- Require instructors to know the institution’s policies and procedures when cheating/plagiarizing is suspected and the potential punitive actions that can be taken.
- Require students to sign the institution’s academic integrity policy before entering the institution.
- Provide students with information and concrete examples of cheating/plagiarism including links to helpful internet sites such as:
- Review how to cite other’s work. Proper citation is a learned behavior, and given the tools, empowers students to properly cite other’s work. This instruction will prevent plagiarism from unknowingly occurring.
- Analyze your campuses culture by having an open discussion on cheating and plagiarism with students. Formally evaluate why and how students cheat on your campus. This awareness may help faculty adopt preventative measures when administering assessments.
Cheating and plagiarism does not have to be an inevitable student behavior. While addressing academic dishonesty, educators should not focus on the negative disciplinary actions that may occur when it is discovered, but should focus on prevention. Discussions about cheating and plagiarism can be ongoing and dynamic conversations that empowers students and instructors to recognize the ethical issues that make this behavior so destructive. Moreover, students can work with faculty to develop strategies to prevent it. Given that grades are the primary reason for cheating and plagiarism, changes in grading practices may help to reduce academic dishonesty. But without more research, it’s hard to know what grading practices would work best. One thing is for certain. Academic integrity is an important issue that we all need to pay attention.