Academic Integrity Policy

Conducting a review on the academic integrity policies of ABC University has proved to be a fascinating and rewarding task. I conclude that the current policy is effective at outlining guidelines for acting with integrity and providing information on how both students and faculty can deal with potential issues. However, the university benefit by increasing our students and faculty familiarity with both the current academic Integrity policy and its relevance. I recommend the school implement learning modules for students as a way for the school to adopt an educational and training approach to tackle academic integrity issues. In their article What We Know About Cheating in College: Longitudinal Trends and Recent Developments professors Donald

It is the responsibility of ABC university to place emphasis on the importance of these values in order to promote an integrous institution. To maximize such affects the school should present academic integrity modules to both 1st and 4th year students and examine potential issues is the classroom and, in the workforce respectively. A central focus of the modules will be on the importance of these fundamental values and how they can be followed. It has been noted that students are likely to significantly overestimate the number of cheaters in a classroom and use such an estimate for justification for their own dishonest activities. For this reason, it is likely that students would respond well to a strong social norm campaign. Modules focused on reminding students of their obligation to actively promote academic integrity both at school and in the workforce will best prepare them for the future. The school shall also develop an academic integrity module for faculty. In addition to covering the importance of academic integrity this module would also cover the process for initiating necessary investigations. This module will help to encourage open and clear lines of communication between students and faculty on the issue and best equip faculty

" Inhibits the goal of education and preparation for the workforce and therefore decreases the value of education provided.

Additionally, it has been found that institutions without explicit academic integrity policies found an average cheating rate of 45% vs. 23% with traditional academic integrity codes (McCabe D, & Trevino, L). Ultimately, an improved focus on academic integrity will noticeably reduce such negative effects. Admittedly the implementation of such modules would incur upfront costs. However, the elimination of issues outlined above will increase the quality of graduates and thus the value of a degree from ABC university, by a margin far greater than the initial costs incurred.

The changes proposed shall be implemented without hesitation. A quick implementation of these processes will mean that the message can be delivered as soon as possible. ABC University may see benefit in appointing a faculty member to proceed upon the creation of the necessary modules. There may be a variety of external institutions who may prove to be valuable resources and keen on aiding such a cause. The International Centre for Academic Integrity and the Smith School of Business at Queens University both have extensive experience with such practices. For instance, our modules could be modeled after a Smith presentation on academic integrity given to their Commerce students in a business communication