Cornell University takes Academic Integrity very seriously. This past weekend I was assigned a takehome preliminary examination in COMS 421: Numerical Analysis. After explaining the due date and number of questions, it goes on to explain AI:

You are not allowed to collaborate at all on this exam. You should refrain from bringing up questions in any kind of discussion until the afternoon of Tues., Nov. 9 because some students may be handing in the exam late. The following kind of cooperation is allowed: You are permitted to borrow and photocopy someone else’s lecture notes or other publicly-available course material. Please write and sign the folloing statement on your solutions: “I have neither given nor received unpermitted assistance on this exam.”

This is an excellent Integrity policy, which clearly defines what is acceptable (publicly available sources) and what is not (collaboration). Another section allows consultation of online resources and other publications, with citation. This should be contrasted with the overall University AI policies, which include such vagaries as:

Respect for the finite capacity of the [computer] system and limitation of use so as not to interfere unreasonably with the activity of other users.

Unreasonably general, and impossible for a user of the University Computer System to gauge, without knowing every detail of the system itself.

Misrepresenting one’s academic accomplishments.

This should read, “Intentionally misrepresenting.” It’s not fair to penalize an accident.

My job also has its own Academic Integrity code, similar to all the rest. It’s an introductory CS class I help teach–and we see, unfortunately, a lot of cheating. As it’s a fairly difficult core Computer Science class that weeds out many of our prospective students, a failing kid has a strong urge to cheat in order to keep up with the intense pressure.

Sometimes, we see cheating on tests and exams. Sometimes, students copy each others programming assignments. Probably, they steal code off the internet, too. And far too often, faculty don’t want to get involved in the long hearing process that accompanies a formal Academic Integrity violation, and either ignore it or penalize their grades.

So, let me offer some advice, first to students, then to instructors:

To the Student:

1. Read the Academic Integrity policies, both for your classes and your university as a whole
2. Cite any material incorporated into your homework or projects that is not your own
3. Prepare for your tests, so that you don’t have to cheat on them. Go to office hours and get the facts from the source itself–before crunch time.
4. If you do commit an Academic Integrity violation, be honest about it. Apologize and repent to everyone involved.
5. Clarify a borderline Academic Integrity issue with your professor. Each has his own opinion.

To the Instructor:

1. Have a clear, well-thought, and publicly posted Academic Integrity policy.
2. Explain your policy in the first day of class.
3. Include any exceptions where they apply–i.e. on a special collaborative assignment.
4. Prosecute any Academic Integrity violations to the letter of University procedure.
5. Be fair. Don’t accuse or turn in a student you merely suspect has cheated.
6. Don’t create an environment that promotes cheating. For example, seat students an even distance away from each other during tests, and maintain a proctor in the room at all times.
7. Monitor the progress of your class, and don’t outstrip their rate of learning. You already know it–it might take them a little while to catch on to what you’re teaching.

While it’s sad that we have to consider cheating and Academic Integrity, both instructors and students need to work together to understand and implement Academic Integrity procedures. That way, things go smoothly for everyone.

The same also applies to bloggers and blogging. Always cite your sources. Always quote sources whenever possible, rather than copying information wholesale. The same goes for picture attributions. At least include alt text that gives the source in words, or even better, caption it with a hyperlink to the original context. And, don’t post information you know to be false. Blogging is journalism, and carries the same responsibility to Integrity as the mainstream media.

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