Faculty Support Available for Promoting Academic Integrity in Online Classes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With the University of Arkansas continuing remote teaching and learning for the remainder of the current semester in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Office of Academic Initiatives and Integrity is supporting faculty in their efforts to promote academic integrity in their online classrooms, including a live webcast discussion to be held March 31.

"The transition to remote teaching and learning presents unique challenges, but our office is here to support faculty through this change," said Chris Bryson, executive director of academic initiatives and integrity. "It will take the combined effort of faculty, students and staff to maintain a culture that values academic integrity, and we want to provide faculty with ideas and support to lead this charge."

Resources provided by the office include:

• A live webcast discussion on emerging trends in the transition to remote teaching will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 31. Bryson will speak along with Kathryn Zawisza, director of academic technology and innovation for IT Services, and Shelly Walters, associate director of instructional design and support services for Global Campus. The discussion will take place via livestream on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra. Faculty members are encouraged to bring any questions they have for their classes.
• The Teaching Innovation and Pedagogical Support (TIPS) Center can assist in developing learning assessments that deter opportunities for academic dishonesty. Many issues that persist in the online environment can be combated through the use of Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor or a variety of other options through Blackboard.
• The office has partnered with TIPS to provide faculty with an Academic Integrity and Remote Teaching webpage to assist instructors in maintaining a culture that values academic integrity. These ideas have been synthesized from guidance within the field and advice from faculty within our own community that serve as Academic Integrity Monitors or All University Academic Integrity Board members.

Additionally, the office is open remotely from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at honesty@uark.edu or 479-575-5229 for consultation or case updates at any time. Faculty can access incident report forms, a common violations chart and additional resources through the Office of Academic Initiatives and Integrity website.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.