INTRODUCTION

There is mounting evidence that suggests the occurrence of academic dishonesty is on the rise. Of similar concern are the growing number and seriousness of incidents of non-academic misconduct. Within the media, reports are prevalent on students suing faculty, institutions, and even other students for educational negligence, malpractice, and/or wrongful treatment. Research conducted at North Dakota State University in 2001 suggested that many individuals are litigating in an attempt to receive due process, which they believe is owed to them (see article: http://www.theasca.org/en/art/index.asp?257 ). A small sampling of recent headlines in the news give testament to the swelling student conduct and judicial issues faced by universities and colleges in Canada and beyond:

• $10-million lawsuit claims George Brown misrepresented business program
• Cheating Goes Global as Essay Mills Multiply
• uCalgary student on probation for Facebook comments about professor
• MUN student placed on probation for threatening professors
• Former uManitoba student sues classmate over gossip
• Female student assaulted at Carleton sues university
• California State U students sue school over alleged tuition double-billing
• Guelph presents initiatives to address rowdy off-campus student homes
• Carleton women's soccer team suspended over "rookie initiation
• UPEI students calling for student police force
• Rowdy parties at Windsor frat house, Acadia residences
• UOIT considers off-campus student code of conduct

In response, many institutions are revisiting their policies and practices related to student conduct and judicial affairs. A high level scan of relevant articles in the news as well as institutional websites suggests that some institutions promote a disciplinary, 'rules compliance' approach to their policies and practices; while other institutions have adopted 'developmental approaches' to creating a culture of integrity and processes that promote student development through 'restorative justice'. The latter are more recent developments that integrate student development concepts with principles of judicial practice.

This SEM Canada edition profiles exemplary resources to promote a culture of integrity at several Canadian institutions, as well as professional resources (web resources, recent articles and books) for those who hold responsibility for the administration of Student Conduct policies. This newsletter is of particular relevance to enrolment managers, recruiters, educators, and student affairs professionals. Share the information with your colleagues: librarians, academic integrity officers, student judicial affairs officers, residence life professionals, athletics administrators, student advisors, among others.

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 Exemplary Resources to Promote a Culture of Integrity

• Mount Royal University- The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) serves as an information centre and facilitator for student judicial affairs. The OSC administers an integrated policy framework under the Code of Student Conduct by which cases of academic dishonesty and non-academic misconduct are adjudicated. Principles of student development and restorative justice underlie the Code. The OSC website offers tips for students and faculty, case studies, and protocols pertaining to the conduct of hearings. See web site
• Ryerson University – The Academic Integrity website provides learning resources associated with Academic Integrity involving a tutorial inclusive of quizzes. There are also resources for students, their families and for faculty. See web site
• Simon Fraser University - SFU established a single student code of conduct covering both good-conduct issues and academic integrity. To toughen its policies on academic dishonesty and student misconduct, SFU introduced a letter grade called FD, meaning failed for academic dishonesty. Read more
• University of Alberta - The Office of Student Judicial Affairs website hosts On the Edge - Case Studies for Students. U of A also developed The Truth In Education program, which is a campus-wide educational campaign on Academic Honesty, intended to complement the Code of Student Behaviour. It was created in response to a marked increase in academic misconduct charges, many of which stem from a lack of knowledge about what is allowed and what is not. Handbooks on academic integrity have been tailored to the needs of instructors and students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. See website 1, web site 2 & web site 3
• University of Saskatchewan - The Academic Integrity and Student Conduct website hosts a video called "Crossing the Line" – U of S drama students wrote and performed dramatic yet humorous sketches about plagiarism, cheating and academic integrity issues. See web site
• University of Waterloo - The Office of Academic Integrity website hosts links to other Ontario universities. See website resources
• York University – Designed an Academic Integrity Tutorial to help students learn about academic integrity. The information in this tutorial is applicable for all subject and research areas and any level of study. See web site

  Professional Resources

Website Resources

• Canadian Academic Integrity and Student Judicial Affairs (CAISJA) - A division of the Canadian Associations of College and University Student Services. The website hosts information on policies and procedures at select institutions in Canada. See web site
• The Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) - Located at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina (USA), provides a forum for sharing best practices and strategies on AI. Over 360 member institutions benefit from the collective experience of their sister institutions. The CAI offers research, workshops, conferences, policies, and guidance in assessing and implementing AI strategies. The Center permits the download of The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity booklet. In addition, "The Academic Integrity Assessment Guide" is available for purchase and use in developing a specific plan of action to promote integrity on campuses. See web site 1 & web site 2
• Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) – This organization consists of professional educators, many of whom hold responsibility for administering standards of student conduct within colleges and universities. See web site

Recent Articles and Books

• The Trials of Academe- The New Era of Campus Litigation (Harvard University Press) -- When in doubt, sue. That philosophy has become an expected part of American society and (to the frustration of many in higher education) academe as well. This new book combines humor and history to examine the impact (most of it negative) of academic disputes landing in court. Read more
• Best Practice Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity in Online Education, Version 2.0, June 2009 - Based on "Institutional Policies/Practices and Course Design Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity in Online Education," produced by WCET's Study Group on Academic Integrity and Student Authentication. Available for download.
• Academic Integrity: Creating Institutional Policies to Curb Student Cheating - Cheating is not a new problem for colleges, but the Internet and other technologies have increased opportunities for cheating, making it more tempting to try and easier to pull off than ever before. This Faculty Focus article sets out a four-stage process for building a culture of academic integrity. Read more
• With 'Restorative Justice,' Colleges Strive to Educate Student Offender -"Restorative justice," a blend of mediation and restitution that often puts student offenders face to face with their victims, isn't always pretty. But the awkward moments it causes are part of the point, say student-conduct officers who have embraced the process. Read more (Chronicle subscription required)
• Janus Generation - Are students lazy, technologically sophisticated or both? The author of this article evaluates the evidence. Read more
• Strategies for Dealing with Student Misconduct - Campus safety issues remain a critical concern for the higher education community. During the past 10-15 years, incidents of disruptive behavior have increased on colleges campuses nationwide. For college administrators, choosing the appropriate response can make a big difference in the outcome of the situation and the student's future at your institution. Read more
• Are You Encouraging Plagiarism? Six Tips for Improving Your Term-paper Assignments - This article suggests that the term-paper assignment can be designed so that it is almost impossible to plagiarize, and includes a sample of the design feature. Read more
• False Positives on Plagiarism -Texas Tech writing experts compare services designed to catch cheaters -- and find problems with the results. Read more
• Should Definitions of Cheating Change in the Age of Texting? Mr. Bauerlein, a professor of English at Emory University, points to a new survey showing that about half of students have used their cell phones or other technology to cheat, and that many students do not consider their behavior to be cheating. Read more
• Is this academic cheating? Technology and more collaborative learning styles have created a grey zone in academic honesty. Read more
• Academic Dishonesty and the Perceived Effectiveness of Countermeasures: An Empirical Survey of Cheating at a Major Public University -This study presents self-reported prevalence and incidence data about student academic dishonesty generated from an anonymous survey conducted at a major Southeastern public university, evaluating the perceived effectiveness of a variety of cheating countermeasures by specifically comparing those students who admitted involvement with those who did not. The authors discuss various policy implications suggested by these findings. Read more
• CSI: Plagiarism - You can get all worked up, sure. But M. Garrett Bauman thinks it's more fun to just smile and play with a plagiarism suspect the way a cat plays with a mouse. Read more (subscription required)
• Will Your College Be Sued for Educational Malpractice? A former student recently sued Monroe College claiming that she had not been able to obtain gainful employment because the college provided inadequate career-placement services. The student, Tina Thompson, essentially seeks restitution of the money she paid to the college and a modest sum for emotional distress. No job; money-back guarantee. Read more
• Professors Are Urged to Seek Liability Insurance, But Some Question the Need - Merle H. Weiner, a professor of law at the University of Oregon, received two rude surprises after the University of San Francisco Law Review published her article about how international courts treat domestic-violence victims. The first was that the plaintiff in a case she had cited in her footnotes accused her of defamation and threatened to sue her if she did not remove a reference to him in versions published online. Read more (subscription required)

  UPCOMING SEM EVENTS

"SEMM Forums (SEM and Marketing) in Canada" - Gain indispensible knowledge and learn valuable best practices while networking with some of Canada's top experts at the Strategic Enrolment Marketing & Management Forum 2010.

The SEMM Forum is your opportunity to:

• explore post secondary enrolment trends and challenges
• learn strategies to create an effective brand
• discover effective front-line recruiting tactics
• examine emerging technologies affecting student recruitment
• understand the Millennials and how to connect with them

In just 1 full day, the SEMM Forum will provide you with the intensive training and exchange of ideas you need to succeed. Visit the website to register at a location near you http://www.semmforum.ca/home.htm

• Calgary SEMM Forum (April 20)
• Toronto SEMM Forum (Apr 22 - 23)

As a sponsor of the SEMM Forum program, SEM Works is pleased to offer you the opportunity to save $50 by registering with this special discount code: SMK4

Innovative Educators Webinar, March 24, 2010, Online Registration Needed

SunGard Conference, April 11-12, 2010, San Francisco, California

NISOD's 32nd Annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence May 30-June 2, 2010 in Austin, Texas

Learn why NISOD's annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence has been the largest conference for the past three years to focus on community colleges. The NISOD conference celebrates excellence and provides a unique professional development opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators at colleges and universities to foster student success.

Small College Conference, July 11-14, 2010, Orlando, Florida

Colleges Ontario Conference, July 18-19, 2010, Ontario, Canada

Noel-Levitz National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing, and Retention, July 21-23, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia