University Task Force Addresses Academic Integrity Issues

By Fran Rensbarger

A report released last May by the University Task Force on Academic Integrity has the university taking a closer look at class size, faculty forums, the Honor System, and ways to keep the Honor Code front-and-center on campus. "If we are serious about academic integrity, some changes need to be made," says James J. Fletcher, the task force chair.

The task force surveyed students, faculty, and staff to judge awareness and compliance with the Honor Code. Students reported that they cheated 20 to 25 percent of the time, but that campuswide cheating occurred 60 to 75 percent of the time. "The most surprising result is that the perception of cheating is more widespread than what is reported by faculty," says Fletcher, Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Provost Peter Stearns says the report is not a call for dramatic action so much as a reminder that a persistent level of attention is needed. "I hope the report and the follow-up actions that we undertake will stimulate this persistent kind of attention," says Stearns, who called for the study in conjunction with Karen E. Rosenblum, vice president of University Life.

The task force made recommendations to the provost, the vice president of University Life, deans and directors, and faculty members. The report suggested the Provost's Office address class size, especially class crowding during exams.

"The faculty's own experience [dealing with cheating is] relatively modest, until you get into classes of 45 or more students. In larger classes, the incidence of cheating does rise dramatically," Fletcher says. "A majority of George Mason classes are under 45 students, however."

"The space issue is serious," Stearns says. In addition to the new classroom buildings, some of the possibilities to address space issues, include setting up exam tables in gymnasiums, at least for finals. "I don't know whether this will happen, but we are looking into it," Stearns says.

He is also working as fast as the budget permits on reducing average class sizes. "That's just a matter of educational effectiveness in addition to integrity issues. One of the things we've worked on in the general education program is trying to make sure freshmen are not saddled with an undiluted run of fairly large classes," he says.

The new Teaching Center will help faculty members share best practices. "One of the things that clearly is called for is a level of faculty awareness about ways you can minimize opportunities and temptations," Stearns says. "We have some faculty who do very imaginative things in these regards, and other faculty who haven't given as much thought to it as they ought."

Another task force recommendation is to re-examine the way the Honor Code is defined and administered, which Stearns plans to do in collaboration with University Life this fall. "Among the concerns is whether punishments may sometimes have been a little extreme in such a way that students and faculty are discouraged from submitting cases that they ought otherwise to submit," says Fletcher. "Now this is a set of questions, it's not a firm conclusion. But it looks like it would be a timely opportunity to have the Honor Code committee participate with some others in a review of its policies," says Fletcher.

Another issue is the capacity of the Honor Committee to handle an increase in cases, Fletcher says. "Now the Honor Committee has as many cases as it can handle, but not all cases on campus go through it. Some are handled by the schools. Maybe additional cases can be handled by the faculty or schools."

This year, an academic integrity and Honor Code segment was part of the orientation sessions held for incoming students as well as incoming faculty. An academic integrity web site is planned in association with the Teaching Center.

"The most important conclusion of the report is that there is a great need on campus to speak publicly about our core values," says Fletcher. "Students will do what they are asked. If the faculty does not stress how important the Honor Code is, students are not necessarily going to pick it up on their own."