University Preparation Course

Essay on Academic Misconduct

10% Individual Coursework

2020-2021 Winter

Lecturer Name: Yunisha Bajracharya

Student Name: Sarjan Lamichhane
Assignment Due Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Assignment Submission Date: Sunday, January 3, 2021
Word Count: 458
 Essay on Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct is displeasing behaviour and/or action by a student that

interferes with education or fair evaluation of a student’s performance or work like
Cheating, Plagiarism, Falsification or Fabrication etc. (Boise State University,
2021). Cheating involves unauthorized use of information, materials, devices,
sources or practices in completing academic activities (Northern Illinois University,
2021). Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work as the student’s own,
without the creator’s permission, intentionally or unintentionally (University of
Edinburgh, 2021). Fabrication or falsification involves unauthorized creation,
alteration or reporting of information in an academic activity (Northern Illinois
University, 2021).
Academic dishonesty refers to committing or contributing to dishonest
acts by those engaged in teaching, learning, research and related academic activities
(Northern Illinois University, 2021). Universities care about academic dishonesty
because many students do not consider why the academic dishonesty is wrong or,
more specifically, students do not realize the long-lasting consequences of
committing an offence. Student dishonesty can hamper their critical thinking and
their gained skills and knowledge as per the course. The teachers can’t accurately
judge the student’s knowledge. These are the reasons why we care about academic
dishonesty.
Students cause Academic dishonesty due to different factors such as peer
pressure, Performance anxiety, Excuse making, Inability to manage the demands of
student life, Lacking of understanding about consequences etc. Academic dishonesty
effects the person involving in it as a result those actions could include fines, loss of
future projects to the university or lawsuits. Such actions have serious consequences,
as they not only ruin the reputation of the university, but also result in loss of
opportunities for the student in the future. Students who cheat and at first get away
with it may, in the long run, feel guilty and suffer from low self-esteem. This loss of
self-respect can lead to a host of other problem, including difficulties with their
careers, families and other important aspects of life (Northern Illinois University,
2021).
For Example:
In 2015, two Toronto doctors, Sylvia Asa and Shereen Ezzat, were forced to retract
a scientific paper from the American Journal of Pathology due to allegation of
falsification (Ezzat, Zheng, Zhu, Wu & Asa, 2015). Dr. Asa’s name was also on a
paper containing falsified images, which were changed only after concerns were
raised by readers (Robinson, 2015). Although only one of the two doctors may have
intentionally or unintentionally falsified their research, both would be at fault
because both of their names are on the paper. The impact of the allegation goes
beyond the retraction. Dr. Asa resigned as head of pathology, a title she held for over
a decade where in the last year she made over $430,000 (Robinson, 2015). The effect
of these types of allegations can negatively impact the credibility of all researchers.

References:
Boise State University, 2021. What is Academic Misconduct? [Online]
Retrieved from: https://www.boisestate.edu/academic-integrity/definitions-of-
academic-misconduct/
[Accessed 2/1/2021]
Northern Illinois University, 2021. Cheating [Online]
Retrieved from: https://www.niu.edu/academic-integrity/faculty/types/index.shtml
[Accessed 2/1/2021]
University of Edinburgh, 2021. Plagiarism [Online]
Retrieved from: https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-
services/students/conduct/academic-misconduct/what-is-academic-misconduct
[Accessed 2/1/2021]
Northern Illinois University, 2021. Fabrication or falsification [Online]
Retrieved from: https://www.niu.edu/academic-
integrity/students/cheating/fabrication-or-falsification.shtml
[Accessed 3/1/2021]
Northern Illinois University, 2021.What does Academic Dishonesty refers to?
[Online]
Retrieved from: https://www.niu.edu/academic-integrity/faculty/types/index.shtml
[Accessed 3/1/2021]
Northern Illinois University, 2021. Consequences of Academic Dishonesty [Online]
Retrieved from: https://www.niu.edu/academic-
integrity/students/consequences/index.shtml
[Accessed 3/1/2021]

Examples Reference:
Robinson, M. (2015, August 4). Third retraction for Toronto doctor due. The
Toronto Star
Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/04/third-retraction-for-
toronto-doctor-duo.html
Robinson, M. (2015, July 27). Top University Health Network doctor steps down
amid falsification data investigation. The Toronto Star
Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/27/top-university-
health-network-doctor-steps-down-amid-falsified-data-investigation.html
[Accessed 3/1/2021]