CHALLENGES AND REALITIES OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: BEST PRACTICES FOR INSTILLING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN STUDENTS AND FACULTY

Drexel University is a top-ranked private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The University has consistently ranked among the top 10 "up and coming" universities by maintaining a unique commitment to high quality education delivered both on-campus and online. Like many universities with an online presence, Drexel has worked to maintain high standards, increase student achievement and decrease incidents of academic dishonesty among its students. However, academic dishonesty in the forms of plagiarism, fabrication, cheating or academic misconduct, continues to plague not only Drexel, but other online educator providers as well (Lanier (2006), Macabe (2009).
In 2009, Drexel created an Online Learning Council (OLC) to examine issues of quality, retention, engagement, scalability, accessibility and communication. In May of 2012, the OLC expanded its reach within the university through creation of an Online Fellows program created to examine a variety of online improvement issues. The challenge of improving academic integrity at Drexel University is one such initiative.
This paper will review the current realities of academic integrity at Drexel University, emphasizing the struggle with shifting the culture from punishment to heightened awareness and prevention of academic dishonestly. The presenters, all OLC Fellows, will share techniques collected through decades of collective input that stress education and information, rather than failures and suspensions. The presenters will frame the discussion with a review of why students commit academic dishonesty, followed by arguments for sustainable institutional change through policy, pedagogical professional development and sound instructional design. The presenters will share techniques for establishing a positive online student presence through dialogue, cooperative learning and free writing exercises. Deemphasizing the role of tools, the presenters will conclude with information sources and takeaways for those struggling with the issue.