Academic Integrity Week – Defeat the Cheat | Academic Newsletter | Seneca Polytechnic

by Amy Lin, the Teaching & Learning Centre, Kathryn Klages, Seneca Libraries, and Pina Marinelli-Henriques, Office of the Vice-President, Academic

in the December 2019 issue

Academic Integrity Week at Seneca featured events across all four campuses that raised awareness about the dangers and consequences of Contract Cheating – and promoted the many resources and supports available to help students practice integrity.

Academic Integrity Week kicked off on October 16 with Seneca’s participation in the 4th International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating. Over 400 Seneca students joined the worldwide event and 173 of them pledged to #excelwithintegrity and #defeatthecheat. Students engaged in thoughtful conversations with library staff, members of Seneca’s Academic Integrity subcommittee, and representatives from the Seneca Student Federation (SSF). Students shared their frustrations with the threat that Contract Cheating poses to the value of their education. Students spoke passionately about their commitment to produce original work and uphold the values of academic integrity – honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. Participating students were entered into a draw and one winner at each campus received a wireless speaker courtesy of SSF.

Academic Integrity Week wrapped up on October 18 with a Scavenger Hunt and the launch of a Poster / PSA Contest. Over 120 students participated in the Scavenger Hunts across the college. At every campus, students were learning about the resources and services available to support their academic integrity practices through their hunt for materials from The Learning Centre, Counselling & Accessibility, Seneca Libraries, and SSF. Online students participated through a virtual version of the Scavenger Hunt that promoted the same supports available digitally. Upon completion of the hunt, students were entered into a draw and four winners received an SSF backpack and giftcards to the bookstore.

Academic Integrity week concluded with a Seneca Media Unscripted podcast that featured Seneca's Vice-President Academic Laurel Schollen and SSF President Charanpreet Deu answering the question “What is Academic Integrity?” The episode dove into the meaning and importance of Academic Integrity and a discussion of the resources available to support students, scholars, and creators at Seneca.

Stay tuned for details about the next Academic Integrity week in Winter 2020 (March 23 to 27). You can contact the Academic Integrity subcommittee (academicintegritysubcommittee@senecacollege.ca) for more information.

View the December 2019 issue of the Academic Newsletter.