Academic Integrity (Block 1, Module 2)

At TAMU, we define academic integrity as:

"An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do."

TAMU Academic Sanctions - first offenses

F* for the course and honor violation probation; more severe can be separation from univ; less severe can be grade reduction, zero, extra work, attend integrity program, some combo of these

Define cheating

Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or other devices or materials in any academic exercise

What is the significance and relevance of academic integrity?

Longitudinal research shows trend of cheating in both graduates and undergraduates; High rates of cheating in dental schools as well

What was the most important factor of the 4 moral intensity dimensions for the subjects in the study?

Social consensus (ethical decision-making was affected mostly by how peers felt about the action)

Key points about fairness

Students expect/deserve (1) predictability, (2) clear expectations, (3) consistent/just response to dishonesty; Faculty expect/deserve (1) fair treatment from students, (2) fair treatments from colleagues/administration

Aggie Honor System Rules

academic integrity essential; responsibility of everyone to promote; apathy is not neutral because it perpetuates misconduct; responsibility to report, all syllabi state honor code

Sanctions can be either

academic or educational

Examples of academic misconduct

cheating, fabrication, falsification, multiple submissions, plagiarism, complicity

What is Seriousness of Consequences?

degree of harm a particular action is likely to cause victims of the action. (the more serious the consequences, the greater it's moral intensity)

What is proximity?

degree of nearness/closeness that the decision-maker has for those affected by the issue or action in question. (closer the decision-maker feels to those affected by an action, the greater the moral intensity the action will have)

What is Social Consensus?

degree of social agreement that a proposed act is evil/good. (agreement by society/peers that an action is morally acceptable decreases the moral intensity of the action. conversely, societal agreement that an action is morally wrong increases the moral intensity of the action)

What is the F* designation?

documented on transcript - failure due to academic misconduct

What were the most common sanctions/penalties for violations of academic integrity

failure of the course, repetition of the course, repetition of the assn/test, rehabilitative/remediation activities (less common: expulsion, permanent record, mention in reference letters)

While there is no universally agreed upon definition of academic integrity, what are the core fundamental values?

honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, courage to act

Key points about responsibility

individual duty and shared concern; standing up against wrongdoing, resisting negative peer pressure, serving as positive example; hold individuals accountable and work to discourage/prevent misconduct

Define complicity

intentionally or knowingly helping, or attempting to help, another to commit an act of academic misconduct (incl allowing others to copy, distributing test questions, collaborating etc.)

What is Temporal Immediacy?

length of time b/t the present and the onset of consequences in the moral act in question. (consequences in distant future are likely to be discounted; conversely, if decision-maker perceives consequences to be soon after, the moral intensity will be greater)

Key points about courage

less a value than a quality/capacity; CAPACITY to act in accordance w/ values DESPITE fear (not just being fearless); can only develop where tested

Define fabrication

making up data/results and recording/reporting them; submitting fabricated documents (inventing data/information)

Define falsification

manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, or changing/omitting data such that research is not accurately represented (modifying measurements/methods to obtain more conforming values)

What were the potential reasons for traditional system failure?

moral blindness, defective reasoning, lack of commitment to moral ideals, deficiencies in character and competence

What is moral intensity?

multidimensional construct that focuses on the morality of the issue, instead of the individual or context

What were the traditional honor codes in higher education?

non-proctored exams, student pledge, student judiciary, non-toleration

What are some of the academic integrity violations reported by dental students?

plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, submitting another student's work, copying from another student's test, obtaining test questions before taking the test.

Code of Ethics

pretty straightforward - behave honorably/with integrity; don't permit/accept what's not just; don't lie/cheat/steal/mislead/deceive others; refrain from unethical/unprofessional conduct

What are the modified honor codes in higher education?

proctored examinations, student pledge, student judiciary, campus priority, rehabilitative sanctions

Key points about trust

promoted by faculty who set clear guidelines; promoted by students who prepare honest/thoughtful work; engendered by schools that set high/clear/consistent standards and enforce them

Key points about respect

reciprocal; facing challenges with integrity; value diversity of opinions; display by (1) being punctual/attentive, (2) meeting deadlines, (3) being prepared, (4) interacting in dignified/professional manner

What were some of the recommendations for dental schools to promote academic integrity?

screen applicants for ethics/values, establish cheating within ethical coursework, discuss academic integrity policies, delineate expectations, review policies with students, have students sign/attest compliance, shuffle questions for MC tests, distribute retired test items to everyone, utilize relevant assessment methods, share outcomes of cheating enforcement actions, avoid take-home tests, teach on avoiding inadvertent plagiarism

TAMU academic sanctions - repeated offenses

second offense = separation from univ; honor council adjudicates

What are the dimensions of moral intensity?

seriousness of consequences, social consensus, temporal immediacy, proximity

What does it mean to have multiple submissions?

submitting substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without authorization from the instructor (incl submitting the same work in more than one course)

Define plagiarism

the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit (intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly)

Special note on group projects - if someone in a group commits academic misconduct...

the entire group could be held responsible

What are some clinical examples of breaches in integrity?

treat patients outside regularly scheduled clinic periods without appropriate faculty supervision (**illegal practice of dentistry**); deliberately make untrue statements/impressions; steal/procure/damage/deface/destroy property; falsify records incl pt care record; fail to safeguard PHI; drugs on school prop; hacking; unauthorized photography of pt/pt care.

Key points about honesty

truthfulness and knowledge; build on those who came before and future will be built on what we do (in the areas of learning, research, service, and clinical practice).

Sanctions at COD

written reprimand, financial restitution, grade adjustment, remediation, disciplinary probation, suspension, revocation of credit, dismissal, expulsion, denial of degree, revocation of degree/surrender of diploma