ACADEMIC HONESTY

Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3021915/11-Atlanta-educators-convicted-test-cheating-scandal.html

http://repository.jmls.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1568&context=lawreview

To Alumni Across the Nations,

The concept of academic honesty and integrity, which has been a part of the high educational institutions' credo for centuries, should be a platform that all graduates use as a standard in the general and global workforce. In light of the outcome of the Atlanta Public School (APS) System's cheating scandal, which most likely will hold precedence in the State of Georgia and persuasive in all other states, all Master's and Doctoral-level Educational Programs should include an Ethics course, which provides expectations for academic quality and integrity reflective of the education institutional sectors [public, private, charter].

The standards and expectations defined in the Ethics courses should be applicable to students, faculty, administrators, and parents and to any and all stakeholders in education processes. Stakeholders include and are not limited to private investors, consultants, contractors, recruiters, curriculum writers, accreditors, and the community. The way in which educational stakeholders govern themselves should reflect accepted practices and principles, derived from analyses of outcomes of legal precedents with ethical implications. Intent to commit fraud or deception can be establish when Educators knowingly alter policies (e.g., Handbooks, Grading Rubrics, Criteria for Admissions, Selection Processes for Scholarships, Recording and Release of Official Transcripts) in a manner not authorized by policies, regulations, and/or federal, state, and local laws.

A recommendation for all current Ethics courses to be reviewed for appropriateness and applicability is called for. The review may result in necessary revisions to the course design if the curriculum is determined to not be robust for teaching learners the impact of consequences with not adhering to ethical standards. The review can be completed by elected committee members depending on institutional hierarchy. Another option is a committee appointed by the state and or federal government, or can be created locally, nationally, and or globally created with representation of credible academic leaders and educational consultants from various industries and academic institutions.

We should further consider if graduates who successfully completed an Ethics course and are convicted of academic-related criminal acts should be stripped of their Degree credentials.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Brenda Nelson-Porter, NDc, CEO and Founder
Alumni Association Network