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Section: June 1998

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Thriving in Academe

QUESTION: How might I encourage student academic integrity and reduce problems of academic dishonesty?

Surveys and other forms of research tell us that dishonesty is a ubiquitous feature of undergraduate college life.¹

Many strategies commonly employed by faculty---like close proctoring---set up roadblocks for students who want to cheat. But unfortunately, these short-term solutions "do little to help prepare students for the ethically-laden decisions facing them after graduation".²

Because students do not view all cheating as being equally wrong,³ we need instructional strategies to stimulate learners to think critically about underlying ethical principles by which student conduct should be judged.

Two educationally interesting and instructionally useful strategies include having students debate, orally or in writing, propositions such as "Cheating: a victimless crime or "Student cheating is a problem for faculty not students."

Alternatively, student groups can be asked to create a "Ten Commandments of Ethical Classroom Conduct."

---James Eison, director, Center for Teaching Enhancement, University of South Florida.

Endnotes
¹ Greene and Saxe, 1992.
² Jendrek, 1992.
³ Brown, 1995; Greene and Saxe, 1992

References
Brown, B.S. "The Academic Ethics os Graduate Business Students: A Survey." Journal of Education for Business, 70, no.3 (January/February 1995): 151,156
Greene, A.S., and Saxe, L. "Everybody (Else) Does It: Academic Cheating." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association (Boston, MA, April 3-5, 1992). (ERIC document Reproduction Service No. ED 347 931).
Jendrek, M.P. "Students' Reactions to Academic Dishonesty." (May 1992).
Journal of College Student Development 33, no.3, 260-273.

This NEA Higher Education Advocate column addresses the instructional challenges that face faculty throughout higher ed.
Have other ideas on promoting academic integrity? You can contribute your insights to a new electronic NEA resource for college and university faculty. Just send your comments, for posting on the NEA Web page, to: jeison@helios.acomp.usf.edu or mail to:
James Eison, Center for Teaching Enhancement, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SVC 1088, Tampa,FL 33620. Or Fax: 813-974-5620.

You can also post your insights on our "Thriving in Academe" discussion board.