When my friend Rick and I decided to explore the experience of faculty who reported academic integrity violations, we knew it was a great and under-reported research topic. But we had no idea who would actually read it! For that reason, it was great to see our work prominently featured in ACIFA’s Position on Academic Integrity.
ACIFA brings attention to some of the main points of the work:
Reporting academic integrity violations involves a range of difficult emotions, including resentment, frustration, anxiety, fear, and some hurt feelings.
Students may harass faculty through email, in their offices or classrooms, and that it may disrupt relationships.
Even through these difficult experiences, however, many faculty still feel it is worth the time, effort, and agony because it defends honest students, protects the profession, and the reputation of their academic programs (and many times, their personal reputation, as well).
Reporting academic integrity violations should be done cautiously, with care and humanity.
ACIFA includes a number of recommendations that should provide opportunities for necessary discussions regarding academic integrity policy and practice in Canadian postsecondary institutions.