For more information about Academic Integrity, please contact:
Jen Day Shaw
Dean of Students
(336) 334-5514
jdshaw@uncg.edu
Eight Points for Parents:
Speaking with Students About Academic Integrity
(Adapted with permission from Univ. of Sothern California Office for Parent Programs)
- Affirm to students the importance of academic integrity.
Students have a responsibility to demonstrate academic integrity at UNCG. They should read the student handbook, the Academic Integrity Policy, and familiarize themselves with what constitutes academic dishonesty so that they don’t inadvertently make a mistake and jeopardize their UNCG career. Pleas encourage your student to talk to his/her professor or TA if he/she has questions about what is or is not appropriate. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Foster a love of learning.
Parents should share with their student the importance of learning for the sake of knowledge gain. Encourage conversations about what your student is learning at UNCG and what interests him or her. Encourage your student to speak up and express concern if students mention actions that seem dishonest.
- Support students no matter what their academic performance may be.
It can be difficult to support students when they are not receiving high grades, especially if that is something they were used to in high school. However, it is important for parents to provide support and encouragement for students no matter what their grades may be. UNCG is a challenging academic environment and encouragement to seek assistance or talk to the professor is a better way to promote academic integrity than by putting pressure on a student to get an “A.”
- Know the campus resources for academic assistance and share them with students.
If a particular course is very difficult or students are concerned with academic performance, encourage them to get help. UNCG has many resources for students seeking academic assistance, such as the Student Success Center (http://success.uncg.edu/), the Jackson Library (http://library.uncg.edu/), Dean of Students Office (http:/deanofstudents.uncg.edu), and the UNCG Writing Center (http://www.uncg.edu/eng/writingcenter/).
- Encourage students to plan ahead when studying for an exam or writing a paper.
Students who don’t plan ahead may feel that their only option for success is to cheat. Suggest that they start early in planning study times and papers. Inform students that if they are pressed for time due to unforeseen circumstances, they can talk to their professor and request an extension on a deadline.
- Challenge students to intervene when classmates are not demonstrating academic integrity.
Though it may not be an easy task to confront peers, parents should challenge students to discourage their friends and classmates from committing academic dishonesty. Sitting next to a friend during a test can put a student in a compromising position. Similar tempting situations should be avoided. Students can provide each other with support and information and present themselves as a positive example.
- Explain to your student that plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized collaboration, and falsifying academic records are all forms of academic dishonesty.
Students who use someone else’s work without acknowledging that person appropriately, resubmit their own work without approval, cheat, share homework without approval, or alter or misrepresent university records are demonstrating academic dishonesty. Parents should discuss these issues with students and notify them that the penalties for academic dishonesty are severe.
- Discuss the consequences.
Cheating of any form is not condoned at UNCG. Parents should make it clear that they do not condone academic dishonesty and should reinforce its consequences. In addition to a low grade, “F” in the class, students may face dismissal, revocation of degree, or university suspension or expulsion.