Page 15 - ASC Highlights

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Importance of

Academic Integrity

The Head of the Office of Academic Integrity talks to us about how they go evaluating
scholastic violations.

1. What does the word ‘integrity’ mean? How can a student become a person of
integrity?

The word integrity is the quality that defines and measures a person’s sense of ethics, morality,
and social responsibility.
Students should value and promote ethical behavior and uphold the highest standards of
academic honesty in all aspects of study.

2. What are some of the types of academic misconduct?

At ADU, there are six major types of violations: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication of
Dr. Hamdi Mustafa data, falsification of documents and free riding.
Sheibani
Dean of College of 3. Does being a person of integrity get challenging at times? If yes, what is the best
Engineering & Head of way to handle it?
the Office of Academic
Integrity Being a person with integrity is challenging at some point as you may be dealing with different
kinds of people, attitudes, cultures and beliefs. Sometimes, implementing the standards of
academic integrity might not be welcomed by others who are not familiar with or used to
a culture of academic integrity. However, if you appreciate the value of integrity, and your
decisions are taken within the standards of academic integrity, others will have a chance to be
educated about it and the challenges turn into opportunities.

4. During team projects, it is common to have students freeriding, and the professor
does not know it. This causes anger and frustration for a hard-working student who
wants to say something but does not want to be targeted as a snitch or tattletale.
What can he do about it?

As we do not tolerate this kind of practice where a student is being dependent on his/her
colleagues through freeriding, the OAI initiated an awareness campaign for such matters.
For example, the objective of a team project is to implement a collaborative learning process
that allows students to exchange knowledge, skills, and experiences. Therefore, in instances
where some of the members may abuse their roles in the team and refuse to contribute to the
teamwork after being notified more than once, students are, then, encouraged to report this
kind of misconduct to their instructors or to the OAI. The necessary investigation and action
will be taken by reforming the team or requesting a detailed progression report (peer review)
from each team member while maintaining the confidentiality of information.

5. What are the rights of a student during an Academic Misconduct Hearing?
Students have the right to speak openly. They can/should provide proof to support their
position in the case. We also allow students to appeal the decision of the initial hearing if it is
justified and valid.

6. What is the best advice you can give to students?

Doing the right thing is more important than doing wrong things to feel good. If you think
lying is going to help you get away with things, think twice—for honesty is always the best way
to survive. Therefore, remain honest and uphold the standards of integrity in your daily lives.

Abu Dhabi University | Academic Success Center Highlights Fall 2020