A Model Academic Ethics and Integrity Policy for Computer Science Departments

1
A Model Academic Ethics and Integrity Policy for
Computer Science Departments

• Charles Riedesel
• Eric Manley
• Susan Poser
• Jitender Deogun

2
Something Different about CS

• Universities and colleges have academic integrity
  policies and codes of conduct
• Computing sciences are developing their own
• But still fail to address or directly conflict
  with standard practice

3
Whats to be accomplished with this paper?

• Identify what is peculiar about CS
• Overview of existing policies
• Propose a new model

4
CS Practice vs. Ethics Standards

• Multiple Submission - but we want to encourage
  code reuse
• Copying others work - we want extensive use of
  code bases and libraries
• Group work - its the only way
• Nature of electronic media - security of work,
  methods of fraud

5
Policies Today

• Professional policies not education oriented
• ACM Code of Ethics
• Contribute to society, Avoid harm, Fairness,
  Honesty (Note - just one aspect of ethics!),
  Property rights, Credit for Intel. Property,
  Respect privacy, Honor confidentiality

6
Accreditation and Ethics

• ABET - There must be sufficient coverage of
  social and ethical implications of computing to
  give students an understanding of a broad range
  of issues in this area.

7
Overview of Policies

• UNL (adapted from George Wash. U)
• Quite Long, with intro and overview
• Definitions
• Reasons to act with integrity
• Examples of good and bad behavior
• Reasons to suspect dishonesty
• Consequences

8
Overview of Policies (UNL)

• Inadequacies
• Some terms still not well defined
• Implementation not well covered
• Not revisited since creation 8 years ago

9
Overview of Policies

• U of Texas at Austin - Rules to Live By
• Very strict, may limit collaboration
• Justified as needed to meet artificial
  requirement of having individual grades

10
Overview of Policies

• George Washington U
• Question Answer format with motivations
• Careful guidance what is/is not allowed
• Purdue U
• Mostly not CS specific, quite generic
• Very specific implementation and processes, eg.
  Signing statements

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Insights and Innovations

• Who should be subject to the policy?
• Everyone even remotely connected
• Faculty, Researchers, Teaching Assistants,
  Student Resource Centers, Administration, Office
  Staff, Custodians

12
Insights and Innovations

• Integrity is a part of ethics - we need academic
  ethics policies
• The key to integrity is transparency, the
  avoidance of deception
• Change the focus from trying to determine what is
  allowed and not allowed to instead documenting
  and citing all external involvement - Many
  implications!!!

13
Insights and Innovations

• Policies should not impinge on educating students
  in the legitimate practices and procedures of
  industry, nor impede the development of promising
  new educational pedagogies

14
Proposed Model

• Who is subject to the policy (everyone)
• Definitions of Ethics and Integrity (as it
  applies to everyone!)
• Examples of Ethical and Honest Behavior
• Examples of Unethical and Dishonest Behavior

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Proposed Model

• Causes for Suspicion
• Maintaining Ethical and Honest Behavior
• Consequences of Violations
• Appeals for Violations
• Supplements, Appendices, and Additional Materials

16
Implementation of a Policy

• Clear set of procedures
• Forms for reporting and filing
• Tracking repeat offences
• Publicity guidelines
• Schedule for revisions
• Assessment process

17
Student Comments on Current Policy (assigned
essay)

• I had never thought to credit a classmate who
  had helped me
• knowing that every student had to write an essay
  assures me every student knows what is
  acceptable
• I will always be extremely wary of the
  possibility that I might unintentionally overstep
  the straight and narrow

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More Comments

• it binds the faculty as well as the students.
  Its a good thing to have everyone held by the
  same standards
• After I read I am very impressed by the fact
  that everyone contributes to the environment of
  fairness
• Paper shredders should be made available in the
  labs

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More Comments

• After reading the policy, I am still unsure if
  I can get help from another student
• surprised me. if I were to accidentally
  leave files in an insecure place such as the
  recycle bin, I could be an accomplice

20
Student Cheats on Integrity Policy Essay!

• New graduate student
• Carefully researched, multiple sources
• The only original content was I think that, I
  believe that
• Body of essay was plagiarized from the Internet

21
My Collaboration Policy

• Syllabus statement is strict, but promises
  guidelines
• Statement in Homework calls for documenting all
  sharing, minimal penalty
• Student responses thus far are encouraging

22
Questions?

• ACM Policy
• http//www.acm.org/about/code-of-ethics
• IEEE Policy
• http//www.ieee.org/portal/pages/iportals/aboutus/
  ethics/code.html
• ABET Statement
• http//abet.org/forms.shtmlFor_Computing_Programs
  _Only
• UNL Policy
• http//cse.unl.edu/ugrad/academic_integrity.php