Stemming the Tide of Academic Dishonesty in Higher Education: It Takes a Village

Universities stand for truth and knowledge. Academic integrity is the ideal we hold up to our students and ourselves. It's based on respect for the work we do and respect for the work of others. The current state of academic dishonesty on campus is a threat to the morality of the students, the integrity of their grades, and the reputation of our institutions of higher education. This article explores issues surrounding academic integrity with an eye toward considering what can be done. It discusses the breadth and types of cheating (including plagiarism), the impact of technology, ways to prevent or limit its occurrence, and ways faculty might respond when it occurs. The discussion is enriched by the results of two surveys about academic integrity conducted in late 2012 and early 2013--one of faculty and one of students. Results reveal and compare the concerns and suggestions of both groups.