Toward Enhancing a Culture of Academic Integrity

Abstract

This article reports on a study of the academic integrity culture of a mid-sized comprehensive private university. The most valuable outcome of the study is an awareness of the need to address campus culture issues before attempting to create a student honor code. The need to involve every layer of an institution, including students, faculty, administrators, and governing boards is key to the creation of a culture that will support and sustain a climate of academic integrity. Incremental steps to begin to move the university to higher stages of academic integrity are suggested, as are data that identify specific areas of the university that may need attention.