A Model Academic Ethics and Integrity Policy for Computer

Science DepartmentsCharles Riedesel

Eric Manley

Susan Poser

Jitender Deogun

Something Different about CS

• Universities and colleges have academic integrity policies and codes of conduct

• Computing sciences are developing their own

• But still fail to address or directly conflict with standard practice

What’s to be accomplished with this paper?

• Identify what is peculiar about CS

• Overview of existing policies

• Propose a new model

CS Practice vs. Ethics Standards

• Multiple Submission - but we want to encourage code reuse

• Copying others’ work - we want extensive use of code bases and libraries

• Group work - it’s the only way• Nature of electronic media - security of

work, methods of fraud

Policies Today

• Professional policies not education oriented– ACM Code of Ethics

• Contribute to society, Avoid harm, Fairness, Honesty (Note - just one aspect of ethics!), Property rights, Credit for Intel. Property, Respect privacy, Honor confidentiality

Accreditation and Ethics

• ABET - “There must be sufficient coverage of social and ethical implications of computing to give students an understanding of a broad range of issues in this area.”

Overview of Policies

• UNL (adapted from George Wash. U)– Quite Long, with intro and overview– Definitions– Reasons to act with integrity– Examples of good and bad behavior– Reasons to suspect dishonesty– Consequences

Overview of Policies (UNL)

• Inadequacies– Some terms still not well defined– Implementation not well covered– Not revisited since creation 8 years ago

Overview of Policies

• U of Texas at Austin - “Rules to Live By”– Very strict, may limit collaboration– Justified as needed to meet “artificial

requirement of having individual grades”

Overview of Policies

• George Washington U– Question & Answer format with motivations– Careful guidance what is/is not allowed

• Purdue U– Mostly not CS specific, quite generic– Very specific implementation and

processes, eg. Signing statements

Insights and Innovations

• Who should be subject to the policy?– Everyone even remotely connected

• Faculty, Researchers, Teaching Assistants, Student Resource Centers, Administration, Office Staff, Custodians

Insights and Innovations

• Integrity is a part of ethics - we need “academic ethics” policies

• The key to integrity is transparency, the avoidance of deception– Change the focus from trying to determine

what is allowed and not allowed to instead documenting and citing all external involvement - Many implications!!!

Insights and Innovations

• Policies should not impinge on educating students in the legitimate practices and procedures of industry, nor impede the development of promising new educational pedagogies

Proposed Model

• Who is subject to the policy (everyone)

• Definitions of Ethics and Integrity (as it applies to everyone!)

• Examples of Ethical and Honest Behavior

• Examples of Unethical and Dishonest Behavior

Proposed Model

• Causes for Suspicion

• Maintaining Ethical and Honest Behavior

• Consequences of Violations

• Appeals for Violations

• Supplements, Appendices, and Additional Materials

Implementation of a Policy

• Clear set of procedures

• Forms for reporting and filing

• Tracking repeat offences

• Publicity guidelines

• Schedule for revisions

• Assessment process

Student Comments on Current Policy (assigned essay)

• “I had never thought to credit a classmate who had helped me”

• “knowing that every student had to write an essay … assures me … every student knows … what is acceptable”

• “I will always be extremely wary of the possibility that I might unintentionally overstep the straight and narrow”

More Comments

• “it binds the faculty as well as the students. It’s a good thing to have everyone held by the same standards”

• “After I read … I am very impressed by the fact that everyone contributes to the environment of fairness”

• “Paper shredders should be made available [in the labs]”

More Comments

• “After reading the … policy, I am still unsure if I can get help from another student”

• “… surprised me. … if I were to accidentally leave files in an insecure place such as the recycle bin, I could be an accomplice …”

Student Cheats on Integrity Policy Essay!

• New graduate student

• Carefully researched, multiple sources

• The only original content was “I think that”, “I believe that”

• Body of “essay” was plagiarized from the Internet

My Collaboration Policy

• Syllabus statement is strict, but promises guidelines

• Statement in Homework calls for documenting all sharing, minimal penalty

• Student responses thus far are encouraging

Questions?

• ACM Policy– http://www.acm.org/about/code-of-ethics

• IEEE Policy– http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/iportals/aboutus/

ethics/code.html

• ABET Statement– http://abet.org/forms.shtml#For_Computing_Progr

ams_Only

• UNL Policy– http://cse.unl.edu/ugrad/academic_integrity.php