Laurier launches Academic Integrity Institutional Self-Study

Nov. 22, 2022

Beginning this term, Psychology Professors Judy Eaton and Eileen Wood will be leading an academic integrity institutional self-study project to examine policies, practices and processes at Laurier, with support from Teaching and Learning and the Office of the Associate Vice-President: Academic.  

Eaton and Wood are experts on academic integrity in the Canadian postsecondary landscape and active members of provincial, national and international academic integrity organizations. They have conducted research on trends and interventions related to academic misconduct. Most recently, they studied the effectiveness of a tool developed at the Toronto Metropolitan University to guide student thinking around the morality of academic misconduct.  

For the Academic Integrity Institutional Self-Study, Wood and Eaton will review Laurier’s current and historical practices and policies around academic integrity, including educational initiatives, services in support of students and faculty, the role of offices and leaders across the university, and research and reporting on advances and trends in academic integrity.  

As part of the study, Laurier will complete the International Center for Academic Integrity’s Academic Integrity Rating System, which provides postsecondary institutions with a way to assess the degree to which academic integrity is embedded into systems, structures, processes and culture and compare their progress to other institutions. The rating system considers administrative leadership and support; faculty, staff and student engagement and support; education and communication; policies and procedures; and research and evaluation. 

Eaton and Wood will also consult with students, faculty, administrators and key staff members through surveys and small discussion groups. Survey data from both students and faculty will assess the culture of integrity at Laurier, determine rates of misconduct and better understand faculty and student perspectives.  

The survey for faculty and teaching staff, administered through Institutional Research, is now open to full- and part-time faculty members, as well as staff and students in teaching roles. The survey will close Jan. 20. 

With support from two research assistants, Wood and Eaton will also facilitate small group discussions with faculty members about needs, hopes and challenges regarding the broad constructs of academic integrity and academic misconduct. 

Academic integrity is central to Laurier’s culture and teaching, learning and research missions and requires a collective and sustained commitment from faculty members, students and staff. The university community is encouraged to share their experiences and thoughts about academic misconduct at Laurier.