These sessions were developed by Dr. Mark Baetz and Dr. Detlev Nitsch as part of an academic integrity initiative supported by Wilfrid Laurier University

These sessions were developed by Dr. Mark Baetz and Dr. Detlev Nitsch as part of an academic integrity initiative supported by Wilfrid Laurier University. Any use of these materials should

acknowledge the authors.

Affirming an Ethical Culture at WLU

Objectives

1. To affirm WLU’s ethical culture and fundamental values.

2. To review the expected behaviours flowing from this culture.

3. To provide information about WLU policies and resources related to academic integrity.

High school

WLU

Cheaters: Agree/Agree strongly

… were/will be frequently caught 19% 72%

… were/will be given significant penalties 44 96

… were/will be embarrassed to tell their friends 15 46

There will be more cheating:Disagree/Disagree

strongly

… on tests and exams 78%

… on written assignments: 65

Source: Wilfrid Laurier University, BBA Academic Integrity Survey conducted by

Mark Baetz and Detlev Nitsch, September 2004. Original survey developed by Don McCabe.

Your Expectations

• Trustworthiness– Honesty– Integrity– Reliability– Loyalty

Adapted from: Schwartz, M. (2002) “A code of ethics for corporate codes of ethics” Journal of Business Ethics, Vol.41, 27-43.

Fundamental Values

• Respect• Responsibility• Fairness• Caring• Citizenship

Honesty:• Be honest, e.g., don’t pretend the work of others is

your own.

Integrity:• “Stick to [your] values, despite [short-term] loss”, e.g.,

avoid academic misconduct even if it means loss of grades

Trustworthiness

Source: Schwartz, M. (2002) “A code of ethics for corporate codes of ethics” Journal of Business Ethics, Vol.41, 27-43.

Reliability:• “Fulfil commitments”, e.g., meet deadlines for

assignments and group contributions

Loyalty:• “Avoid conflicts of interest”, e.g., do not assist a ‘friend’

who is seeking unauthorized help

Trustworthiness


“Respect the rights of others”

e.g., acknowledge the ideas and work of others

Respect


Take responsibility for …

1) your own actions

e.g., if you cross the line, accept the consequences without blaming others or resorting to excuses and a search for loopholes.

2) the actions of others

e.g., take measures to discourage or prevent misconduct by classmates/friends

Responsibility

“Treat stakeholders fairly”

e.g., ensure that you and your classmates have a level playing field in the quest for scholarships, job interviews, etc.

Fairness


“Avoid unnecessary harm, act benevolently”

e.g., avoid harming yourself and others through academic misconduct.

Caring


Who is Harmed by Cheating?

• Cheater

• Classmates

• Teaching Assistants

• Faculty

• Administrators

• Educational Institution

• Employers

• Alumni

• Funding providers

• … and more

Harms from cheating

For the cheater:– No learning

– Penalties, up to and including expulsion from the University

– Career difficulties

– Stigmatization, ostracism

– Embarrassment, lowered self-concept

– Stress

Adapted from: (2003) David Ellis, Becoming a Master Student, Canadian Third Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 173

Harms from Cheating

For the institution:– Loss of credibility and reputation

– Degrees are devalued

– Negative media coverage

– Outstanding student and faculty candidates no longer apply

– Fundraising difficulties


Newspaper headlines

University

uncovers

plagiarism

bombshell

Simon Fraser wants to give

failing grades to 47

copycats

(National Post, January 7, 2002

p. A1)

School shocked by extent of

plagiarism case (National Post, January 7,

2002 p. A9)

Cheating scandal shocks

university (The Record, January 7, 2002, p. D9)

Reproduced with permission

Harms from cheating

For the cheater’s classmates:– Loss of opportunity to excel

– Questions about value of degree

– Feeling ‘suckered’

– Perception that the playing field is not level

– ‘Whistleblower’ dilemmas


Harms from cheating

For others:– Alumni degrees are devalued

– Faculty resort to cheat-proof evaluation methods instead of what’s best for learning

– Increased administrative and faculty workload

– Employers view degrees as lesser quality


Classroom cheating and workplace behaviour

“students who cheat on exams or … plagiarize … are more likely to believe it is acceptable to:

– lie to a potential employer on an employment application,

– use insider information when buying and selling stocks,

– compromise their ethical standards to advance their careers.”

Source: Lawson, R. (2004) “Is classroom cheating related to business students’ propensity to cheat in the real world?, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol 49, pp. 189-199.

“Obey the law”,

e.g., as a member of the WLU community, follow university policies and rules.

Citizenship


University Policies

• “Academic misconduct is an act by a student, or by students working on a team project, which may result in a false evaluation of the student(s), or which represents an attempt to unfairly gain an academic advantage, where the student either knew or ought reasonably to have known that it was misconduct. Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant for a finding of academic misconduct. .”

Source: WLU Undergraduate Academic Calendar 2007-2008

• plagiarism, … is the unacknowledged presentation, … of the work of others as one's own, …

• cheating, … involves … using, giving, and receiving … unauthorized information …

• impersonating another person …

• submitting the same piece of work, … for more than one course without … permission …

• buying … term papers or assignments …;

• falsifying, misrepresenting or forging an academic record or supporting document.


Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following acts which are …examples … :

University Policies

University Policies

• Penalties:– Will also be levied for attempted academic

misconduct– Penalties for the cheater as well as for being “a party

to … acts of dishonesty”– First contact is faculty/instructor– Case may escalate up to Department (Chair), Faculty

(Dean) or University level (VP Academic or President), depending on severity

– Appeal process exists to ensure due process


Where you can get help

• Your professor• Your teaching assistant• Academic Integrity Advisor• University Calendars• Writing Centre• Library• Academic Integrity Website

www.wlu.ca/academicintegrity

Student Reflections• “It is a relief to know that plagiarism will not be tolerated at

university.”• “This [session] is a useful wake-up call to all elements of cheating.”• “There was a lot that I didn’t know was academic misconduct.”• “No one can plead ignorance, and a level playing field is in place.”• “Good to know it [academic misconduct] is taken seriously.”• “[This session] shocked us into reality.” • “Cheating in university is far more serious [than in high school] and

penalties are far more severe.”• “It’s best to hear it from a student, because we realize what a

temptation cheating can be, but that we can overcome it.”

Source: 2004 Orientation Week Sessions

Documents

These sessions were developed by Dr. Mark Baetz and Dr. Detlev Nitsch as part of an academic integrity initiative supported by Wilfrid Laurier University