Running head: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
Academic Integrity in the Online Learning Era
University of Arizona Global Campus
Management Communications with Technology Tools BUS600
Marc Jackson
16/01/2023
Author Note
This paper is intended for the module one week one assignment in the BUS600 class.
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
Abstract
Online learning presents many challenges and opportunities to educators and students. Among
these challenges is the potential for academic dishonesty enabled by distance learning increased
during the COVID-19 pandemic and educators' capability to detect academic dishonesty.
Students who violate academic integrity face serious repercussions that impact their academic
and professional careers. Preserving academic integrity serves the interest of educators and
students.
Keywords: COVID-19, Academic integrity, Academic dishonesty, Online learning
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
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Academic Integrity in the Online Learning Era
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique challenge to centers of education that have
struggled to resolve since 2019. This challenge held multiple solutions that fell into two sides of
an argument centered around safety. Education facilities could compel students and faculty to
resume in-person learning, potentially exposing those involved to the virus, or adapt to remote
learning practice. Many educational institutions started with the latter, slowly transitioning to the
former as the pandemic continued. In the early phases of the pandemic when "…84% of
America's undergrads were found to have had some or all of their classes moved to online-only
instruction…" (Cameron et al., 2021) many universities found themselves in an unfamiliar
situation of online learning when in person education had been the standard operation for
decades. This sudden change in processes created scenarios where Universities did not have the
required technology to sufficiently monitor student activity, leading to increased opportunities
for academic dishonesty. After universities adapted and were able to implement controls and
software for monitoring students and catching academic integrity violations, the reported number
of violations skyrocketed. Universities across the globe reported increases in the percentage of
misconduct; Ohio State University "…reported incidents of cheating were up more than 50%
over the year before." (Dey, 2021) During this time of transitioned learning, students who seized
upon perceived opportunities for academic dishonesty to ease their way through school.
However, with many universities adapting and modeling after successful existing online learning
modules, it is becoming increasingly easy for universities to catch dishonest academic activity
using proctored exams and assignment screening tools. Prevention academic integrity violations
aides students in avoiding the repercussions and professional impact of violations.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
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Repercussions
Violations of academic integrity are taken seriously by education centers. Students and
graduates of universities directly reflect the university's image and significantly influence the
perception of the university for prospective students and employers as alumni. Understanding
this relationship, Universities strive to hold their students to high standards, including
repercussions for violations of academic integrity codes. Two of the University of Arizona
Global Campuses' repercussions for academic dishonesty are "…course failure…" and
"…expulsion from the University" (UAGC). Students who rely on tuition assistance from their
employer must show proof of passing courses to receive financial aid. Course failure and
expulsion would potentially leave a student to pay out of pocket for their educational expenses.
Professional Implications
Technology created to detect academic dishonesty has become more accessible to
educators. Similarly, technology to prevent academic dishonesty has become more accessible to
students and is offered for free by some universities. Utilizing tools that detect the similarities of
students' work to databases of other work help students correct their work before potentially
being flagged for academic dishonesty. An environment of professionalism and dedication to
academic principles requires participation from students and educators.
Preventing Academic Dishonesty
Technology created to detect academic dishonesty has become more accessible to
educators. Similarly, technology to prevent academic dishonesty has become more accessible to
students and offered for free by some universities. Utilizing tools that detect the similarities of
your work to databases of other work help students correct their work before potentially being
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
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flagged for academic dishonesty. An environment of professionalism and dedication to academic
principles requires participation from students and educators.
Conclusion
The evolution of technology enabled universities to better serve the requirements of
students in unique circumstances. Additionally, developments have enabled universities to
identify students’ dishonest academic choices. The decision to break academic integrity opens
students up to repercussions that affect professional and academic achievement. Resources for
prevention of violations of academic integrity are provided for students to take advantage of to
aid in their academic and professional development.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WITH ONLINE LEARNING
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References
Dey, S. (2021, August 27). Reports of cheating at colleges soar during the pandemic.
NPR. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.npr.org/2021/08/27/1031255390/reports-ofcheating-at-colleges-soar-during-the-pandemic
Cameron, M., Lacy, T.A., Siegel, P., Wu, J., Wilson, A., Johnson, R., Burns, R., and Wine,
J. (2021). 2019–20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20): First Look at the
Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Undergraduate Student Enrollment,
Housing, and Finances (Preliminary Data) (NCES 2021-456). U.S. Department of Education.
Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 16, 2023 from
https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2021456.
UAGC. (n.d.). Academic integrity. Academic Integrity. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from
https://www.uagc.edu/catalog/student-rights-responsibilities/academic-integrity