In order for us to discuss academic integrity at “xx University”, we must first understand what it means to be part of a community.
In simplistic terms, community is defined as a group of people. Usually this group of people share similar values, governance (laws and expectations), hobbies, interests, live in the same area, etc. We are all members of multiple communities. For example, if you live in the residential halls you are a part of your residential community; fraternity and sorority members are part of the Greek community; and we are all members of the “xx University”community.
“xx University” strives to create an environment where students can thrive both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Dishonesty Policy:
"An act of deception in which a Student seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic work or research, either through the Student’s own efforts or the efforts of another."
As an academic community, “xx University” thrives when academic integrity is incorporated in to all pursuits. Academic integrity includes:
Honesty in all academic processes and accomplishments
Respect for and appropriate use of the intellectual property and work of others
Accepting academic credit and recognition for individual work
The responsibility to protect personal academic work from misuse by others
Academic or Scholarly Dishonesty:
(a) Academic or Scholarly Dishonesty is defined as an act of deception in which a Student
seeks to claim credit for the work or effort of another person, or uses unauthorized materials
or fabricated information in any academic work or research, either through the Student’s own
efforts or the efforts of another.
(b) It includes:
(A) CHEATING — use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study
aids, or an act of deceit by which a Student attempts to misrepresent mastery of academic
effort or information. This includes but is not limited to unauthorized copying or
collaboration on a test or assignment, using prohibited materials and texts, any misuse of
an electronic device, or using any deceptive means to gain academic credit.
Some examples of cheating include the following:
Copying someone else's material during a test
Using an unathorized tool such as a cell phone, calculator, or book to aid during test taking
Concealing note cards with information without teacher permission
Changing or altering an answer or grade on an assignment after it has already being submitted and reviewed
Unauthorized collaboration (working together) with others during assignments, quizzes, or tests
(B) FABRICATION — falsification or invention of any information including but not
limited to falsifying research, inventing or exaggerating data, or listing incorrect or
fictitious references.
Examples of fabrication include the following:
Making up data or recording untrue results for a science lab assignment
Cite a source that has not actually been read or consulted
Claim to have fully contributed to a group project when you have not
(C) ASSISTING — helping another commit an act of academic dishonesty. This includes
but is not limited to paying or bribing someone to acquire a test or assignment, changing
someone's grades or academic records, taking a test/doing an assignment for someone
else by any means, including misuse of an electronic device. It is a violation of Oregon
person (ORS 165.114).
Examples of assisting include:
Taking a test for a friend
Doing homework assignments or essays for someone
Using another student’s clicker or other electronic device for them
Allowing someone to copy your exam or homework
Sharing your old test with a roommate. (If a professor wants to provide students with old tests, they can choose to do so, but students should not share theirs.)
(D) TAMPERING — altering or interfering with evaluation instruments or documents.
Examples of tampering include the following:
Changing answers on assignments or tests that have already been graded
Adding answers on assignments or tests after they have already been graded
Changing any information on a document that has been signed by a supervisor for class credit
(E) PLAGIARISM — representing the words or ideas of another person or presenting
someone else's words, ideas, artistry or data as one's own, or using one’s own previously
(including unpublished material) without appropriate referencing, presenting someone
else's opinions and theories as one's own, or working jointly on a project and then
submitting it as one's own.
Examples of plagiarism include:
Using someone else’s work as your own
Not citing or quoting properly such as copying and pasting information from the internet or a book/article
Working jointly on a project with someone else but submitting it as your own
(F)Plagiarism Continued—The Importance of Original Work. When a student cites research in his or her writing, the citations demonstrate that the student has synthesized findings from a great body of knowledge within one or more academic communities. This process strengthens the arguments or key points being made by the author. Giving credit to the original author through proper citation is not only a demonstration of academic integrity, this process creates stronger and more comprehensive essays and research papers.
After you have finished reading respond to the following 9 questions
1.Describe something you didn't know about academic dishonesty that you learned from this module. How can what you learned be helpful to you as you continue your education?
Please write a short response (between 2-3 sentences in length) to this prompt.
ANSWER:
I learned that academic dishonesty is a crime that is entrenched in Oregon State laws. Thus, people or students who participate or aid in academic dishonesty can be convicted. The information will help me remain an ethical scholar/student.
2.Tell us about a specific community (besides a university as a whole) that you are a member of and a rule or policy that you are held to as a member of this group. Why does the rule or policy exist? How does the rule or policy improve or strengthen your community?
Please write a short response (between 3-4 sentences in length) to this prompt.
ANSWER:
I am a member of Red Cross. As a policy decision, we are required to volunteer and help people from all cultures, religions, and divides. In this case, the policy or rule exists to ensure all people receive help in desperate times. The rule improves the unity of the club and the links we have with the community since we can help people from all divides without discriminating.
3.Now thinking about the academic integrity policy at “xx university”, how do you think this policy helps improve and strengthen the “xx university” community?
Please write a short response (between 2-3 sentences in length) to this prompt.
ANSWER:
The policy on academic honesty ensures all research work done by students is credible and that people can rely on the findings or results. Further, the policy helps students grow up as ethical citizens who can do the right thing without being supervised.
4.What did you learn from this unit?
Please write a short response (between 1-3 sentances in length) to this prompt.
ANSWER:
I learned that academic work is crucial in every country or economy. Entrenching issues such as honesty ensure that the results or outcomes of academic work can be relied on by people in the economy to make a decision. As a result, they need to be ethical and credible while meeting all standards to guarantee reliability.
5.Your final exam is fast approaching and you haven't set aside enough time to review all the course material. Your friend took the same course last term and got a passing grade.
- Would it be academically dishonest to ask your friend to share a copy of their completed test from last term with you now to speed up the study process?
It is academic dishonesty to borrow old papers and present them for marking.
- If it would be academically dishonest what different type(s) of dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, assisting, fabrication, and tampering) would be involved?
Borrowing old paper amounts to assisting
- What other actions could you have taken to avoid the above situation?
The student who obtained a passing mark should have provided the dishonest student with the sources he or she used so that the dishonest student can write a fresh paper.
ANSWER:
6.A friend asks you to review her paper for grammatical mistakes. While editing the paper, you notice some awkward passages and rewrite these sections for her so she will receive a higher grade.
- Does this action put you at risk of academic dishonesty? Does it put your friend at risk of academic dishonesty?
Changing information on paper to gain academic credit without following the due process of acknowledging sources amounts to academic dishonesty. All people who participate in such dishonesty activities are legally liable.
- What type(s) of dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, assisting, fabrication, and tampering) would be involved?
All students who change information on a final paper for class credit tamper with content.
- What could you and your friend do differently to minimize the risk of academic dishonesty?
As a student, I will minimize academic dishonesty by being punctual to meet all deadlines. Most people tamper with content when they do not manage time or find time to complete assignments a day before the due date.
ANSWER:
7.You are working on a lab assignment and you have limited time left to finish when you notice that your results are not reflecting what you know they should be.
- Would it be academically dishonest to change the lab results to better match the outcome you think matches the “correct answer”?
Changing the results of a lab experiment so that they reflect a certain trend is an academic dishonesty.
- If it would be academically dishonest what different type(s) of dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, assisting, fabrication, and tampering) would be involved?
The case of academic dishonesty amounts to fabrication. Specifically, fabrication is a case where students make up data or untrue results especially in science lab assignments.
- What other actions could you have taken to avoid the risk of academically dishonesty?
Observing punctuality is a sure way a student can ensure he or she completes all assignments without fabricating information. In this case, every student should ensure that he or she allocates enough time for each question.
ANSWER:
8. Last term, you spent a lot of time writing a solid research paper for a class. For this term, you notice you are assigned a similar project and could use part or all of the paper you already wrote last term.
- Is it considered plagiarism to submit the same paper for two different classes?
Altering and submitting a paper that has been graded for fresh evaluation is tampering. Apparently, the case is similar to interfering with evaluation documents. Still, the case is an alteration incidence since the student changes answers or on assignments or tests after they have already been graded by the course instructor.
- How could you avoid the risk of academic dishonesty in this case?
The student should rephrase the entire paper, update all facts, and cite all sources used appropriately. As time spans, facts change suggesting the student should not submit old facts for marking and evaluation.
ANSWER:
9.Everyone in class is assigned the same homework to complete. A few of you decide to work on the assignment together in a study group.
- Is this a form of cheating?
Failing to contribute to a group assignment and alleging to have participated is academic dishonesty. Apparently, the case equates to plagiarism since group members work in the absence of some members but submit it as if they worked as a group.
- How could you avoid the risk of academic dishonesty in this situation?
Active group members should omit the names of passive or lazy students who failed to contribute in the final submission to the professor. Alternatively, the group leader should give roles to each group members to guarantee active participation by each member.
