ENSURING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS OUTREACH

Abstract

According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, “Most college presidents (55%) say that plagiarism in students’ papers has increased over the past 10 years.†Academic librarians at Magale Library of Centenary College are addressing Pew’s documented increase in plagiarism by engaging local high schools, campus faculty and other local librarians. Magale Library recently organized collaborative efforts with other area academic and public librarians to allow for the collective sharing of ideas and to create a forum for discussion regarding how to improve information literacy on our campuses, further engage faculty and offer suggestions for classroom interventions that will increase student skills and success. Magale also initiated dialogue with Caddo Parish School Librarians by offering to provide supplemental instruction to college-bound high school students on academic expectations, specifically the issues of original writing and avoiding plagiarism. In addition, the librarians at Magale are currently developing seminars for campus faculty and local high school librarians and instructors which will cover ways to identify plagiarism, how to develop plagiarism-proof assignments and how to address instances of academic dishonesty.