Dealing with Academic Integrity Violations - TA Training Please form a group of 4 people Dr. Emad Jassim Assistant Dean - College of Engineering - 206 Engineering Hall – jassim@Illinois.edu TA Training 9-13-2019 Thank you Dr. Marie-Christine Brunet for use/modify slides
The Scenario. (from Dr. Johnson) It is late December and you are grading lab reports for a class of seniors who are about to graduate. You find two nearly-identical lab reports, but students are supposed to write their own reports. One of the students has been accused of a similar infraction earlier in the semester. What will you do? Will you report it? Why or why not? Discuss with your colleagues sitting near you.
Dealing with Academic Integrity violations can be complex Violations Prevention Information and Who handles Guidelines what?
What is Academic Integrity? It is the ethical policy of academia Having integrity in academia means abiding by principles set by the institution
What behaviors are considered violations of academic integrity? A student submits work for a grade with their name on it, but it contains other’s work. … that is not all though..
What should I do when I find a student cheating? TRUE OR FALSE? Please vote There are no common written rules about Academic Integrity (we follow “common sense”) FALSE! But not at every institution
The Student Code is the governing document in terms of Academic Integrity It contains Rules But also your Rights as a student! http://studentcode.Illinois.edu https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1/part4/1-401/
The Student Code defines what constitutes a Violation of Academic Integrity ✓ Cheating ✓ Plagiarism ✓ Fabrication ✓ Facilitating ✓ Bribes, Favors, and Threats ✓ Academic Interference
Sanctions are decided in proportion to the severity of the violation • Any sanction discussed and agreed to • Written warning • Educational sanctions • Reduced grade - on assignment • Failing/zero grade - on assignment • Reduced grade - in course • Denial of credit – in proficiency exam • Failing grade - in course
Sanctions are decided in proportion to the severity of the violation CASE STUDY 1 A student in your class did a rather minor violation: Define “minor” violation (give an example) CASE STUDY 2 A student in your class did a rather major violation: Define “major” violation (give an example)
The Student Code defines who is in charge of Academic Integrity TRUE OR FALSE? Please vote TAs are responsible for maintaining Academic Integrity on Campus TRUE and FALSE!? Everybody is responsible! TAs, Instructors and Students
There are many things you can leave up to the instructor of the class • How to make an accurate judgement of cheating? • What is the best way to catch/prove cheating when all homework is done online through automated programs? • How to detect when people copied each other's code (for a computer science class)? • What is the line between citation and plagiarism?
Everyone is responsible for maintaining Academic Integrity on Campus Every Case is Unique There is no “Instructor Code”…. stage2planning.com Consult Instructor or Associate Head if questions Two Quick Reference Guides https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/policies/academic-integrity/students-quick-reference-guide-to-academic-integrity/ https://provost.illinois.edu/policies/policies/academic-integrity/instructors-quick-reference-guide-to-academic-integrity/
Past TA’s have had questions on how to prevent academic integrity violations • How to scare/discourage the students from cheating in the first place? • Students can see my computer screen containing homework solution during office hours. Is that a problem? • Is there any way that we can discourage students from copying other students' Lab reports/HW?
Expectations should be spelled out and clearly communicated • How to scare/discourage the students from cheating in the first place? INSTRUCTOR: clear expectations on the syllabus TA: Reinforce syllabus and let them know that you are checking and must report suspicious activity. Communicate with instructor if unsure It is a best practice to give different homework/exam problems to prevent violations
What to do when I find a student cheating? TRUE OR FALSE? Vote If someone cheats, a TA may assign a Sanction “on the spot” FALSE! TAs and Instructors must follow the process described in the Student Code
The Student Code clearly defines the process • If suspicious activity is observed your role as a TA is to forward information to the instructor
The FAIR WebApp implements the process in compliance with the Student Code Faculty Instructor enters Allegation Academic Integrity Student responds Report Facts Finding my.engr.illinois.edu/FAIR Instructor enters Finding/Sanction
FAIR allows TAs to document incidents for the instructor of the class Instructor enters my.engr.illinois.edu/FAIR Allegation Student responds Your role as a TA is to forward information to Facts Finding the instructor Instructor enters Finding/Sanction This is a recent feature of FAIR
It sends an email with a link to the instructor (NOT to the student)
There are many things you can leave up to the instructor of the class as discussed ✓ You inform the instructor of what was observed ✓ The instructor makes the call ✓ You do NOT make judgement….
How does our institution deal with multiple offenders? • What to do about repeated cases of plagiarism? • How should a first case of assignment plagiarism be treated ? Let off with a warning or strict action ? All infractions are reported to the Senate Committee on Student Discipline (SCSD)
How to handle students and situations? • What is a good way to approach the student in case he/she is involved in plagiarism? TRUE OR FALSE? You witnessed a student cheating: is it ok to email the student “you cheated”? NOT OK! bubblews.com
There is a specific verbiage defined by the Student Code A student may have “committed an infraction” please do not use “guilty” A “sanction” will be decided please do not use “punishment” The instructor will alert the student of an “alleged violation”
How to handle students and situations? …continued CASE STUDY 1 A cheating student begs you not to report a violation: what do you do? CASE STUDY 2 A cheating student gets very upset at you: what do you do?
How to handle students and situations? …continued CASE STUDY 1 You witness a student cheating on an exam: what should do you do? CASE STUDY 2 You see two students copying each other's homework during office hour: what should you do? It is best practice to collect evidence to document a case
The Scenario. (from Dr. Johnson) It is late December and you are grading lab reports for a class of seniors who are about to graduate. You find two nearly-identical lab reports, but students are supposed to write their own reports. One of the students has been accused of a similar infraction earlier in the semester. What will you do? Will you report it? Why or why not?
In summary It is best practice to address/handle/check academic integrity early in the semester • Communicate expectations from syllabus and let them know that you are checking and must report suspicious activity to instructor! • Grade early and check possible academic integrity violations along the way • Address violations in a timely manner
In summary Let us all work to protect the integrity/value of engineering degrees…. • Report Academic Integrity violations to the instructor • Follow the Student Code in all situations • Use the FAIR system! fair@engr.Illinois.edu
I am sure we will NOT have to go through the next slides, but I want to make sure to provide some important information to help you face situations you may encounter…
Responsibilities and consequences The instructor’s decision is not final: the student has the right to appeal and a hearing must be held if they do so and follow instructions) What should you do? The student appeals to you: what do you do? The Student Code precisely defines the handling of Appeals: Student must appeal to dept/coll (depending on Sanction) within 5 business days- not to the TA or instructor
Responsibilities and consequences TRUE OR FALSE? An “accused” student decides to appeal: 1. TAs may be asked to take side in the case 2. TAs can get wrapped in legal proceedings BOTH FALSE!
Hearings are held at the department or the college level and TAs are typically not involved Instructor enters Allegation The Hearing Committee Student consists of two faculty responds and one student NOT the instructor NOT the TA Facts Finding Instructor enters Finding/Sanction Student appeals
The Student Code addresses the handling of multiple violations TRUE OR FALSE? Students who cheats may be dismissed from the university TRUE! For very serious violations an instructor may recommend dismissal, but she/he does not decide (SCSD does)
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