Importance of Academic Integrity in the Classroom

Dear Twin Cities faculty and instructors,

As we approach the end of the fall semester and begin preparations for spring, I'm writing to remind you of resources available to help both instructors and students promote and protect academic integrity.

The Office for Student Affairs recently sent a message to all Twin Cities students highlighting these resources. In conjunction with an initiative of the International Center for Academic Integrity, the message also calls attention to contract cheating, the form of academic dishonesty where students get academic work completed for them, and then submit it for academic credit as if they had created it themselves.

Resources and guidelines to help you in promoting academic integrity and preventing cheating before it starts are available online from the Office for Community Standards. These include a recommended syllabus insertion regarding scholastic dishonesty, discussion starters to help guide classroom discussions of academic integrity with students, and other resources. The Office of Community Standards can also assist faculty in requesting removal of their course documents that have been uploaded to external sites without permission.

As you know, all faculty and instructors are required by University policy to report all instances of scholastic dishonesty to the Office for Community Standards. You may report through this online form. Community Standards staff members are also available to advise you on scholastic dishonesty (as well as on other behavioral problems in your classes). They can be reached at 612-624-6073 or at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued commitment to student success.

Sincerely yours,

Rachel T.A. Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

email sent November 8, 2021 to all Twin Cities faculty and all instructors scheduled to teach in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters