Faculty Resources - International Students and Academic Integrity

Some interesting issues are raised when one examines international students and their understanding of academic integrity. Many of our international students come from cultures that accept and sometimes encourage acts that Americans may define as academic misconduct. In cultures where the community is valued above the individual, students study and write papers in groups. In this type of culture, students will frequently turn in papers with similar phrasing or duplicate paragraphs. Many cultures allow their students to use the words or ideas of another without any citation. This action may even be viewed as a compliment to the original writer, even if they are not acknowledged.

Students who are not native English speakers struggle at times with phrasing their thoughts in papers. These students may be tempted to plagiarize passages that reflect what the student would have written if they possessed the proficiency to express themselves as easily in English.

Although it is important to be sensitive to our international students’ perspectives, it is essential that your students understand the academic conventions in your classroom. International students may need to have a more thorough definition of cheating, collaboration, plagiarism, proper citations, and group work. Let your international students feel welcome to seek clarification throughout the semester. Encourage your students for whom English is a second language to use University resources, such as the Writing Center (MC 303, x4484) or the tutoring services offered through the International Students Office (Kirk 133, x4215). 

Adapted from Academic Integrity Newsletter July/August 2001, conduct.truman.edu