Office of Academic Services
What is Academic Integrity? Academic: of or pertaining to a college, academy, school, or other educational institution, especially one of higher education. Integrity: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. Office of Academic Services 2
Why Should You Care About Academic Integrity? Cheating and plagiarism rob you of the opportunity to learn Academic dishonesty tarnishes Rutgers reputation and devalues a Rutgers degree Cheating undermines the efforts of honest students Academic dishonesty represents the destruction of the fundamental principles of higher education Office of Academic Services 3
Why Do Students Cheat? Poor time management! Misunderstanding plagiarism Confusion about citation Personal issues or emergencies Pressure from friends for assistance Pressure to succeed in a competitive academic environment Office of Academic Services 4
Statistics Each year, students are suspended or expelled from Rutgers for violations of academic integrity. Year Students Suspended Students Expelled 2006-07 29 3 2007-08 33 2 2008-09 23 1 2009-10 28 6 2010-11 25 5 Office of Academic Services 5
Types of Academic Dishonesty Cheating: any prohibited action or possession of prohibited material during a test, exam or quiz Examples: Copying answers from another student Having or using a cheat sheet Using a smart phone to access the Internet Office of Academic Services 6
Types of Academic Dishonesty Unauthorized Collaboration: working with others on an assignment without permission. Sometimes group work is allowed and other times it isn t. Make sure you know whether collaboration is allowed How much collaboration is allowed? (can you do research with a classmate, as long as you write separate papers?) Office of Academic Services 7
Types of Academic Dishonesty Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: knowingly helping someone else plagiarize or cheat Examples: Allowing someone to copy from your exam Selling answers to an exam or quiz Multiple Submission: re-using work submitted for a previous class or assignment without the instructor s permission (see handout). Office of Academic Services 8
Types of Academic Dishonesty Fabrication: submitting falsified material Examples: Inventing data from a non-existent experiment Using an invented source in a bibliography Office of Academic Services 9
Types of Academic Dishonesty Plagiarism: Taking credit for someone else s work; failure to cite the source of others words or ideas Examples: Using information copied from a website without identifying the source Submitting a paper purchased from a term paper mill Office of Academic Services 10
Plagiarism Pitfalls Paraphrasing Even if you paraphrase another person s ideas, you must still cite your source Paraphrasing without citation IS plagiarism Common knowledge Is it really common knowledge? Would the average person on the street know this information? (for example, The USA has 50 states. ) If in doubt, cite it Office of Academic Services 11
Classifying Violations Non-Separable Violations: relatively minor offenses that carry a penalty less than suspension or expulsion May occur due to ignorance or inexperience Involve only a small fraction of the total course grade Examples: Cheating on a quiz or homework assignment worth 5% of the total course grade Citing a source incorrectly Multiple submission Office of Academic Services 12
Classifying Violations Separable Violations: serious offenses that can result in suspension or expulsion. Usually involve intentional deception Affect significant portions of the overall coursework Examples: Cheating on a mid-term or final exam Plagiarizing a major paper Enlisting a substitute to take an exam Office of Academic Services 13
Potential Sanctions Non-Separable Violations Academic integrity workshop Disciplinary probation A failing grade on the assignment or in the course Separable Violations Failure in the course Suspension for one or more semesters Permanent expulsion Office of Academic Services 14
The Disciplinary Process A new academic integrity policy was implemented on September 1, 2011. Instructors can handle non-separable offenses involving undergraduates Cases involving graduate students and separable violations are handled by the Office of Student Conduct Office of Academic Services 15
The Disciplinary Process If an instructor suspects that a student has committed a violation, the student cannot be penalized until the disciplinary process is complete He or she can continue to attend classes and submit exams and assignments If course grades are submitted before the case is resolved, the student should get a TZ grade Office of Academic Services 16
The Disciplinary Process The Process The instructor informs the student in writing of the complaint The student meets with the instructor to discuss the complaint Based on this meeting, the instructor decides whether the student committed the violation If the student is not responsible, the case is closed If the instructor finds the student responsible, he or she gives an academic sanction (such as a failing grade or make-up assignment) Office of Academic Services 17
The Disciplinary Process If the student disagrees with the decision, he or she can appeal to the Campus Appeals Committee Visit http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu for a complete description of the disciplinary process and the Policy on Academic Integrity Office of Academic Services 18
THE RUTGERS FILES Office of Academic Services 19
The Rutgers Files A student copied an entire term paper from a website and submitted the work as his own. The author of the paper was Irish and used several phrases that would be common in Ireland, but rather unusual in the U.S. This raised the professor s suspicions, and the plagiarism was discovered. Sanction: One semester suspension and failure in the course. Office of Academic Services 20
The Rutgers Files Note: If a student receives an F for academic performance, he or she can repeat the course. If the student passes the second time, the original F grade will be removed from the GPA. This is not the case with F grades given for disciplinary reasons. Even if the class is repeated and passed, the original F remains in the GPA. Office of Academic Services 21
The Rutgers Files A student allowed his friend Jane to copy from his answer sheet during an exam. Jane accepted responsibility for the violation and said that the other student was not aware of her cheating. However, when called to testify to his innocence at a hearing, Jane refused to appear. Sanction: One year disciplinary probation, failure in the course and a 12-page paper on academic integrity. Office of Academic Services 22
The Rutgers Files A Newark Law School student collaborated with another student during the final exam in a Constitutional law class. Sanction: a ten-semester suspension and failure in the course. If the student applies to the Bar at any time, the incident will be reported to the Character and Fitness Committee. This will be in effect for the rest of her life. Office of Academic Services 23
The Rutgers Files A student hid a cheat sheet in the cover of his calculator before a physics exam. The proctor detected the unusual movement and confiscated the cheat sheet before the exam began. Sanction: One semester suspension and failure in the course. Office of Academic Services 24
The Rutgers Files Two students switched identities for an entire semester. Each impersonated the other, attending class and completing assignments. An ID check during the final exam foiled the students plans. Sanction: Both students were permanently expelled from the University. Office of Academic Services 25
The Rutgers Files A student entered a professor s office without permission and stole two copies of an exam that he was scheduled to make up. The student submitted the stolen exam during the make-up period, but it turned out to be the wrong exam. Sanction: The student was permanently expelled from the University. Office of Academic Services 26
The Rutgers Files A student submitted three sets of forged AP scores, gaining 18 college credits to which she was not entitled. The fraud was not detected until AFTER the student graduated from the University. Sanction: The woman s bachelor s degree was revoked and she was permanently expelled from the University. Office of Academic Services 27
Your Future In addition to sanctions from the University, academic dishonesty can affect: Scholarships Sports eligibility Graduation Graduate school admission Career opportunities Office of Academic Services 28
Avoiding Violations of Academic Integrity Practice good time management! Understand the assignment thoroughly Can you work with others? Can you re-use previous work? How should you cite sources on a homework assignment or take-home exam? What citation format should you use (for example, MLA, APA)? Understand the major citation formats and how to cite various types of sources (articles, graphics, websites) Office of Academic Services 29
Avoiding Violations of Academic Integrity Learn how to cite direct quotes and paraphrased material When in doubt, CITE! It can t hurt! Request an extension if an emergency arises Ask your instructor to review a rough draft of your work Keep your assignments to yourself NEVER share answers or papers! Office of Academic Services 30
Resources Your instructor s office hours Writing Program http://wp.rutgers.edu Learning Resource Centers http://rlc.rutgers.edu Ask a Librarian http://libraries.rutgers.edu, click on Ask a Librarian Refworks bibliography generator http://www.refworks.com Office of Academic Services 31
Thank You! Integrity is one of several paths. It distinguishes itself from the others because it is the right path and the only one upon which you will never get lost. M.H. McKee http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu Office of Academic Services 32