U of A Faculty and Staff Contribute to the International Center for Academic Integrity

Chieko Hara

Several U of A faculty and staff have recently been recognized for their involvement with the International Center for Academic Integrity. Since its inception, U of A faculty and staff have contributed to the center in a variety of ways.

The International Center for Academic Integrity was founded in 1992 by Don McCabe, a professor at Rutgers University. Over the past three decades, the center has helped universities throughout the world address cheating, plagiarism and academic dishonesty in higher education. Each year, the center hosts a conference to bring together individuals committed to academic integrity in education and to share new research and best practices.

In the spring, the center named Chris Bryson, the U of A's executive director of academic initiatives and integrity, its 2024 conference chair.  The ICAI 2024 Annual Conference will be held March 7-10, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Bryson first became a member of ICAI in 2018, and he started serving on the conference committee in 2021. Earlier this year, he was asked by longstanding members of that committee if he would serve as the chair for the 2024 conference.

"I was truly honored that ICAI asked me to serve as the 2024 conference chair," Bryson said. "The conference is a wonderful opportunity to network and learn from others in similar roles at universities across the U.S. and the world. I'm excited for this year's conference, which will cover a range of increasingly relevant topics that are top of mind for many who work in higher education."

The conference will include about 40 concurrent sessions, allowing participants to attend sessions most relevant to them and their universities. Session topics include artificial intelligence and writing, campuswide micro-credential programs on academic integrity, and guidance on establishing academic integrity policies. The keynote speaker is Martine Peters, a renowned scholar on issues related to academic integrity, plagiarism and pedagogy. The conference will also include a livestreamed panel event hosted by Tricia Bertram-Galant titled, "Academic Integrity in the Era of Generative Artificial Intelligence." For more information on the conference, visit the ICAI website.

In addition to Bryson's service as conference chair, other U of A faculty and staff members have been actively involved in ICAI over the years. Paul Cronan, professor in the Information Systems Department, was the 2022 recipient of the ICAI Lifetime Achievement Award.  Cronan has been instrumental in developing U of A's academic integrity policies and has provided information to help other schools implement similar policies. 

Shanda Hood, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, is also an active member of ICAI and served on its Membership Committee from May 2021 to August 2023 and currently serves on the Content and Communications Committee, an appointment which began in May 2021. During her time serving on these committees, Hood contributed as one of ICAI's blog editors and authors. Hood also invited several other U of A faculty members to write blogs for ICAI including Carole Shook, Celia Del Barco, Charini Urteaga, Josh Girshner, Brian Rickard, Gretchen Scroggin and Shane Barker.

"I commend all our faculty and staff who are actively involved in ICAI," said Jim Gigantino, U of A vice provost for academic affairs. "This organization provides us with the opportunity to engage with faculty and staff from other institutions and allows us to continually grow and improve our own academic integrity initiatives."

The U of A is an institutional member of ICAI, and this membership provides faculty and staff with access to ICAI's many resources and events. For more information on ICAI, the 2024 conference or how to become more involved, visit academicintegrity.org.

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