ETHOS

Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We cant be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. ~Maya Angelou

AUGUST 2013

A Monthly Publication of the International Center for Academic Integrity Featuring Summaries of Integrity News + News from the Center

Quote of the Month

From the Director

Incremental Change When the subject of academic integrity arises in conversation, one of the frequent responses is that the challenges we face are just too greatthat none of us has the ability to solve problems so ubiquitous and pervasive. This response, I think, arises at least in part from the misconception that integrity is an all-or-nothing phenomenonthat either integrity is complete and perfect or completely absent. A more usefuland manageableway to think about it, I would suggest, is to think of academic integrity as something that is acquiredbuilt upover time. Each time we do something that highlights or reinforces the fundamental values something that inspires honesty, builds trust, maintains fairness, promotes respect, or celebrates responsibilitywe are, in fact, working towards greater academic integrity. Our successes arent one and done but neither do failures of integrity mean that all is lost. Instead, its a daily, continuous process of building integrity, bit by bit. The challenges are great, but we dont have to do it all at once, or all alone.

Starting AI Education Early with Incoming Freshmen

By: Dr. Justin Louder and Dr. Marcelo Schmidt Texas Tech University

Red Raider Orientation is an annual event at Texas Tech University where

over 7,000 incoming students and their guests are afforded the opportunity to learn about programs and services available to them and to become immersed in the culture of the university. During the latest installment of Red Raider Orientation, the TTU Ethics Center become a visible and active presence by interacting with over 500 incoming freshmen, engaging them with Texas Techs Campus Conversation on Ethics, and inviting them to participate in a 5 question survey on academic integrity. Specifically, the survey asked students about their perceptions of values and behaviors related to academic integrity, their perception of their high schools academic integrity climate, and whether or not they would be willing to report a fellow student for academic misconduct. A total of 332 incoming freshmen participated in the survey. Despite more than 50% of students perceiving their schools to have a not strict to somewhat strict academic integrity climate, a vast majority agreed upon the importance of maintaining academic integrity values and behaviors. Interestingly, while often students object to reporting peers engaged in academic misconduct, nearly 70% of the students in the sample expressed that they would report other students who infracting upon academic integrity. The benefits of the TTU Ethics Center being involved in Red Raider Orientation are numerous. Broadly, understanding our students perceptions of values and behaviors associated with academic integrity allows us to target interventions and implement dedicated programs with the intent of curbing academic misconduct where needed. Most importantly however, our involvement in Red Raider Orientation conveys a message to students about our commitment as an institution to high standards of academic integrity. We are encouraged by what we learned from our incoming freshman at Red Raider Orientation. Our commitment is to continuously encourage students to uphold the values and behaviors of academic integrity throughout their education and as future professionals. To learn more about the TTU Ethics Center, our programs and initiatives, please visit www.ethics.ttu.edu.

~Teddi Fishman

The two-day workshop was arranged by Melrose Advanced Professional Training, and included both theoretical and practical We often talk about academic integrity issues as being global in nature topics, with special emphasis on examination security. Throughout the and scope and yet, the more international we become as an organization, workshop, participants discussed subjects ranging from institutional the more we find that our challenges are often very similar. This month, policy development to procedural best-practices. the proof was in the practice as a group of faculty, staff, and admin from The session ended with a conversation about the necessity of widening Fort Hare University discussed their concerns with me and facilitator the scope of the conversation from focusing on behaviors to looking at Paul Ochieng of Strathmore University (Nairobi, Kenya). ways to make academic integrity a more integral part of the culture. Fort Hare is one of South Africas premiere universities, known both for ICAI is looking forward to further building its partnership with Fort its academic programs and for its notable students including Nelson Hare University and will be visiting again for a second workshop in Mandela and Desmond Tutu. As a university with a reputation for September, with the possibility of a regional international conference leadership in the area of social justice, perhaps it is only natural that in March 2014. Stay tuned for more details! integrity would also be a central concern.

ICAI On The Road: Fort Hare University, South Africa

ICAI Executive Director

By: Teddi Fishman

08/21/2013

Announcements

William & Mary Revises Honor System

By: Brian Whitson William & Mary

ICAI 2014 CALL FOR PROPOSALS! 08/21/2013 http://www.academicintegrity.org/ic Following extensive review by a ai/events-1.php#call_for_proposals committee of faculty, administrators ___________________________________ and students, William & Mary is We want your feedback! Visit our website implementing a series of revisions to its honor system. The revisions come and email comments, questions, and following a three-year review process suggestions to: that included numerous meetings with CAI-L@clemson.edu! campus faculty and student leadership
groups, focus groups with student organizations, as well as input and feedback gathered from the entire campus community through surveys and an open forum. William & Marys honor system has its historic origins in the 18th century and is the oldest in American higher education. The current code dates largely from the mid-20th century, but it has been revised several times since then. In a message to the campus community, President Taylor Reveley said the last significant review of the honor system was conducted 13 years ago. We live and work in an institution where integrity and trust are pervasive, Reveley said. This sort of environment is precious, and it must be periodically renewed. An important sustainer of integrity and trust at William & Mary is our commitment to an honor system.

ICAI 2014 Annual Conference CALL FOR PROPOSALS!!!

The International Center for Academic Integrity is now accepting proposals for presentation sessions for its upcoming 2014 Annual Conference: Academic Integrity Confronting the Issues. The conference will be February 28 March 2, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida. Proposals are most welcome on the following subjects: Promoting scholastic and research integrity Fundamental values in education Discouraging, reducing, or dealing with instances of cheating Establishing/nurturing cultures of integrity around the world

The Call for Proposals is open now, and can be accessed through ICAIs conference website: http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/ev ents-1.php Important Dates: November 15, 2013: Deadline for submitting proposals online November 29, 2013: Individuals whose proposals are accepted for presentation will be notified Early January 2014: Presentation schedule drafts will be available to all presenters

www.facebook.com/AcademicIntegrity

Two substantive changes include a new system of recommended sanction levels and a new early resolution process for lesser violations, Clemens said. Both changes are designed to provide more flexibility within the system
Complete Article:
http://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2013/w m-revises-honor-system123.php

We are looking forward to another great slate of proposals and presentations! Please email Aaron Monson at amonson@clemson.edu with any questions!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.twitter.com/TweetCAI

The International Center for Academic Integrity grants permission to duplicate and distribute this newsletter physically or electronically, so long as it is duplicated and/or distributed in its entirety and without alteration. Please note that this publication features summaries of and links to original works that are subject to copyright protection. ICAI does not claim ownership or credit for any original works found within. This publication is sponsored by:

Welcome new ICAI members August 2013!

Institutional Members
Flagler College, Saint Augustine, FL

Individual Members
Julia Bristor Texas A&M Commerce Emily Ford Baker University

CAI-L@clemson.edu

Ethos Staff: Justin Louder: Guest Writer Marcelo Schmidt: Guest Writer Aaron Monson: Writer / Editor Teddi Fishman: Executive Editor