Imperative Issues and Elusive Solutions in Academic Integrity: A Case Study

Abstract

This research investigates the issue of academic integrity, specifically plagiarism, as it relates to and affects graduate engineering students. The scope of this project included a comprehensive review of relevant literature and case study analysis in a large enrollment, multi-instructor, 1-credit course entitled Career Management for Engineers. This is a required course for graduate engineering students who desire to participate in a cooperative educational (co-op) work experience as part of their studies.The author analyzed 83 cases of plagiarism from four different instructors, over a two-semester period during Academic year 2014-2015 and compared the findings from the literature review. In addition, two survey instruments were developed and administered to faculty and students during the winter of 2016. The survey was designed to ascertain attitudes, experience with, and perceptions of plagiarism as an issue in graduate school. Conclusions derived from the findings pose questions to the larger graduate engineering community and the authors suggest recommendations and solutions with the belief that other universities may benefit from a greater understanding of the complexity of the issue.