Reference no: EM133150672

Academic Honesty and Student Code of Conduct

https://wmich.edu/conduct/code

This assignment explores what constitutes academic integrity under the student conduct code. Access and review WMU's Expectations of students (Code of Honor). 

Review the following case studies and identify the type of academic misconduct and answer the questions for each case. Reflect on what you learned about this topic.

Case Study #1

Eric is a sophomore and only has two more pre-business classes to complete this semester before he starts the BBA. He feels the pressure to uphold his 2.5 GPA, and he is worried that he will drop below the 2.5 minimum to get into the BBA.

In one of his classes, an extra credit assignment is to read through journal articles and books that have been posted by the instructor throughout the semester, and then to compile personal thoughts based on the principles covered. To Eric, it seemed like basically doing something he already had done in the class-read the same information again. He figured the instructor just wanted to make sure the students really did read the articles, so Eric wrote his paper using direct quotes and verbatim phrases from the reading without correct citation. It was just extra credit, after all, so if it was not as good as his other work, it couldn't really hurt his grade. He just needs a little boost to keep his GPA above a 2.5. 

Is this academic dishonesty? If so, based on the definitions, which specific type of misconduct is this? Do you think Eric is right in thinking that this assignment really doesn't matter and can't hurt his grade because it is only for extra credit?

Case Study #2

Brendan, Mallory and Jaime are in two classes together. They become friends throughout the semester and start having study and homework sessions together. One homework assignment requires them to complete a worksheet about creating positive work environments for employees.

Brendan and Mallory work on the assignment one night while Jaime is in an RSO meeting.  Brendan and Mallory do their worksheets at the same time and each of them performs their own research to complete their worksheets. The next night, Jaime is stressed because she's trying to plan an event for her RSO, has a paper due in two days and has the worksheet due tomorrow. Jaime asks Brendan and Mallory if she can look at one of their worksheets. Brendan sends Jaime his worksheet. Jaime originally planned to get some basic ideas from Brendan and then do her own research, but she really likes his ideas, and she is exhausted. She decides to copy 3 of his 6 answers and changes a couple of words here and there. Jaime figures her instructor will never notice because there is over 50 students in the course who will be submitting similar worksheets.

Is this academic dishonesty? If so, based on the definitions, which specific type of misconduct is this? Are Brendan and/or Mallory at fault or just Jaime? How can you have conversations with your friends if you see this happening?

Case Study #3

Last semester Kate took a business class and one of the papers she wrote was about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This semester she is taking a psychology class and realizes that her paper from last semester would work for one of the assignments for this semester. It is a different class, in a different semester, and she did all of the research before, so she decides to turn in the same paper.

Is this academic dishonesty? If so, based on the definitions, which specific type of misconduct is this? What is the best thing for Kate to do in this situation?

Reflection Questions

1. What did you learn about academic honesty from reading the policies and working through these case studies?

2. How can academic dishonesty affect you as a WMU student if you are found violating the academic policies? If you aren't sure, be sure to dig further into the Student Code of Conduct!