#ExcelWithIntegrity and Stand Against Contract Cheating Day October 17
Our professors talk about plagiarism every semester, in every course, urging us to be “academically honest.” But a form of academic dishonesty that might not be discussed as often is contract cheating, and according to a recent press release, the International Center for Academic Integrity is hosting its third annual “Stand Against Contract Cheating” day on October 17, 2018, in partnership with Turnitin.
The goal of this day is for educational institutions around the world to work against the industry of contract cheating. But what is contract cheating? It’s when students pay someone else to complete their academic work, and then turn it in as their own, receiving credit for it. You might not think this happens very often, but in reality, 16 million people could be receiving certifications every year that are actually fraudulent because of contract cheating.
“Contract Cheating is a growing threat to the quality and integrity of education at higher education institutions around the world,” said Tricia Bertram Gallant, ICAI board member. “Educational institutions, students, citizens, and governments must take a stand against the contract cheating industry, and as educators, we must work diligently to ensure that we are facilitating and assessing learning rather than cheating.”
There are different ways you can show your support and stand with the International Center for Academic Integrity:
- Sign the Pledge: ICAI and Turnitin will be launching a pledge sometime this month to raise awareness about contract cheating. Do your part. Sign the pledge. Pledge to stand against contract cheating and academic dishonesty.
- Declare Opposition on Social Media: Use #DefeatTheCheat on social media and have your organizations use whiteboards to write their own message about contract cheating.
- Advance the cause: host your own events on campus to spread the word to faculty, staff, and students about the threat of contract cheating. Use social media and the hashtags: #DefeatTheCheat and #ExcelWithIntegrity to showcase your efforts!
You can find information on the day of action activities at: https://academicintegrity.org/day-against-contract-cheating/
You can also join the Facebook event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/444746409270470/