UWF to Host Academic Integrity Week Sept. 9 – 13, 2013

“As Argonauts, we act with integrity.  We do not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.”

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Aug. 30, 2013 – The University of West Florida (UWF) Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, along with the UWF Student Government Association, UWF Office of the Provost and the UWF College of Business will host the 2^nd annual Academic Integrity Week at UWF from Sept. 9 – 13. The purpose of Academic Integrity Week is to raise awareness of the UWF Honor Code, promote academic and personal integrity, and educate students regarding the UWF academic misconduct policies.

One of the highlights of Academic Integrity Week is a screening of the film, “The Words”, co-sponsored by SGA and Campus Activities Board.  The film portrays a fictional story in which an aspiring writer discovers an unpublished manuscript in an old satchel and publishes the story as his own. The film will air in the Univeristy Commons Auditorium on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m.  Following the showing of the film, there will be a brief program in which a UWF student will discuss his own experience of being found responsible for cheating and the fallout that resulted.

“Academic integrity is an issue that every college campus is occasionally forced to deal with,” said Dr. Gentry McCreary, associate dean of students.  “Academic Integrity Week is a way to help raise awareness of our Honor Code and educate students about the academic misconduct policies.  We hope that the week will help students buy in to the notion that integrity is important, and that cheating has no place at the University of West Florida.”

In addition to the film screening, UWF SGA will promote the UWF Honor Code by distributing magnets and buttons, featuring the Honor Code, and allowing students to sign a copy of the Honor Code that will be displayed in the University Commons for the remainder of the year.

“Academic integrity is an issue about which the SGA cares very deeply,” said Chris Hill, SGA president.  “We want students to not only learn what the Honor Code says, but to think about what it means to them as members of the UWF community.”

Each of the AFS (Academic Foundations Seminar) courses will cover an academic integrity module during the week while the students in these courses will have the opportunity to discuss the Honor Code and its relevance to the university.  All faculty members have been encouraged to incorporate conversations and materials regarding personal and academic integrity into their courses that week.

“Integrity is an issue that extends far beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Martha Saunders, UWF Provost.  “By promoting academic and personal integrity in the classroom, our faculty are helping students develop the integrity that will allow them to be the type of ethical leaders that our society expects and demands.”