Senior Sequence

Academic Integrity & Freedom

Ethics and the Integrity of Scholarship

The UCSD Human Research Protections Program (HRPP)

In accordance with federal policy on the Protection of Human Subjects (DHHS Policy 45 CFR Part 46, FDA Policy 21 CFR Parts 50 and 56), the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is responsible for the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects in research conducted by, or under the supervision of, UCSD faculty, staff or students.

HRPP at UCSD exists to promote high quality, ethical research. HRPP does this by serving as the advocate for the rights and welfare of persons who participate in research programs conducted by UCSD faculty, staff, students, and researchers affiliated with the Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). Though located within the School of Medicine, the Human Research Protections program has responsibility for review of research involving human subjects conducted by all Schools, Centers, and Programs of UCSD. The Human Research Protections Program office assists researchers in complying with federal, state and University policies regarding experimentation involving human subjects, and oversees the review and conduct of research conducted by federally registered Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). Source: http://irb.ucsd.edu/about.shtml

Students conducting research in the USP Senior Sequence are expected to follow HRPP standard operating ploicies and procedures. The HRPP guide is on-line: (click here to access pdf).

The instructor of the Senior Sequence files a group research protocol for all students in the Senior Sequence to assure HRPP that all student investigators get proper instruction regarding human research protections (e.g., re getting informed consent from prospective study participants).  This approval for the entire class covers everyone—UNLESS you intend to do research with vulnerable populations (including people with cognitive disabilities, children and prisoners). If you plan to do research with vulnerable populations you need to file a separate protocol with HRPP. The form (tailored for research in the Social Sciences), is on-line at: http://irb.ucsd.edu/SBSApplication.pdf

UCSD Policy on Academic Freedom
http://www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-010.pdf

UCSD POLICY ON INTEGRITY IN RESEARCH

The University of California’s “Policy on Integrity in Research” aims to encourage and maintain the highest ethical standards in research. The policy reaffirms the University’s commitment to integrity in research: “Integrity in research includes not just the avoidance of wrongdoing, but also the rigor, carefulness, and accountability that are hallmarks of good scholarship. All persons engaged in research at the University are responsible for adhering to the highest standards of intellectual honesty and integrity in research.” Please uphold these standards. Be especially careful not to plagiarize. Plagiarism is defined in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as follows: “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own : use (another’s production) without crediting the source; intransitive senses : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.”

UCSD Employs “The Web” to detect plagiarism and protect integrity of academic work (learn more).

One Web site is called Turnitin. In addition to helping faculty nail students who cheat, Turnitin has some useful tips (designed to help students get clear about and avoid plagiarism):

Turnitin Research Resources (description on the Web)
“At Turnitin, we believe the best means for preventing plagiarism is preemptive education. Research Resources is designed to help educators and students develop a better sense of what plagiarism means in the information age, and to teach the planning, organizational, and citation skills essential for producing quality writing and research.”

For students, the Turnitin Research Resources site offers:

• Plagiarism defined, in easy-to-understand terms

• Tips on how to avoid both Internet-based and conventional plagiarism

• Guidelines for proper citation, and links to help with specific citation styles
• Suggestions for developing good research and writing skills
• Answers to frequently asked questions, including explanations for often misunderstood concepts like fair use, public domain, and copyright laws
• Definitions for important research-related terms

http://www.turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html

UCSD Student Conduct Regulations (learn more)

How Not to Plagiarize
More sites that discuss the wrong doing of plagiarism and tells you how to avoid it.
The first link includes guidelines on how to appropriately cite sources in your report.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sources/about/what.html
http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/plagiarism.shtml

For a useful little book (less than $8.00) check out Rowman & Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources <http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com>. It offers a brief and accessible guide to avoiding plagiarism, including tips on the proper use of sources.

UCSD POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

UCSD         ACADEMIC SENATE: SAN DIEGO DIVISION
The         UCSD Policy on Academic Integrity states the general rules for student         integrity. It establishes the standards that apply to academic course         work for both undergraduate and graduate students. The policy is based         on the fundamental tenet that the principle of honesty must be upheld         if the integrity of scholarship is to be maintained by an academic community.        The policy can be accessed electronically at:
http://www-senate.ucsd.edu/manual/Appendices/app2.htm.

Below is an excerpt from UCSD’s policy (re: student and instructor responsibility):

Integrity of scholarship is essential for an academic community. The University expects that both faculty and students will honor this principle and in so doing protect the validity of University intellectual work. For students, this means that all academic work will be done by the individual to whom it is assigned, without unauthorized aid of any kind. Instructors, for their part, will exercise care in planning and supervising academic work, so that honest effort will be upheld.

The following policies apply to academic coursework for both undergraduate and graduate students. A separate policy exists governing integrity of research. Medical students are governed by policies specified in the Handbook for School of Medicine Advisors and Students, as formulated by the School of Medicine Committee on Educational Policy.

Instructors’ Responsibility

At the beginning of the term the instructor shall state in writing (e.g., in the syllabus, information sheets, or website) what graded assignments and exams will be required of students. If there are any course-specific rules required by the instructor for maintaining academic integrity, the instructor shall also inform students in writing what kinds of aid and collaboration, if any, are permitted on graded assignments and exams. The UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship states the general rules for student integrity.

Students’ Responsibility

* Students are expected to complete the course in compliance with the instructor’s standards. No student shall engage in any activity that involves attempting to receive a grade by means other than honest effort; for example: No student shall knowingly procure, provide, or accept any unauthorized material that contains questions or answers to any examination or assignment to be given at a subsequent time.
* No student shall complete, in part or in total, any examination or assignment for another person.
* No student shall knowingly allow any examination or assignment to be completed, in part or in total, for himself or herself by another person.
* No student shall plagiarize or copy the work of another person and submit it as his or her own work.
* No student shall employ aids excluded by the instructor in undertaking course work or in completing any exam or assignment.
* No student shall alter graded class assignments or examinations and then resubmit them for regrading.
* No student shall submit substantially the same material in more than one course without prior authorization.  -end excerpt-

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“The UCSD Principles of Community.”
Copied from http://www-senate.ucsd.edu/manual/Appendices/app2.htm

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UCSD strives to maintain a climate of fairness, cooperation, and professionalism. These principles of community are vital to the success of the university and the well being of its constituents. UCSD faculty, staff, and students are expected to practice these basic principles as individuals and in groups.

• We value each member of the UCSD community for his or her individual and unique talents, and applaud all efforts to enhance the quality of campus life. We recognize that each individual’s effort is vital to achieving the goals of the university.

• We affirm each individual’s right to dignity and strive to maintain a climate of justice marked by mutual respect for each other.

• We value the cultural diversity of UCSD because it enriches our lives and the university. We celebrate this diversity and support respect for all cultures, by both individuals and the university as a whole.

• We are a university that adapts responsibly to cultural differences among the faculty, staff, students, and community.

• We acknowledge that our society carries historical and divisive biases based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs. Therefore, we seek to foster understanding and tolerance among individuals and groups, and we promote awareness through education and constructive strategies for resolving conflict.

• We reject acts of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs, and we will confront and appropriately respond to such acts.

• We affirm the right to freedom of expression at UCSD. We promote open expression of our individuality and our diversity within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity, confidentiality and respect.

• We are committed to the highest standards of civility and decency toward all. We are committed to promoting and supporting a community where all people can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of abusive or demeaning treatment.

• We are committed to the enforcement of policies that promote the fulfillment of these principles.(1)

We represent diverse races, creeds, cultures, and social affiliations coming together for the good of the university and those communities we serve. By working together as members of the UCSD community, we can enhance the excellence of our institution.

(1) These policies include but are not limited to: Academic Personnel M015-The University of California Policy on Faculty Conduct and the Administration of Discipline, The University of California Personnel Policies for Staff Members and UCSD Implementing Procedures, Appendix II - Personnel Policies for Senior Managers, The University of California, San Diego Student Conduct Code, UCSD House Officer Policy and Procedure Document, Applicable University Collective Bargaining Agreements. For further information or inquiries, contact the Director, Office of Academic Affirmative Action, the Director of Human Resources for Equal Opportunity/Staff Affirmative Action, and/or the Director, Student Affirmative Action and Human Relations Programs. http://www.ucsd.edu/principles/

Other resources concerning ethics in planning and research

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Ethics http://www.planning.org/ethics/index.htm

Ethical Principles in Planning. This statement is a guide to ethical conduct for all who participate in the process of planning as advisors, advocates, and decision makers. http://www.planning.org/ethics/ethics.html

AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
http://www.planning.org/ethics/conduct.html