Academic Integrity Task Force

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Academic Integrity Task Force

• Summer Quarter 2008

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Charge of the Task Force

• Convene an Interprofessional Task Force with
  broad representation to examine Professionalism
  and Academic Integrity at RFUMS and draft a White
  Paper with the task force findings (what we have)
  and recommendations (what we may want to have)
• Process

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Task Force Members

• Marc Abel
• Rebecca Durkin
• Sarah Garber
• Ken Kessler
• Cathy Lazarus
• Monica Oblinger
• Nancy Parsley

• Neal Patel, student representative
• Wendy Rheault
• Sandra Salloway
• Renwick Taylor, student rep.
• Sally Venus
• John Vitale, Task Force Chair

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Contextualizing the Issue
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Definition

• Academic Integrity encompasses
• Honesty
• Trust
• Fairness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• (Center for Academic Integrity at Clemson
• The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity)

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Academic Integrity Data

• Center for Academic Integrity Data 75 of
  college students cheat at least once and more
  than half dont think it is a serious offense
• Cheating at all levels grade school through to
  professional programs

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College CheatingComparison of 1963 to 1993
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Methods of CheatingMcCabe et al
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Research on Professional Schools

• 84 of undergraduate business students and 72 of
  engineering students cheated at least once (Mohr
  et al presentation)

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Medical Professions

• Rennie and Crosby reported 2 to 56 of medical
  students would engage in unethical behaviours-
  forging MD signature (9) or falsifying notes
  (32)
• Previous cheating in high school predicted
  cheating in medical school
• 50 of pharmacy students admitted to being
  involved in activities traditionally defined as
  dishonest however only 16 said they cheated
  (Mohr, Mabey, Fell Ingram)

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Does College Cheating Transfer to the Workplace?

• Academic dishonesty is associated with workplace
  dishonesty
• Harding et al past behavior can be a strong
  indicator of future behavior
• Harding et al reported that 62 of students who
  cheated in high school also cheated in college
• 64 who cheated in high school violated workplace
  policies

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Transfer to Medical Practice

• Unprofessional behavior in medical school is
  associated with disciplinary action by a state
  medical board
• Three unprofessional behaviors
• Poor reliability and responsibility (8x more
  likely)
• Lack of self improvement (3x more likely)
• Poor initiative and motivation
• (Papadakis M, Teherani A et al, NEJM, Dec 2005)

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Why Do Students Cheat?

• According to McCabe- peer behavior has the most
  influence
• Peer approval increases cheating and peer
  disapproval decreases cheating
• Students who dont cheat feel disadvantaged

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Why Do Students Cheat?

• McCabe et al reported that certain
  characteristics lead to cheating
• Pressure for grades
• Parental Pressure
• Poor self image
• Lack of responsibility

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Why Do Students Cheat?

• Faculty issues as reported by students
• Faculty look the other way
• Too much homework
• Trivial assignments
• Faculty do a poor job in the class
• Faculty dont remove opportunities to cheat

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Why Do Students Cheat?

• Outdated policies on cheating
• Weak punishments
• Institutions dont try hard enough to stop
  cheating
• Students arent involved in making the policy and
  the judicial process
• (Mohr,Mabey, Fell Ingram, 2008 presentation)

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Student Views on Faculty

• Teacher should pay attention to gestures (etc)
• Give different forms of exam
• Have more proctors
• Teachers shouldnt leave exams in office
• All personal items stashed away
• Students shouldnt be allowed to leave the room
• Students should know consequences of cheating
• (Mohr,Mabey, Fell Ingram, 2008 presentation)

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Honor Codes

• McCabe et al found that academic dishonesty was
  higher in institutions with no honor code, and
  was less at schools with an honor code
• Peer behavior and acceptance had a significant
  influence on cheating
• Student involvement is the key to successful
  implementation of honor codes

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Honor Codes

• Stress responsibility of students
• Policies are clearly delineated
• Includes written pledges by student
• Institution clearly communicates policies
  campus-wide regarding dishonesty
• Students play significant role in judicial
  process

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Academic Integrity at RFUMS
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Artifacts of Academic Integrity

• RFUMS Student Council (Honor Council)
• Educational Affairs Committee
• Profession/School Specific Codes of
  Professionalism and Academic Integrity
• Draft Standards for Student Conduct Policy
  Student Affairs
• Draft Code of Conduct for all University
  faculty, staff, volunteers, and others who
  exercise authority on behalf of or in affiliation
  with the University. Compliance Office

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Draft Recommendations

• Academic Integrity as core University value
• Academic integrity is a shared responsibility of
  students, faculty, staff and administration
• Clarify expectations for students
• Reduce opportunities for cheating
• Prompt and equitable enforcement of policies

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