The beginning of a second semester under the umbrella of the Honor System - the new method adjudicating cases of academic dishonesty at K-State - provides a welcome opportunity to review the operation of the Honor System and to highlight areas to improve.

It is important to remember the responsibility we all share for keeping the ideals of academic integrity intact. When Don McCabe, professor of organizational management at Rutgers University and founder of the Center for Academic Integrity, came to visit K-State, he said that when faculty fail to make reference to the Honor System and use it to report violations of the Honor Code, students will not either. The success or failure of this program - particularly in its infancy - critically depends on the involvement of the faculty. How can one expect students to be concerned about their level of academic integrity if their teachers do not express concern over whether they cheat?

A number of students have reported their instructors did not take the time to explain the Honor System and/or their policies regarding groupwork, old tests, materials allowed in the testing environment, old labs and projects and other particulars that often are unique to each class.

Instructors across campus vary in their approach to teaching - often what is acceptable in one class is unacceptable in another. For instance, some instructors look favorably upon groupwork with lab experiments. Others accept groupwork on the lab but not on the lab write-up. Still others find groupwork on any aspect of a lab to be distasteful. Such varied opinions can coexist in the same department or even in the same course, depending on the section.

Clearly, not all students always are aware of the variations in policy among a set of courses. For example, depending on experience, many students generally are inclined to believe groupwork is acceptable unless told otherwise. It is important not to get stuck thinking something is appropriate in one class simply because it is appropriate in another. If you have questions about what resources to use on assignments, or if you are unaware of your course's specific cheating policy, ask your instructor.

Likewise, faculty members often are surprised to find their opinions differ from those of their students when it comes to groupwork. Don't be - nor should you be surprised to find your opinions vary from those of your students on a number of other issues concerning academic honesty. Differences in teaching styles and types of work assigned make it necessary to give students specific instruction each time they enter a new classroom for a new semester.

If you are a faculty member and are uncertain about how to approach a discussion of academic honesty and the Honor Code, consider the following:

Discuss the idea that there is a shared responsibility between students and faculty for ensuring that learning takes place. Note that it is the instructor's responsibility to make certain that the information being given to the students is factual, current and relevant to the class. Note that lecture notes on the World Wide Web, unless given by the instructor, are not a substitute for attending class. Likewise, notes from previous sections or from classmates should not be a substitute, either.

Discuss the consequences of cheating - namely the XF policy. Students found in violation of the Honor Code are given an XF on their transcript: an F, showing they failed the course, and an X, showing the reason they failed was because of cheating. Note that the X will not come off their transcript unless the student participates in a special class sanctioned by the Honor System director.

Talk about your policies on groupwork, on the use of old material, labs, assignments, papers, etc.

Discuss your policy on tests - what items are allowed in the testing environment, should students review with old tests, can students review together, etc.

Remind them of the Honor Code pledge: "On my honor as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."

The above should only serve as a framework for a presentation. Use what works best for your class.

If you have further questions on reducing cheating in your class, or if you are a student who has questions about the Honor System in general, refer to the Web site www.ksu.edu/honor.

Thank you for your continued vigilance, and for helping to guarantee the quality of the academic environment at K-State.