Faculty Resources
Promoting Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity is a foundational principle of our university. At USC, we are all committed to creating a culture of ethical decision-making, respect, honesty, and responsibility, and fostering and supporting these behaviors in our students. As faculty members, you play a vital role in developing a shared understanding of the principles of academic integrity in the university community and best practices to avoid misconduct in your field.
As the Office of Academic Integrity, our goal is to work in partnership with you to uphold academic integrity through education, accountability, and proper reporting. We’ve compiled a select list of tips and resources to help guide classroom conversations, curriculum development, and answer any questions you may have about promoting a culture of academic integrity and honesty in your classroom.
You can also reach out to us directly at academicintegrity@usc.edu for consultations.
How can faculty promote a climate of academic integrity in the classroom?
- Faculty should model integrity, create an environment that fosters respectful dialogue while encouraging and inspiring learning.
- The inclusion of professional and ethical standards should be at the center of the educational curriculum.
- When difficult issues arise in the academic or professional field of study, concerns should be addressed in a timely and respectful manner. These conversations should not be avoided or ignored.
- Faculty should address campus standards regarding academic integrity as well as their own expectations for ethical behavior in the course syllabus and during class discussions.
- Clear expectations must be established for assignments, tests, and grading, along with clearly defined rules for collaboration and citing sources.
- Academic integrity is an essential topic of conversation and should reinforce how honest work builds skills, knowledge, and self-esteem, while cheating and plagiarism do not.
Resources
Center for Excellence in Teaching: CET is here to support your teaching practice by helping you design meaningful experiences that promote transparency and academic integrity. Whether you are exploring how to integrate AI tools into your assignments, establishing clear grading policies, or creating grading criteria we are here to help. Our team can also guide you in creating open dialogue with students, fostering understanding around academic integrity and course expectations. From thoughtful assignment design to engaging student discussions, CET is committed to partnering with you every step of the way.