The University has just launched a new Academic Integrity Policy. This replaces the Academic Honesty Policy, which has been in force since 2012.

The first step towards the new policy was in May 2017, when Academic Senate approved an Academic Integrity Values Statement developed by a student-led working party. The statement frames academic integrity at Macquarie in terms of active engagement with five interconnected values:

• honesty
• respect
• trust
• responsibility
• support

Following this, Academic Senate established a Working Group to embed these values into a new policy. Wide consultation included faculty workshops and the establishment of a Student Advisory Group including undergraduates, postgraduates, international students, student mentors, and MUIC representatives.

Chair of the Working Group, Dr Mitch Parsell, says that the development of the policy had been a collaborative effort. “There has been a great deal of involvement from across the entire University in the framing of this new policy. It has been particularly terrific to see so many students engaged with this fundamentally important issue,” he says.

The new policy reflects the sector’s contemporary understanding of academic integrity and makes reference to technological developments and emerging trends. It is designed to underpin and safeguard academic integrity by articulating a set of shared values and principles, and by providing students and staff with information regarding the application of those values and principles.

Professor Mariella Herberstein, Chair of Academic Senate, and Professor Sherman Young, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching, are champions of the new policy.

“Academic integrity is a core value of our University, and cornerstone of our intellectual community. So it is important that staff understand the intent of the new policy and how it can be applied,” says Mariella. “To this end, we will be holding Faculty workshops during the first week of May. It is vitally important that all staff understand their responsibilities.”

How can staff promote a culture of academic integrity?

Academic and professional staff can join the faculty workshops which will be held during the first week of May. Find out more and register here.

Academic staff should also encourage their students to complete the Academic Integrity Module in iLearn – this will help them learn about:

• what ‘academic integrity’ is and why it’s important
• acceptable and unacceptable academic behaviours at university
• what plagiarism is and key strategies to avoid it
• their responsibilities in relation to academic integrity and their rights under the Macquarie University Academic Integrity Policy.

Because academic integrity is everybody’s business!