09/02/2024

Connecting Academic Integrity and Leadership Concepts

Written by Candace Thrasher

As the Academic Integrity Manager at Oklahoma State University, I try to find new ways to explain the importance of academic integrity to our students. In the past, I have tried to link our Cowboy Values of honesty, trust, respect, responsibility, fairness, and courage to students’ future career goals and aspirations. For example, when speaking with students enrolled in Engineering degrees, I reference the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics and encourage students to find similarities between that document and our Cowboy Values. I challenge students to consider how unethical actions or behavior in their future careers could impact their professional relationships, advancement opportunities, and reputations. Discussing the importance of moral awareness and ethical leadership, Daft (2023) stated, “little by little, dishonesty can become a way of life and business” (p. 210). I believe that embracing the spirit of academic integrity sets the foundation for students to make ethical decisions, take responsibility for their actions, and demonstrate honesty.

I am currently completing my Doctor of Business Administration degree and recently finished a leadership course. Throughout the course, I found connections between what makes a good leader and the ICAI fundamental values of academic integrity (ICAI, 2021). Daft (2023) argued that a leader’s actions and behavior set the tone for the organization, whether positive or negative. When describing leadership, Daft (2023) repeatedly discussed integrity, honesty, trust, respect, responsibility, fairness, and courage.

A Different Approach to Talking About Academic Integrity
As Oklahoma State University begins a new semester, I have begun to change my approach when talking to students about why academic integrity is important. Sometimes, students I interact with struggle to define academic integrity beyond “not cheating.” However, most students can easily define leadership and the traits and characteristics of a good leader. Utilizing students’ perspectives of leadership helps me make tangible connections to our Cowboy Values and explain academic integrity in a different way.

One of the Cowboy Values that I often find hardest to explain its importance to students is courage. My standard reasoning for the importance of courage is to urge students to take a stand against academic integrity. Daft (2023) discussed why courage is a fundamental characteristic of good leaders. Courage allows leaders to make hard decisions, learn from their mistakes, and not be afraid of failure. Many students who come into my office to discuss an academic integrity violation admit they were afraid of earning a bad grade or felt pressure to succeed, regardless of the consequences.

Oklahoma State University’s Ideal Graduate
In 2021, Oklahoma State University launched its strategic plan, which included the “Ideal Graduate.” The impetus for the Ideal Graduate is a student who exhibits professional preparedness, engaged citizenship, ethical leadership, and personal responsibility beyond earning a degree. This fall, the university officially launched the Ideal Graduate and an online portfolio that allows students to demonstrate how they have met the four identified competencies. The Ideal Graduate emphasizes respect, responsibility, courage, fairness, trust, and honesty as students complete their degrees, are involved in leadership opportunities on campus, and think about their future careers.

Oklahoma State University’s Cowboy Values are not only fundamental to academic integrity but also pave the way for students to act and lead with ethics and integrity. Courage is more than not being afraid. Recognizing their own courage, students may be willing to try new things or not be afraid to seek academic help. Students may also gain the understanding that sometimes they may fail, but accepting responsibility for their actions and learning from their mistakes is an important life lesson. This new perspective on leadership and courage can help me reframe my conversations with students about academic integrity. Leveraging the Ideal Graduate competencies is yet another way for my role to connect our Cowboy Values and leadership concepts with academic integrity.

References:
Daft, R. L. (2023). The leadership experience (8th ed.). Cengage.
International Center for Academic Integrity. (2021). Fundamental values. 3rd edition. https://academicintegrity.org/about/values
National Society of Professional Engineers. (n.d.). Code of ethics. https://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics
Oklahoma State University. (2020, August 20). Academic integrity. https://academicaffairs.okstate.edu/academic-integrity/
Oklahoma State University. (2021, November 4). We are land-grant. https://go.okstate.edu/about-osu/leadership/president/strategic-plan/
Oklahoma State University. (2023, December 8). The ideal graduate. https://go.okstate.edu/student-life/ideal-graduate/

The author’s views are their own.

The author's views are their own.

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