Ways to Promote Academic Integrity and Discourage Dishonesty
Faculty and staff members in their respective roles can educate students regarding the importance of academic integrity and/or implement strategies which discourage scholastic dishonesty. This document contains a variety of approaches listed according to broad areas where education/prevention strategies may be implemented.
Your attitude and response to scholastic dishonesty creates a climate that can either foster or inhibit dishonesty. What you do is very important. Ignoring an incident implies that scholastic dishonesty is accepted.
General Academic Practices . . .
1..Stress the importance of academic integrity in course syllabi. Include test-taking rules (e.g., no books, no caps, ID required) and clearly detail behaviors you consider scholastically dishonest that others may not (e.g., one paper submitted for credit in two different courses; students who work together on a lab or take-home assignment). A general statement for syllabi follows: Policy on cheating—students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
2. Discuss scholastic dishonesty policies, procedures, and possible penalties on the first class day.
3. Take action against all involved, including those who assist, when evidence of scholastic dishonesty exists.
4. Assign a small percent of the final grade to activities that cannot be closely controlled (e.g., take-home exams, lab reports, homework assignments).
5. Do not give answer manuals to graders
6. Personally deliver the final course grades to the proper administrative official.
Classroom Exams. . .
1. Advise students in advance that restroom use during the test is not permitted and that silence will be enforced.
2. Do not use the same exam twice, including different sections of the same course.
3. Develop alternate test forms (I.e., same items and response options but one or both are presented in a different order).
4. Print the same test using different type fonts so that it looks like different test forms are used.
5. Assign more than one number to each question (e.g., the first question might be numbered 8/6) and break students into groups (e.g., odd and even on the basis of the last digit in their social security number) and ask that they record the answers using their group’s designated question number.
6. Include a statement like the following on exams and answer sheets if students are not permitted to retain them: Any test file that includes this document was developed with stolen materials. Stealing this document or using it prior to an examination is cheating and will be dealt with as such.
7. Do not use students to type/duplicate exams
8. Secure exams/answers in a locked cabinet.
9. Put different forms of the test on different colors of paper and distribute them so that the colors alternate.
10. Check desks and the surrounding area for notes and other unauthorized materials.
11. Staple scratch paper to the answer sheets before distributing them to the students.
12. Ask that backpacks, notebooks, etc. be put in a designated area or not be taken to class.
13. Check photo Ids when students enter the test site, ask that they be placed on the desktop for verification during the exam, or put students’ names on exams and answer sheets and give test materials to them after checking the names against the Ids.
14. Separate students or assign seats.
15. If blue books are used, ask students to write on different lines (e.g., every third line) for specific pages or require them to bring the booklets at the beginning of the semester and distribute them on the exam day.
16. Mark each computer-readable answer sheet with an identifier that is not accessible to students (e.g., rubber stamp with the department address) to prevent them from brining in sheets with “crib notes”
17. Number the tests and answer sheets and ask students to sign both to prevent copies from being taken out of the testing area.
18. Remain in the classroom during the exam and use additional proctors.
19. Walk around and occasionally stand at the rear of the room since students will want to know where the professor is and turn around before cheating.
20. Do not permit students to grade their own exams.
21. Request that students leave their test papers insitu so that the answer sheets can be collected in row sequence.
22. Ask students to return both the exam and the answer sheet.
23. Advise that some answer sheets will be photocopied before being returned so that students cannot subsequently change their answers and claim grading errors.
24. Develop a computer program to identify identical answers answers (e.g., same errors, sequence of items.).
Research/Term Papers . . .
1. Define the term “plagiarism” and proper documentation of sources.
2. Request that the department purchase catalogs from term-paper services so that suspicious titles/papers can be checked to determine if they have been purchased. Advise students that this check for misrepresentation will be made.
3. Keep a copy of all papers submitted and maintain a filing system by topic to check for papers submitted more than once. Advise students of this practice.
4. Notify the class that if authorship is questioned, you will query the student to determine familiarity with the topic.
5. Require and early outline, progress report, or tentative bibliography with library location numbers, do not permit late topic changes, accept only originally typed papers—no photocopies, and require notes and rough drafts to discourage the use of “paper mills”
6. Randomly select papers and check citations. (This should be noted in the syllabus and the selection of papers should occur in the classroom to avoid complaints of bias.)
I Suspect Scholastic Dishonesty . . . So, What Should I do
UTA’S POLICY ON CHEATING: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced.
Taking the First Step
If a suspected incident occurs during an exam, the student should be allowed to complete the exam. Note the names of possible witnesses. You may privately ask the student to move to another location. After the exam, meet privately with the student(s) involved and discuss the alleged violation and the supportive evidence.
If the incident was recognized “after the fact” or occurred outside an examination setting,, gather all pertinent supportive evidence (e.g., tests, reports, computer programs, other academic assignments) and meet with the student privately at your earliest possible opportunity.
When dishonesty is suspected on a final exam, submit an “X” for incomplete until you meet with the student, preferably within a month of the examination.
Every effort should be made to preserve the faculty/student relationship. Listen carefully to the student’s response to the allegations.
The Student Admits Dishonesty
If the student accepts the allegation of scholastic dishonesty, you have the right to assign an “F: for the assignment or test, an “F” for the course, or select a less serious sanction such as resubmitting the assignment or retaking the test. You then submit Form 1(signed by the student admitting guilt) and forward to the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs where a discipline sanction may be imposed. If the student wishes to appeal, he/she must initiate such appeal to the president within 14 days after notification of the decision.
The assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs is located on the lower level of the University Center, Box 19355, extension 2354. A copy of Form 1 should also be forwarded to your department head. Form 1 is available in the department head’s and dean’s offices.
The Student Denies Dishonesty
If you believe an act of scholastic dishonesty occurred and do not accept the student’s explanation, the student denies guilt, you choose not to meet with the student or are unable to meet with the student; you need to complete Form 2 and send it to the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs. You may, instead, submit a referral letter stating the date of the incident, name and social security number of each student involved, name and title of the person making the allegation and a summary of the facts pertinent to the allegation. Relevant documents (e.g., notes, exams, materials plagiarized), or copies of, must accompany the letter as they would with Form 2. Again the department head receives a copy and From 2 is also available in the department head’s and dean’s office.
Until all adjudication proceedings have been completed, the student must be permitted to attend class and complete all assignments and no grading penalties should be assessed. The assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs may authorize the interim withholding of grades, degree, or official transcript if such withholding is in the best interest of the institution (e.g., when the disciplinary process cannot be completed before final grades are due or degrees are awarded). If disciplinary proceedings are not completed by the end of a semester, a grade of “incomplete” is to be assigned the student.
Decision Making Approaches:
Assistant Dean of Students/the Director of Student Judicial Affairs or the Formal Hearing
The assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs is responsible for investigating the allegations received. If it is determined that the allegations are not unfounded, the student receives a summons letter by certified mail. Note: If the student fails to appear without a valid reason, the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs may implement hearing procedures and notify the student or may bar reenrollment and receipt of transcript/grades until the student appears or responds to the notice.
After hearing the student’s explanation, the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs may determine that the charges are unfounded or that there is insufficient evidence to pursue the matter and may dismiss the case at this point.
If the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs decides that the charges are not unfounded, the student is offered the following options: (1) admit the facts upon which the charge is based, sign a waiver of a formal hearing, and have a disciplinary penalty assessed by the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs (I.e. administrative disposition); or (2) deny the facts upon which the charge is based and have the evidence presented at a hearing before a hearing officer who will determine guilt or innocence and assess an appropriate penalty.
If a hearing is conducted, the office of the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs is responsible for the preparation. If the accused student solicits advice from an attorney, the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs and the faculty member making the initial referral will be advised by a University of Texas System attorney. The time required of the faculty member varies with the complexity of the case, but every effort is made to minimize the time involved. Typically in a formal hearing, the student, the professor, and other witnesses are asked to testify.
The professor receives a copy of all correspondence sent to the student, including the letter concerning the decision.
The Option to Appeal the Decision of the Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Student Judicial Affairs or the Hearing Officer
The student may appeal the decision of the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs and either the student or the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs may appeal the decision of the hearing officer. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the University president within 14 days after the parties have been notified of the decision. (If the decision is sent by mail, the date the decision is mailed initiates the 14-day period). The president of the University serves as the final review.
Discipline Record
Records of disciplinary action are retained in the office of the assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs and are kept separate from the student’s academic records. A student’s disciplinary record is not ordinarily available to persons within the institution unless they have a legitimate need to know. The primary reason for maintaining the records is to alert the senior associate vice president for student affairs of repeated violation of regulations. Evidence of prior violations may be used when relevant to proof of the current disciplinary charge or to the imposition of the appropriate penalty.
Any person may file a formal complaint against any active or perspective UTA student for alleged violations of University policy, occurring on or off campus.
A
complaint must include:
Complaints may be originated by Students, Faculty, Staff, University Departments and individuals external to the University.
The assistant dean of students/director of student judicial affairs will determine whether the complaint is sufficiently complete and involves a violation of University policy(ies) in order to invoke the University student conduct and discipline process. Alleged violations will be sent a formal summons letter that requires them to schedule an appointment.