Understanding
Student Ethics
BBA Student Ethics Advisory Committee (BBA SEAC)
BBA SEAC- Who We Are
▪ Mission:
– gauge the ethical climate within McCombs
– identify and isolate causes and opportunities for unethical
behavior
– Empower students and faculty to create an environment that
puts integrity at the core of everything we do.
▪ Today:
Understand
the Truth
Encouraging
Integrity
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Constructive
Remedy for
Wrongs
Remedy for Wrongs
Debunking Myths About Cheating
Only students who struggle in school cheat
• Research by Who’s Who Among American High School
Students surveyed 3,000 students among whom 80%
admitted to cheating to get ahead in school
Cheating is unpredictable
• Cheating more common when grades/performance
emphasized
• Less common when mastery of skills /learning emphasized
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Where have you witnessed cheating in
classes at UT?
Business Class
26%
Both
36%
Non-Business Class
38%
Source: BBA SEAC Survey, Spring 2014
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
How many times have you witnessed
cheating in classes at UT?
5+
2-4
1
7%
17%
14%
0
62%
Source: BBA SEAC Survey, Spring 2014
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Debunking Myths About Cheating
Cheating is personal
•
•
•
•
Student apathy toward subject
Lack of understanding
Self-interest
Competitive pressures
Students who cheat lack discernment
• Students may perceive gray areas where faculty see
black and white Communication error
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Audience Poll: You Decide Ethics
▪ You may use your Cell-phones
▪ Please text @Ethics to 23559 to
participate in poll
▪ Reply with username of choice
– (Feel free to make something up)
( poll answers are is anonymous)
** Texting rates will apply**
App in use: Celly
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
You Decide: Is the Action Ethical or not?
Scenario: A student in your class has
access to old tests/quizzes given to
him/her by previous students or found
in a test bank or Course Hero and uses
them to study and prepare for exams
• 1-Yes,
• 2- No,
• 3-Unsure
You Decide: Is the Action Ethical or not?
Scenario: Students working on an
online assignment (quest, mylabs,
etc) divide up the work and share
their solutions with their study
group
• 1-Yes,
• 2- No,
• 3-Unsure
You Decide: Is the Action Ethical or not?
Scenario: Students working on a
take-home (essay-style) test swap
their essays for peer editing before
turning them in
• 1-Yes,
• 2- No,
• 3-Unsure
You Decide: Is the Action Ethical or not?
Scenario: A student brings a
classmate’s “iclicker” to class to
click-in for attendance because
his/her friend could not make it to
class that day
• 1-Yes,
• 2- No,
• 3-Unsure
Next Steps: consider strategies to create a
learning environment that:
1. Minimizes the temptation and ability to cheat
2. Promotes and celebrates academic integrity
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Prevention
Student-Faculty
Relationship
What students
want:
Potential items
of action:
Investment
Meaningful
assignments
Challenge
Control
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Helping students who have acted
unethically
Break down
your decisionmaking
process
Evaluate your
thought
process
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Break down your decision-making process
• Gather the facts
• Define the ethical issues
• Identify the affected parties
• Identify the consequences
• Identify the obligations
Myths
Preventative
Remedial
Break down your decision-making process
• Consider your character and integrity
• Think creatively about potential
actions
• Check your gut
• Decide on the proper ethical action
and be prepared to deal with opposing
arguments
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Evaluate your thought process
Things
you did
well?
Areas for
improvement?
Myths About Cheating Encouraging Integrity
Remedy for Wrongs
Summary
▪ Understand what situations lend
themselves to academic integrity
▪ Wherever possible, strive for learning
environments that encourage
engagement and integrity
▪ Help students who have acted
unethically to make better choices going
forward