Importance of maintaining academic honesty
Success in the academic field calls for strenuous group and individual efforts to ensure that there is progress intellectually. In any college career or academic life, academic measure is based on the echelon of skills, knowledge and intellectual maturity which is achieved after the completion of any educational program. Among the most important aspects of any successful college course is the need to maintain academic integrity and honesty. Without a commitment to integrity and honesty scholars and students can never achieve true academic success. That is why all scholars and students are expected to maintain a high level of academic integrity and honest. All forms of dishonesty such as cheating on assignments and plagiarism should be avoided at all costs to ensure true academic success. It is essential that academic honesty is always upheld by every scholar and student.
Academic honesty is the backbone of learning. This is because all the growth that is experienced throughout the academic life is echoed in the general growth as an individual. With more exposure to various learning activities, it provides an individual the prospect to learn more about their way of life and their reaction to the world as a whole (Zwagerman, 2008). When an individual engages in academic cheating they are denying themselves the chance to learn more about themselves and the world. Academic cheating further causes a break down or erosion of some of the core values. This results in leaving the individual who is involved in cheating to remain with a measure of shame, guilt, discomfort or loss of self-respect. This whole situation may also affect an individual’s character such that they may remain indecisive when they are faced with a situation which requires honesty. This calls for the need for any student or scholar top exercise academic honesty so that the learning experience is always maximized and the human development is also actualized. Academic dishonesty will always rob an individual the perfect chance for personal development.
Over the years, the society that we live in has evolved to put undue emphasis on the various aspects of life leaving out some of the essential core values. There has been a propensity in the culture whereby people want to know what is only beneficial to them or what they will achieve in the end for doing a certain act. This is an indication that many people tend to think in material terms such as power and money in any approach that they make. Education is a fundamental aspect in life, and it is incomparable to any material gains. The “achieve at all costs” should not drive students and scholars towards academic dishonesty (Tanner, 2004). Change in the mindset in any cultural setting is always initiated through education. That is why all students are required to be honest in their academic endeavors as it ensures that culture of the society is progressively changed.
Another significant reason why students should strive to foster academic honesty is that all human relationships are founded on trust. The coexistence and fabric of the society is only made possible through the human relationships which are founded on honesty. The ability to trust one another is based on honesty which shows why academic honesty plays a prominent role in the development of human relationships. In every aspect of life whether at work, home, school, college or personal relationships, no dishonest person can ever be trusted. All this boils down to the need for academic honesty. After the completion of any level of education, every individual is merited and honored according to their various levels of achievements (Volpe, 2008). Being honored for some academic honesty would be a complete mockery of the very basic levels of trust and honor. That is why it is no coincidence that honesty and honor share the same root. Honor is prized so highly world-wide and what a satisfying way it would be for every student or scholar to be honored with academic accolades that they have worked for through academic honesty. This is an indication on how academic honesty is a source of pride and honor.
Fairness is another core value that operates independently prompting the call for the need of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty by any student always gives the undue short-term advantage. Gaining such mileage over other students academically through cheating is extremely unfair. When other students are relying on their memory for academic excellence other students may be relying on a cheat sheet which is not fair at all. Academic honesty ensures that all students are merited equally in all the academic work that they are able to submit for marking throughout their studies (Sibbernsen, 2008). While other students may be submitting their original work, others may be tempted to submit the writing derived from a published author, which is not fair. This is an indication, that as the students are evaluated academically; some of the students who engage in academic dishonesty may come out as the top performers. This will not bring out the true picture of any academic progress made by the students.
Gaining higher education levels is first and foremost the sole aim of every scholar or student. Academic dishonesty will always undermine the learning process in various ways. Academic dishonesty will always stunt any form of development in some of the essential skills such as comprehension, synthesis, analysis, research, writing and reading. Through academic honesty students are able to recognize their strong and weak points in various fields of study which cannot be possible if they engage in academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty also denies students with the chance of developing self-confidence and assurance which comes when they are academically honest and are able to complete tests and assignments on their own (Volpe, 2008). Students who are academically honest will always progressively develop in critical thinking and creativity whereas academic dishonesty thwarts such development. The critical feedback loop between the students and instructors is also destroyed through academic dishonesty. These factors indicated why academic honesty is essential.
The credibility of any diploma or degree can only be achieved through academic honesty. This is a clear indication on how honesty in carrying out any academic work is vital for any credibility that an individual can be accorded with. When students are classified according to their honest academic work they are able to obtain credible educational certificates. This is an indication that the skills and knowledge gained matches the evaluation that has been done by the academic institution. When students obtain educational papers through academic dishonesty it raises doubts on how they achieved their academic status (Tanner, 2004). With doubts about an individual’s academic status their credibility is put into question which leads the eventual loss. The quality and integrity of any academic standard is always measured on the academic honesty that is required of any student or scholar. When every student is able to complete their academic tasks with honesty it gives them the much needed pride as they are upholding their reputation and that of their institution. Credibility and integrity can only be achieved through academic honesty.
There are times when students are tempted to cheat when carrying out their academic tasks such as tests and assignments. As such, they may see ways in which they could get better grades if they plagiarized a paper, or cheated an exam. Feeling that, it could be best for their self-interest to do so, they end up engaging in academic dishonesty. This shows how students can be easily tempted to cheat. Due to this notion the society has always accorded much respect to such individuals who are able to resist the temptations of academic dishonesty which may seem to have benefits in the near future, while in the furthest future it could be very harmful (Zwagerman, 2008). This calls for the need to at all times do the right thing irrespective of what could be best if was only done for self-interest. Through academic dishonesty that a student engages in, it jeopardizes their chances of being respected or trusted by their colleagues or instructors. This should be a deterrent to any student who would like to engage in any form of dishonesty.
So why should any student strive to uphold academic honesty when they feel that everyone around them is not honest? Self-respect is attained when honesty prevails knowing that an individual has played a role in crafting the kind of world that they desire to live in. With a society characterized by high levels of honesty, it would ensure that everyone strives for excellence in anything that they undertake. This is an indication that academic honesty superior minds and characters will be created which will ensure prosperity in the society that we live. Academic honesty should be the motivation of every student.
References
Sibbernsen, K. (2008-2009). Online academic integrity. Astronomy Education Review: 7(2). The
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. 98-102.
Tanner, C.A. (2004). Editorial: Moral decline or pragmatic decision making? Cheating and
plagiarism in perspective. Journal of Nursing Education: 43(7). 291-292.
Volpe, R., Davidson, L., & Bell, M.C. (2008). Faculty attitudes and behaviors concerning
student cheating. College Student Journal: 42(1), 164-175.
Zwagerman, S. (2008). The scarlet P: Plagiarism, panopticism, and the rhetoric of academic
integrity. College Composition and Communication: 59(4). 676-710.
