Introduction
Academic integrity is vital for the sustenance and advancement of any
educational community that attempts to facilitate the active and honest
search for and use of knowledge. The Center for Academic Integrity defines
academic integrity as “a commitment, even in the face of adversity,
to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility”
(4). All members of the UAH academic community, including administrators,
faculty members, and students are responsible for upholding the values
of academic integrity. Faculty members can make a conscious effort to
keep academic integrity at the forefront of all educational activities
by discussing the principles and behaviors associated with academic
integrity with faculty and students. As faculty and students discuss
and progress towards academic integrity on a smaller scale, institutional
practices and policies should also reflect academic integrity.
Honesty
• The first component of academic integrity is honesty,
which serves as an anchor for the other four components.
• At the heart of honesty is truth, meaning that learning, teaching,
research, service, and all other academic activities should focus on
the search for truth.
• Institutional policies and procedures require honesty from faculty
and students, in that cheating, lying, fraud, plagiarism, and other
dishonest behaviors are prohibited.
• Educators can encourage their students to be honest with themselves
and one another.
• Educators can model honesty for their students through their
actions and their words.
Trust
• If honesty is firmly in place in the educational environment,
trust is inevitably established.
• The Center for Academic Integrity states: “An academic
community of integrity fosters a climate of mutual trust, encourages
the free exchange of ideas, and enables all to reach their highest potential”
(6).
• Only when students and educators can trust one another can they
successfully collaborate to discuss concepts and ideas, and progress
towards new knowledge.
• Faculty members must be able to trust their students to come
prepared for class and participate in learning, whereas students must
trust faculty members to allow them to contribute to the learning process.
• Trust encourages a community of learning.
Fairness
• Fairness is closely related to honesty and
trust.
• Faculty members must clearly explain expectations and display
consistent instruction and evaluations to students—if not, they
are being dishonest with their students.
• Faculty members should expect fair treatment from their students,
in that the students should attend class, do their own work and uphold
faculty and course expectations.
• If students actively engage in their courses, educators have
a fair opportunity to inspire meaningful learning.
Respect
• If the academic community has an atmosphere of honesty, trust,
and fairness, members of that academic community will respect
one another and the educational process.
• Worthwhile learning requires active engagement and participation
by all members of the learning community.
• Faculty members and students must first respect themselves and
then, respect one another’s ability to offer effort, energy and
ideas to the learning process.
• Faculty members display respect for their students by clarifying
course expectations, providing intriguing and meaningful learning experiences,
and creating fair and relevant assessments and evaluations.
• Students demonstrate respect by attending class, contributing
to learning activities, and upholding academic honesty.
Responsibility
• All members of the academic community have the responsibility
to uphold academic integrity.
• In Article I of the Code of Student Conduct in the UAH
Student Handbook, it states: “These policies must uphold the
integrity of the educational process and protect persons and property.
They necessarily entail recognition of both rights and responsibilities
for all members of the University community” (88).
• Administrators and faculty members must fully explain, exhibit,
and encourage principles of academic integrity so that students understand
and can practice academic integrity.
• It is the choice and responsibility of both faculty and students
to uphold academic integrity—if they choose to do so, all members
of the UAH academic community will greatly benefit from an educational
environment characterized by academic integrity.
