writing Lab, English Dept.].
Kibler, W. L. (1988). Academic integrity and student development: legal issues and policy perspectives. Asheville, N.C.: College Administration Publications.
Spiegel, P. (2001). Academic dishonesty. Mahwah, New Jersey: L. Erlbaum.
