Academic Integrity

1
Academic Integrity
SGS101 Part 2

• Doug Welch
• September 8, 2006

2
Principles

• High standard of integrity required
• Same policy applies to all students
• Expectations and obligations well-defined
• Procedures clearly described
• Procedures fair
• Policies have force of law
• Appeals process exists

3
Defence in depth

• You!
• Your Supervisor
• Your Associate Chair/Graduate Advisor
• Your Associate Dean (SGS)
• The Academic Integrity Officer
• Ombuds
• (Judicial Review)

4
Plagiarism

• Many, many forms
• Academic integrity policy gives many examples of
  what may constitute plagiarism
• Underlying principle There must be no ambiguity
  regarding what is your work and what has been
  done by others
• Bibliography is NOT enough

5
Common Knowledge

• One exception to the need to always cite sources
  is common knowledge (CK)
• CK is usually not anyones work, is known by
  many/most people
• Examples
• The Earth orbits the Sun
• Ontarios Provincial Bird is the Common Loon
• There are seven days in a week

6
Common Knowledge

• Usually common knowledge is some piece of
  information which is not in dispute.
• When in doubt, provide a citation!!!

7
Hearings

• Faculty Adjudicator (Graduate)
• Notification
• Formal hearing
• Burden of proof is a civil standard
• preponderance of the evidence
• (NOT beyond a reasonable doubt!)
• Adjudicator issues finding (and determines
  penalty if the student is found guilty)

8
Common (Unsuccessful) Explanations

• My English isnt very good and what I found in
  the book/paper/website was written very well and
  said exactly what I wanted to say.
• There is no doubt that it is tougher (at first)
  for an ESL graduate student. However, you are
  required to do your own work and write your own
  assignments to the best of your ability.

9
Common (Unsuccessful) Explanations

• Transcribing the text into my paper was a lot of
  work and I should get partial credit for that.
• Transcribing (without attribution) is a
  crystal-clear example of plagiarism. No credit
  will be given for transcription at the graduate
  level. Graduate students are expected to make
  intellectual contributions to the work they do.

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Common (Unsuccessful) Explanations

• This practice was acceptable at my last
  institution.
• The standards at your previous institution may
  have been different. No allowance is made for the
  standards of other institutions. The standard
  expected at McMaster is that articulated in
  Academic Integrity Policy.

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Common (Unsuccessful) Explanations

• My instructor thought that what I did was okay
  or should be given partial credit.
• Bad advice from instructors is obviously not
  helpful! Nevertheless, you have a responsibility
  to understand academic integrity independent of
  your instructor. (In such a case you might still
  be guilty of an academic offence, but the penalty
  might take the bad advice into account.)

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Common (Unsuccessful) Explanations

• Everyone else does it. It is unfair that I got
  caught and am getting punished.
• At a hearing, the only issue being considered is
  whether or not you committed an academic offence.

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Common (Unsuccessful) Explanations

• Im sorry. I did it. It was wrong. It will never
  happen again.
• If you did indeed commit an academic offence and
  recognize it, this is certainly a reasonable
  plea. It wont, however, forestall a hearing, a
  finding and a penalty.

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Bottom Line

• You are responsible for your actions
• Read the Academic Integrity Policy
• Seek clarification from your instructor or
  supervisor when you are unsure
• If you are still unsure, ask someone else who is
  responsible for knowing these answers.