Integrating Academic Integrity into First Year Experience Classes
First Year Experience – Academic Integrity and the Honor Code
Assigned Readings:
Guiding Questions for Students:
1. Are the academic expectations of students outlined in this letter similar or different than the expectations placed on you in high school? How? Were you aware of “academic integrity” before reading this article?
2. Prof. Taylor refers to having “integrity in the small things”, what do you think he means by that?
3. Prof. Taylor says that one of the most difficult aspects of academic integrity is challenging other students who are not living up to expectations. If you were in a situation in which a classmate was not living up to his or her responsibilities, how would you address it? Why would this be difficult? What is at stake—for you, for them, and for the class?
4. In the “With Regards to Exams” section, Prof. Taylor asks you to “accept your limitations”. In this world of extremely high expectations for success in school and beyond, how does acknowledging you may not be an “A” student in every class make you feel? How can acknowledging your academic limitation in a subject area actually help you excel further in your studies?
Possible Activities:
- Break students into 4 groups. Have each group come up with a list of common reasons and scenarios when students cheat. Have each group rank the list by most frequent reasons. Each group should pass their list to another group and ask them to “solve” the problem by coming up with alternative actions. Each group should report out on their solutions to the large group.
Example : Run out of time so buy a paper off internet. Solution: Plan academic work weekly, using phone to set reminders.
- Break students into 4 groups. Have each group represent a stakeholder in the Fairfield Community: students, faculty, employers, administrators.
Have each group come ith a list of common reasons and scenarios when students cheat. Have each group rank the list by most frequent reasons. Each group should pass their list to another group and ask them to “solve” the problem by coming up with alternative actions. Each group should report out on their solutions to the large group.
Reflective Prompt:
- After reading Professor Taylor’s letter and Fairfield University’s Honor Code, what does academic integrity mean to you? How will you apply it to your Fairfield University experience and to your personal values?
More Information: First Year Experience at Fairfield University
