ETHOS

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... Intelligence plus character that is the goal of true education. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MARCH 2014

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

Quote of the Month

From the Director

What we say matters . . .
Psychologists have long understood the power of labels to affect not only how people see one another but also how people see themselves. Linguists and rhetoricians go so far as to posit that rather than describing reality, the language we use has the power to shape reality. For this reason, it is essential that we are mindful of how we describe both academic integrity transgressions and those involved in them. For the sake of brevity, we might use the term cheating to encapsulate a wide range of undesirable behaviors, but when we also lump together all of the students who commit violationsof codes, rules, principles, and expectationsas cheaters we occlude some very important differences between students who willfully violate codes they understand and others who may have transgress unintentionally. Moreover, by labelling the students as cheaters, we may be sending them the message that a one-time action transforms them foreveronce a cheater, always a cheater. As an organization, we have evolved from focusing primarily on the negative behavior we dont want (cheating) to the positive thing we do want (integrity). It may be time to make a similar move away from using terms that imply that an academic integrity violation has the power to transform a student into a cheater.

ICAI Hosts 2014 International Conference on Academic Integrity in Jacksonville, Florida

By: Aaron Monson 03/14/2014

On March 2, the International Center for Academic Integrity wrapped up

its 22nd annual Conference on Academic Integrity, with the theme Confronting the Issues. With over 275 registered participants from 12 countries and 6 continents, this years event was by far the most diverse that ICAI has yet experienced. Dedicated students, staff, faculty, and administration came together to share their research, academic integrity programs, successes, and challenges in nearly 60 presentations spread throughout the weekend. Much emphasis was given to student-led programs and international, crosscultural awareness. For the first time ever, ICAIs annual conference also hosted day-long workshops from two new regional consortia, ICAI Southeast and ICAI Canada. Highlights from the weekend include enlightening keynote addresses from incoming advisory board president, Tracey Bretag, of the University of South Australia, and an entertaining and eye-opening keynote dinner led by professor and author of Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty, Dr. James Lang. ICAI also welcomed 5 new members to its advisory board, representing institutions in Canada, Dubai, and the United States. ICAI, in collaboration with partner organization Academic Integrity Seminar, awarded two outstanding students with the Student Leadership Prize for their excellent work in increasing awareness of issues related to academic integrity at their respective schools. The winners, Kira Tangney of Eckerd College and Dustin Guinta of St. Petersburg Community College, each received a $2,500 prize for their contest submissions: Kiras video comparing intellectual theft to physical theft, and Dustins whitepaper outlining future guidelines and academic integrity policies at SPCC. Thank you to everyone who helped make the conference a resounding success! We had such a great time and are looking forward to seeing everyone again in Vancouver in February 2015!

~Teddi Fishman

Vanderbilt Adds Self-Regulation Clause to Honor Code

By: University Press Release InsideVandy.com

The change comes after the Student Life Committee of the Faculty increase the effectiveness of and improve the universitys honor system. A poster campaign will be developed to generate awareness of the new honor code statement that reads as follows: Vanderbilt University students pursue all academic endeavors with integrity. They conduct themselves honorably, professionally and respectfully in all realms of their studies in order to promote and secure an atmosphere of dignity and trust. The keystone of our honor system is self-regulation, which requires cooperation and support from each member of the University community. Read More: http://www.insidevandy.com/news/article_862e4ddaa967-11e3-ab67-0017a43b2370.html

3/11/2014 Senate undertook an 18-month review to determine ways to further

Vanderbilt has adopted a new statement of its honor code designed to

continue the tradition of preserving and promoting academic integrity. Developed in consultation with the various campus honor councils and with significant assistance from the associate deans and the Office of Student Accountability, Community Standards and Academic Integrity, the new statement applies across the universitys 10 schools. While students have long been expected to acquit themselves honorably in the classroom and in their coursework, previously there was not uniformity as each had adopted honor pledges that were specific to each school. The honor code is enforced by honor councils who also work to educate members of the Vanderbilt community about the honor system.

Announcements
6TH International Integrity & Plagiarism Conference! 16 18 June 2014 Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

How Can Universities Stop Students Cheating Online?

By: Harry Slater TheGuardian.com

6th International Integrity & 3/14/2014 Plagiarism Conference Hosted by PlagiarismAdvice.org

The PlagiarismAdvice.org team is delighted to launch the 6th International Integrity and Plagiarism Conference, from 16-18 June, 2014, at the Sage Gateshead Conference Centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. The 2014 event will build on the conferences reputation as a forum for best practice, bringing together global expertise and experience. The 6IIPC will seek to promote the importance of academic integrity as a way of life and reinforce the relevance of academic skills in the real world, where these values should be rewarded and celebrated. Conference themes include approaches to promoting awareness of AI in diverse student cultures, practical techniques for developing students AI skills, techniques and tools for online evaluation of student work to promote authentic assessment, and more! Keynote speakers include Professor and Author Dan Ariely, ICAIs own Tricia Bertram Gallant, and Will Murray, Senior VP for Turnitin UK. Special registration discounts are available for ICAI members! Please email events@iparadigms.com to inquire, and be sure to visit PlagiarismConference.org for details!

Hoping your big sister will help you out

with your latest assignment? If you're studying online with Coursera, you'd better not let her do the typing. Special software that recognises students' typing speeds and rhythms is used to verify identity, preventing somebody else from taking an assessment on their behalf.

http://www.plagiarismconference.org/ ___________________________________ We want your feedback! Visit our website and email comments, questions, and suggestions to: If students want a verified certificate CAI-L@clemson.edu! for their online course, they can pay a

fee of $30-90 for the Signature Track service. They will be asked to submit a webcam photo and identification card to check their identity. Cheating isn't a new problem for universities, but the growth in online courses particularly massive open online courses (Moocs) has forced academics to search for new ways to ensure honesty and protect academic integrity. The causes of plagiarism are the same, regardless of where or how students are learning. Stress, tiredness and pressure to perform are all common factors. And while there isn't any data to suggest whether students are more or less likely to commit plagiarism when learning online, Jisc, which specialises in digital education, says a large online cohort size and distance learning where students aren't based on campus can make foul play harder to spot.

www.facebook.com/AcademicIntegrity

http://www.twitter.com/TweetCAI

Michael Dunn, a senior lecturer at the University of Derby and expert in electronic plagiarism, says that before seeking to identify why students cheat, universities should ask if students know what constitutes cheating in an academic context
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/ mar/14/students-cheating-plagiarism-online

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:

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Welcome new ICAI members March 2014! Institutional Members

Centenary College of Louisiana Taibah University, Saudi Arabia Colgate University, New York College of the Albemarle, North Carolina

Ethos Staff:
CAI-L@clemson.edu

Aaron Monson: Writer / Editor Teddi Fishman: Executive Editor