The Aggie Code of Honor and the Aggie Honor System Office Timothy C. Powers Director, Aggie Honor System Office http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate those who do. © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Academic Misconduct • • • • • • Cheating Fabrication Falsification Multiple Submissions Plagiarism Complicity • Abuse and Misuse of Access and Unauthorized Access • Violation of Departmental or College Rules • Violation of University Rules on Research © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Plagiarism The appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Plagiarism Examples • Intentionally, knowingly, or carelessly presenting the work of another as one’s own (i.e., failing to credit author/sources used in a work product). • Failing to credit sources used in a work product in an attempt to pass off the work as one’s own. • Attempting to receive credit for work performed by another © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Tips to Help Students Avoid Plagiarism • Give clear direction and formatting expectations • Have students turn in drafts or sections of the paper over several weeks (ideally through TurnItIn. • Have students paraphrase and practice paraphrasing (create assignments or in-class activities focused on paraphrasing) • Refer students to the writing center (http://writingcenter.tamu.edu) for assistance © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Cheating Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, notes, study aids or other devices or materials in any academic exercise. Unauthorized materials may include anything or anyone that gives a student assistance and has not been specifically approved in advance by the instructor. http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Cheating Examples • Having others conduct research or prepare work without advance authorization from the instructor. • Acquiring answers for any assigned work or exam from any unauthorized source. • Collaborating with other students in the completion of assigned work, unless specifically authorized by the instructor teaching the course. © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Tips to Help Students Avoid Cheating • Aggressively check and proctor early quizzes and exams • If there is a solution manual for the class, clarify if it is okay for students to use it • Create multiple versions of the exercise or prompt and grade accordingly • Proctor “make-up” exercises just as closely as the in-class exercise © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Total Violations Addressed by Faculty Addressed by Honor Council Total 2008-2009 211 20 231 2009-2010 534 27 561 2010-2011 221 28 249 2011-2012 389 34 423 © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Common Violations Over the past three years, the most common types of violations include: - Plagiarism: 47% - Cheating: 36% - Falsifying or fabricating data: 5% - Complicity: 5% © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Breakdown by College of Reporting Faculty – 2 years COALS: 9 Arch: 25 CEHD: 83 Engineering: 180 Bush: 3 Geosciences: 43 Liberal Arts: 104 Business: 45 Science: 160 © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Breakdown by College of Accused Student Major – 2 years COALS: 71 Arch: 32 CEHD: 71 Engineering: 224 Bush: 3 General Studies: 46 Geosciences: 28 Liberal Arts: 100 Business: 55 Science: 26 Vet Med/Biomedical Sciences: 17 © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Breakdown by College of Accused Student Major – Violations per 1,000 students COALS: 9.7 Geosciences: 24.9 Arch: 16.6 Liberal Arts: 13.2 CEHD: 12.5 Business: 10.4 Engineering: 19.8 Science: 7.2 Bush: 8 Vet Med/Biomedical Sciences: 6.7 General Studies: 12.6 © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Sanctions • A zero on an assignment • A course grade reduction • Required to participate in extra requirements for a course • Educational Sanctions (academic integrity seminar, university or community service) • An "F*" in the course • Separation from the University © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University How AHSO Can Help Once a faculty member discovers a violation and chooses to handle it autonomously, the AHSO can: - Meet with the student to explain the violation and sanctions Process all of the paperwork Explain to the student their rights, including any appeal information Work with students and (angry) parents to help them understand why this process is important - Monitor the process so that student and faculty rights are protected - Time commitment from the faculty member can be 5 minutes, if all of the information is readily available during the report submission process The Honor Council process can be a little more time consuming, but it is generally less than two hours of your time © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University Resources The Aggie Honor System Office is available to give guest lectures on academic integrity and the Aggie Honor System to classes or organizations Visit http://aggiehonor.tamu.edu to request a lecture AggieHonor@tamu.edu or 979-458-3378 © Timothy C. Powers – Texas A&M University