Academic Integrity

Cheating is becoming the younger generations new “norm”. Students are witnessing more leniency and lighter penalties for cases of cheating and plagiarism and opt to take the shortcut without fear of the consequences that may come. The consequences for cheating and plagiarism need to consistently be enforced, and each case no matter how severe needs to be reported. Students are responsible for their own work and following the code of honor, however faculty can also help to improve the concept of academic integrity in each of their courses. Although Purdue has the code of honor that comments on how each Purdue student should possess self-discipline, conduct oneself with integrity, and recognize the high academic standards this university is known for; students don’t take the time to process …show more content…
Professors can aid in diminishing cheating by providing a bigger purpose and deeper explanation for their assignments. This encourages students to see that that the professor’s focus is more on them comprehending material and applying it and not just completing work for the grades (Novotney). In a study led by professor Augustus Jordan, research showed, “as intrinsic motivation for a course drops, and/or as extrinsic motivation rises, cheating goes up” (Ibid). There are also studies that show how motivated a student is can play a role in them partaking in cheating behaviors; thus, the more motivated one is the more likely they are to cheat (Ibid). Students can use a wide range of resources to ensure that the work they complete is authentic such as the online Purdue OWL site, their instructors, writing labs, resource rooms, and much more. Students must take responsibility for their actions and reach out to professors or instructors if they are unsure if their work is ethical. This includes reporting cases of cheating and plagiarism in and out of the