FACULTY BEST PRACTICES:
Promoting Academic Integrity in
the Classroom
Table Summarizing Tips to Promote Academic Integrity in the Classroom
SYLLABUS
 Comprehensive
& clear
 Statements on
AI (plagiarism
etc)
 Refer to
Student Code
of Academic
Conduct policy
(www.ryerson.
ca/senate/
policies
/pol60.pdf)
 Refer to Course
Management
Policy
(www.ryerson.
ca/
Senate/policies/
Pol145.pdf)
EDUCATION
 Policies re: AI
 Define academic
misconduct and
the various types
of misconducts.
 Criteria for
evaluation
ASSIGNMENTS
PAPERS

Assign multi stage
drafts
 Drafts and
multi stages

In class writing
assignments
 Collect during
class

Vary assignments

Personalized
assignments: i.e.
journals, reflective
essays
Deter
Plagiarism
 Unique or
personal
papers

Tie previous work
to quiz or
presentations
 Expectations
 Student Code of
Academic
Conduct
 Have AIO talk to
class/show
orientation video
available on AI
website
 Provide
resources/info on
how to properly
cite and
reference
 Review common
mistakes and do
& don’ts


Have students or
groups define the
project
Train & coordinate
TA’s in marking
and assessing for
academic
misconduct
Deter Misconduct in
Lab Assignments
 No penalty for
wrong results.
Focus on process

Keep lab books
 Submit
outlines
 Request
annotated
bibliographies
 Summary of
research
process
 Address
collaboration
EXAMS
 Vary versions
 Clearly mark
incorrect
answers with a
mark through
the answer
 Photocopy
random exams
prior to
returning exam
Deter Cheating
 Vigilance of
prof. and TA
TECHNOLOGY
 Clickers, ensure
clear rules for
their use
Email
 Guidelines
Laptops
 Use/
Restrictions
Cell phones
 Use in class

 Seating
arrangements
 Assigned seats
 Provide
students with
booklets
 Check ID
 Use different
versions of
exams
No use of
electronic
devices during
tests or exams
(must be
stored in bags)
Blackboard
 All material is
protected and
copyrighted.
(Therefore
needs
citations)

Reference
material on
Blackboard
PowerPoint

Do lab in class

Oral component
Address Collaboration



Clarify if students
can work
together.
Clarify specific
areas where
students can
collaborate.
Collaboration
does not mean
submitting the
same assignment.

Incorporate
references
(Need for
PowerPoints to
be cited as
well).
BEST PRACTICES IN COURSE OUTLINE SPECIFICS/ SYLLABUS CREATION

Make sure your outline addresses the Student Code of Academic Conduct
(http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol60.pdf) and defines your expectations (see
Course Management policy http://www.ryerson.ca/senate/policies/pol145.pdf).

EMAIL - Make email guidelines and instructor availability known.

LAPTOP USE - Mention what level of laptop use is allowed in your class.

CELLPHONE USE - Mention that use of cell phones in the classroom is not allowed. Cell
phone use includes taking pictures, recording class conversation, and having the phone
ring during the class.

BLACKBOARD - All course materials presented on a “my.ryerson” course website, unless
otherwise stipulated, are the protected intellectual property and copyrighted material of the
professor leading the course and therefore need to be cited.

PUBLIC WEB SPACES - If students post items on, or use, public websites their actions may
be covered in sections of Ryerson’s Student Codes of Academic and Non-Academic Conduct
where pertinent.

BE COMPREHENSIVE & CLEAR.
BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATING STUDENTS

Be a role model. The more importance you place on academic integrity – the more
students will.

Go over the Academic Integrity Policies in your course outlines to ensure students are
aware of the information. Reminding students at the beginning of a course ensures an
understanding of the course expectations.

Ensure students are aware and informed about academic misconduct policies and
consequences.

Invite Ryerson’s Academic Integrity Officer to your class to give a presentation to students
or play the orientation video available on the AI website (www.ryerson.ca/ai) .

Guide and support students with clear expectations.

Have students submit a rough draft for assessment before the actual paper or assignment
is submitted.

Assist students in where to find resources relating to academic integrity policies.

Make sure students are aware of referencing standards.

Make students aware of common mistakes/ misconceptions.

Ask for advice from faculty that have been involved in integrity issues who can provide
clear examples and suggestions for avoiding these incidents from a very personal
perspective.
BEST PRACTICES IN ASSIGNMENT CREATION

Make the assignments unique and personal to the student (journals, reflective papers).

Vary assignments and rotate tests.

Request rough drafts, mini assignments and/or assign work in steps leading to the larger
final assignment. Grade or be aware of the work in progress.

Be specific, lay out criteria and make expectations known.

Back assignments up with presentations or quizzes or by fielding questions as a way of
proving knowledge gained.

Train and coordinate TA’s about plagiarism, grading rubrics – specifically what to look for.

Combine individual and group learning.

Reinforce available resources to students i.e. Student Learning Support has a great
website.
BEST PRACTICES IN USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Use of Bulletin Board and Turnitin.com. If you use computer quizzes (on blackboard) do
these in the computer lab where students can be monitored. Be sure to reference material
that is posted on Blackboard to ensure student’s cite what is not their own.

Make sure all cell phones and electronic devices are off and stored in bags during tests.

Laptop restrictions: Be clear about your expectations regarding laptop use. You can choose
not to allow laptops or monitor their use.

Using PowerPoints. Incorporate references at bottom of slide or reference at the end.