By Donald Osmond
Editor?s note: Paul''s last name has been omitted to maintain confidentiality.
During the week, classes start for BYU student Paul at 9 a.m. and he stays on campus until late.
Paul rarely has time to relax on the weekend with his church calling
With graduation near, Paul said he intends to get a master?s degree from a specialized school. But, he has a secret.
?I?ve cheated on quizzes before,? Paul said. ?It was so easy ?cause it was online.
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Although honor codes at colleges and universities across the nation help to maintain academic integrity of students, some professors have expressed a growing concern about student ethics in regards to cheating and honesty in both school, and later, in work.
According to the Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University, more than 75 percent of students admit to some cheating.
At BYU, faculty and staff use the Honor Code to raise the level of academic integrity.
However, BYU professors said cheating is too easy for students on Blackboard and take-home assignments.
?It is a growing problem on our campus,? said Brian Birch, assistant director for the Center for the Study of Ethics at UVSC. ?But, we are trying to find ways to address it with regards to student policy and procedure.?
Birch said he thinks the problem is no different than it has been in the past; students are just finding new ways to cheat because of technology.
Even though cheating is a growing concern for professors, students seem apathetic to the issue.
?Other people?s academic integrity does not affect me,? said Sara Thomas, a junior studying political science. ?I just do the best I can.?
However, Thomas said there are times when she has used a book for an online quiz. But, later she said she felt bad, and has not done it since.
Steven Baker, director of the Honor Code Office, said some students are unaware they are cheating, while others admit to being rushed and not having time to do the assignment.
For those students who are unsure what academic integrity is, the best thing they can do is ask, he said.
?Experience is a great teacher,? Baker said. ?We will learn as we go along in life what is appropriate and what is not.?
And the college experience is one training ground for individuals to prepare for their future careers.
'My understanding is that companies ? tend to look towards BYU,? Baker said. ?Because they feel that they are going to get a potential employee who has a clear, good sense of ethics and integrity.'
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Despite daunting statistics of cheating and lack of academic integrity, Holly Hassel, assistant professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County, said not all students are lagging in their academic responsibility. Many of them are working to pay for their college experience.
More students are working rather than applying for scholarships to pay for their education, Hassel said.
?School is becoming a secondary responsibility,? she said.
Education is becoming more like a consumer industry rather than a task requiring time and effort. Students feel they deserve a respectable grade just because they are busy, Hassel said.
Even though many students said they want to make a difference with their academic integrity, cheating is nearly effortless.
?It is so easy to cheat,? said Nichole Anderson, a BYU sophomore from Clinton.
The only reason Anderson said she would not cheat is because cheating would hamper her from remembering the concepts she studies.
Donald L. McCabe, founder of the Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University, said students observe a world of cheaters: businesses lie about their income statements and people cheat on their taxes. McCabe alluded to the fact that students are merely reciprocating the values being exemplified by others.
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In order for colleges and universities to combat the lack of academic integrity, McCabe said faculty and staff of the universities need to take the issue head on and not worry about bad publicity they might receive, which could lower the college?s ranking.
He said until students do something to increase academic integrity, problems will still continue.
?I am hopeful,? McCabe said. ?But I am not going to bet my life.?
?I think Americans have divorced themselves from responsibility,? said Ron Bohannon, who teaches ethics and values at Utah Valley State College. ?They want rights not responsibilities.?
Bohannon explained how people should think more about the choices they make.
?The idea behind teaching ethics is to help people think twice before making the decision,? Bohannon said.
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?It wasn?t worth it!? Paul said, continuing to discuss with remorse his cheating experience. ?I wish I thought about what I was doing before I did it.?
After all this, Paul explained he rectified his violation of the Honor Code.
?I have made a conscience decision to never cheat again,? he said. ?A couple of quiz points is not worth it.?