TASK FORCE ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
About the Academic Integrity Task Force and its Charge
The shift to online learning during 2020 as a result of the pandemic presented challenges in many ways for the university. With an increasing shift to online classes, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of academic work, with a troubling increase in cases of academic dishonesty.
To address where improvements are needed to maintain and strengthen academic integrity at Georgia State, Provost Wendy Hensel formed the Ad Hoc Task Force on Academic Integrity during the fall semester of 2020.
The Task Force began its work in October 2020 and identified three areas where improvements are needed: student education, faculty education and assessment strategies. Working groups were formed for each area and charged with developing actionable recommendations with potential for high impact.
Preliminary recommendations by area included:
- Student Education: Develop an institutional strategy for early intervention aimed at making students aware of the importance of academic integrity as well as the consequences of violating the academic honesty policy.
- Faculty Education: Develop a training program for faculty on all aspects of the academic honesty policy, including how and when it gets applied, how the reporting and student discipline process works, and the importance of reporting cases of academic dishonesty as they arise.
- Assessment Strategies and Faculty Resources: Expand resources and guidelines for appropriate assessment options for low- and high-stakes testing, and further research testing tools for optimization, usability, cost, etc. Establish a repository of faculty resources aimed at providing everything from standardized syllabi language to video assets to assist faculty in promoting a culture of academic honesty.
Work continues during the spring semester of 2021 to refine and advance high priority recommendations.
This website was established to aid in the execution of these recommendations and provide updates about progress.
Task Force on Academic Integrity Members
Co-Chairs
- Wade Weast, Dean of the College of Arts
- Kim Siegenthaler, Associate Provost for Online Strategies
Members
Deans and various department heads were asked to identify individuals who have the knowledge and skills to find solutions to these issues. The following individuals were named to the Task Force:
- Jill Anderson, Humanities Instruction Librarian, University Library
- Ryan Rowberry, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Law
- Karen Williams-Jones, Assistant Professor of World Languages/Spanish, Perimeter College
- Jan Ivery, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
- Jessie White, Clinical Instructor of Nutrition, Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions
- Stephanie Gutzler, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Ben McGimsey, Senior Lecturer, Physics & Astronomy, College of Arts & Sciences
- Rich Fendler, Clinical Associate Professor of Finance, Robinson College of Business
- Susan Richmond, Associate Professor, Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, College of the Arts
- Kathryn McCarthy, Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology, College of Education & Human Development
- Zac Saylor, Adjunct Lecturer, Institute for Biomedical Sciences
- Matt Hayat, Professor of Biostatistics, School of Public Health
- Lee Webster, Assistant Director of Learning Environments, Innovation & Instructional Technology
- Carol Cohen, Director, University Advisement Center
- Tarrah Mirus, University Registrar
- Michael Sanseviro, Dean of Students and Interim Vice President for Student Engagement & Programs
- Anne Murphy, Professor of Neuroscience and Chair, Senate Student Disciplinary Committee
- Laura Carruth, Associate Professor of Neuroscience & Director, and Julian Allen, Chief Learning Innovations Officer – Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Online Education (CETLOE)