The Ethics Of Academic Integrity

The Ethics Of Academic Integrity

Academic integrity continues to be an important issue of public concern especially in higher education institutions. There are countless articles that report students cheating on examinations, plagiarizing written assignments, and collaborating with others when such behavior is prohibited. Conversely, there are reports of viable honor systems that have been implemented in schools that make such unethical behavior less pervasive. Both of these extremes, beg the question whether an honor code, such as the Stevens Honor System, is the most effective way to curb immoral behavior and promote a high regard for honesty. As Henry David Thoreau makes it clear in his essay, "Civil Disobedience," governments should not be allowed to impede on individuals' consciences and behaviors. Thus, the honor code should only be a set of minimalistic rules that promote each individual's personal integrity so they can act honorably based on their own conscience. It should not however, in any way, legislate or seek to punish students for unlawfulness. By drawing from Hsun Tzu's ideas in "Encouraging Learning," an honor code ought to be treated as a cornerstone on which a foundation of moral and ethical academic behavior is built. Hsun Tzu, a Chinese philosopher, poses many interesting points about the connection between learning and moral behavior in shaping students into lawful citizens. The success of an honor code depends on the trust it places in individuals' beliefs and how they are applied to

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