Presentation description
In this interactive session, participants learned what academic integrity looks like through a teaching and learning lens. In the workshop, it was encouraged to move away from outdated “Gotcha!” approaches that seek to punish students after misconduct has occurred and instead look at academic integrity as an everyday practice of ethical decision-making. The workshop looked briefly at the predatory contract cheating industry and what educators need to know to help students protect themselves as they focus on learning ethically. Academic integrity is about more than student conduct; it is the foundation of ethical decision-making in and beyond the classroom.
About the presenter
Sarah Elaine Eaton, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, Canada where she also serves as the University’s inaugural Educational Leader in Residence, Academic Integrity. An award-winning educator and researcher, Eaton’s work focuses on academic integrity in higher education. Dr. Eaton serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal for Educational Integrity (BMC Springer Nature) and is the author of Plagiarism in Higher Education: Tackling Tough Topics in Academic Integrity (2021). Her academic research can be found in the British Journal of Educational Research, Educational Policy, and the Journal of Academic Ethics, among other places. She is a member of the Committee for Publication Ethics (COPE) Council. Dr. Eaton is a co-founding member of the Alberta Council on Academic Integrity (Canada) and co-chair of the council’s Contract Cheating Working Group. Dr. Eaton is a member of the European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI) Policy Working Group and leads a national policy research team in Canada focusing on contract cheating and academic integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I suspect a violation of academic integrity in my class?
UVic has a policy on Academic Integrity, which you can find in both the undergraduate and the graduate academic calendars. The policy addresses the main types of academic integrity violations, as well as procedures for dealing with these. Please review the policy before acting on any allegation.
Who should I contact if the policy does not address the violations I am experiencing in my classroom, or am unsure whether to approach a student to discuss a violation or possible penalty?
Your chair or director should be your first contact if you are suspecting a violation. An instructor documents a violation, but does not make decisions. It is also important that a violation is treated as an allegation until “a determination is made that compelling information exists to support the allegation …”.
Where can I get guidance on the UVic approach to academic integrity beyond policy regulations?
The Academic Integrity Framework explains how UVic supports a culture of academic integrity.
Are there additional supports to help build a culture of academic integrity in the classroom?
You have the option of adding an academic integrity pledge on your syllabus or directly on the Brightspace setup of assignments. There is also a student-focused Integrity Matters course on Brightspace. Self-enrolment is open to all students. The course is based on scenarios related to the principles of academic integrity and can be taken independently or made into an assignment. UVic also has other resources on academic integrity that are updated regularly.
