PULLMAN, Wash. — A Washington State University, three-day forum on ethics will explore issues surrounding — what some call — a national epidemic of cheating and plagiarism by college faculty and students.
The March 5-7 event, “The Forum on Ethics and Academic Life in the 21st Century,” discuss topics such as “What’s Happening in Our Classrooms – The Latest Research on Students and Cheating” and “Honor Codes and Student Culture.”
“Unfortunately,” said John Kicza, associate dean of the WSU College of Liberal Arts, “in recent years, we have witnessed numerous violations of ethical codes in academics and in research by scientists and scholars at universities across the country.”
Kicza and fellow members of the university’s Ethics Interest Group created the forum at the request of WSU Provost Robert Bates. “It is an indication,” Bates said, “that academic integrity is the heart of any university, and the way to maintain it is to make certain everyone involved in academic endeavors is aware of the guidelines and expectations.”
The forum is a combined effort of the Ethics Interest Group, Office of the Provost, College of Business and Economics and College of Liberal Arts. Events begin Wednesday, March 5, with a lunchtime brown bag discussion on intellectual property and the changing issues of copyright and classrooms. The talk will be in the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education, Room 518.
Donald McCabe, founder, Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University, is the keynote speaker of the forum and will present a public lecture, “Academic Integrity and Student Behavior: What Works and What Doesn’t,” from 7:30-9 p.m. March 5 in Todd Hall, Room 216.
Other events include:
Wednesday, March 5
Noon-1:30 pm., Smith Center, Room 518.
Brown Bag Lunch/Discussion: “Intellectual Property: Why Bother Protecting What People Have Written?,” Leona Fitzmaurice, executive director, WSU Research Foundation and the Research and Technology Park.
“Changing Issues of Copyright and Classrooms,” Ray August, professor, Information Systems and Business Law.
2:30-4 p.m., Smith Center, Room 518
All Faculty Invited: “Principles for Fostering Academic Integrity,” Donald McCabe, founder, Center for Academic Integrity, Duke University
7:30-9 p.m., Todd Hall, Room 216
Public Lecture: “Academic Integrity and Student Behavior: What Works and What Doesn’t,” Donald McCabe, founder, Center for Academic Integrity, Duke University. (Introduction by Doug Baker, vice provost for Academic Affairs.) Reception with refreshments will follow.
Thursday, March 6
9-10:25 a.m., Smith Center, Room 518
“Honesty and Self-interest,” Dan Holbrook, associate professor, philosophy
10:35-11:50 a.m., Smith Center, Room 518
Open discussion: “What’s Happening in Our Classrooms? Latest Research on Students and Cheating,” Donald McCabe, founder, Center for Academic Integrity, Duke University
Noon-1:15 p.m., Smith Center, Room 518
Brown Bag Discussion: “It’s So Easy, It Can’t Be Cheating: Technology and Academic Integrity,” Gregory Hooks, professor, sociology
1:25-2:40 p.m., Smith Center, Room 518
“Using Case Studies to Teach Ethics,” Candice Claiborn, associate professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
2:50-4:05 p.m., Smith Center, Room 518
“Plagiarism, Cheating and Large Classes,” Rick Busselle, assistant professor, Murrow School of Communication
4:20-5 p.m., Smith Center, Room 518
“The Relationship Between Professional Codes and Ethics,” Ken Carper, professor, School of Architecture and Construction Management
Friday, March 7
9:10-10 a.m., Smith Center, Room 518
“Athletics and Academic Integrity,” Ken Casavant, professor, agriculture and resource economics and faculty Athletics representative
10:10-11 a.m., Smith Center, Room 518
Open discussion: “The Use and Abuse of Graduate Students,” Gail Stearns Moody, faculty, WSU Honors College
Noon-12:50 p.m., Smith Center, Room 518
Open Discussion: “Honors Codes and Student Culture,” moderated by Honors students
