2 Academic Integrity Values: Honesty and Trust
Honesty: honest students respect college policies, follow the instructions of their professors and do their work on their own, without any unauthorized help. Dishonest behavior, such as lying, cheating, fraud, theft, impersonating another person, falsification of data and the like, are morally and ethically not acceptable to a person of integrity.
Scenario: Honesty
Your friend asks you if you want to meet up and do an online quiz together. Somehow you feel uneasy about this. What should you do?
Click on the responses to see the answers to each.
Scenario: AI and Honesty
Your instructor has assigned a research paper and specified that AI tools maybe used for brainstorming and initial research, but the final writing must be your own. You use ChatGPT to help generate topic ideas and find initial sources, then write the paper yourself. However, when reviewing your draft, you realize one paragraph sounds much better when you asked the AI to “improve the flow.”
What should you do?
Correct Response: Remove the AI-improved paragraph and rewrite it in your own words, OR keep it but clearly note in your paper that AI was used to improve that specific section, following your instructor’s guidelines for AI disclosure
Why: Honesty requires transparent acknowledgment of all AI assistance, even if it seems minor
Trust: if you are always honest, you will be able to build a relationship of trust both with your peers and with your instructors. Trust is established over time and is based mostly on your actions.
Trust in the age of AI means being reliable in your disclosure of AI use, consistent in following your instructors’ AI policies, and dependable in representing your own learning and understanding accurately, even when AI tools are available to assist you.
Scenario: Trust
Charlotte has a difficult time writing her essay. She asks you if she can just have a quick look at yours to see how you went about it. As she is your friend, you want to be helpful, and give it to her before you leave for your job. Charlotte is tired and thinks to herself: “I just want to be done with this. I’m going to change a few things. That should be enough to submit it.” Why do you think Charlotte made this choice?
Click on the responses to see the answers to each.
Scenario: Trust and AI Use
Your math instructor allows AI tools for checking calculations but prohibits using AI to solve problems step-by-step. You’ve been following this policy carefully all semester. On your final exam, you notice another student using what appears to be an AI tool inappropriately.
How does this relate to trust?
- Your consistent ethical behavior throughout the semester has built trust with your instructor
- Speaking with your instructor about policy violations (when appropriate) demonstrates your commitment to maintaining community standards
- Your reliable adherence to AI policies shows you can be trusted with these powerful tools
