Academic Integrity Workshops Set

Workshops Provide Guidance and Options to New Faculty Members

September 16, 2008

A student plagiarizes a report, cheats on a test or disrupts a class? What are the options for faculty members caught in those situations?

Five workshops on academic integrity will be offered this semester for new and recently hired faculty that showcase how they can respond to violations of academic integrity under the university's academic dishonesty policy.

The one-and-a-half hour programs, “Supporting Teaching Excellence: Maintaining Integrity in the Classroom” are offered by Sandra Rhoten, associate dean of students for judicial affairs, and Andi Stein, associate professor of communications.

Dates and times are:

• Tuesday, Sept. 30, 11:30-1 p.m. in the Ontiveros Room B of the Titan Student Union
• Friday, Oct. 3, 10-11:30 a.m. in Bradford AB of the TSU
• Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7-8:30 p.m. in Ontiveros B
• Wednesday, Oct. 29, noon-1:30 p.m. in Room 303 of the Education Classroom
• Friday, Nov. 14, 10-11:30 a.m. in Bradford AB

The purpose of these workshops is to provide information about the importance of academic integrity on our campus and to acquaint faculty members with the procedures in place on campus in the event that they encounter cases of academic dishonesty in their classes, said Rhoten.

“It’s important for faculty members to know what to do when these kinds of problems develop,” said Stein. “We find many first-time teachers and professors often have a rosy view of how students will behave. They are convinced that all students will be delighted to be in their classes and never cause problems. While most students do follow the academic guidelines, there will always be those who don’t. And frankly, some students just don’t know any better.”

Rhoten agrees. “Often newcomers to teaching are simply astounded when they discover cheating or plagiarism,” she said. “Students may plagiarize to save time if they’re busy or they’re not sure of a subject. Or sometimes they simply don’t realize they can’t just take something off the Web.”

For more information or to register to attend one of the sessions, contact Andi Stein at 657-278-5434 or andistein@fullerton.edu.