Cheater's Never Win-USC Academic Integrity

In my interview with Kelly Eifert of Academic Integrity, I faced the grim reality that cheating still very much exist at this level of higher academia. The pressure to be the best, brightest and smartest drives students to unbelievable levels to win "by any means necessary."

The Office of Academic Integrity is a considerably young office. Ironically, "cheating" has been around for a long time. However the university only centralized how it handles acts of academic dishonesty recently. Before the office if a student cheated it was up to the professor to lay down the law, sometimes the college would reprimand the student and that college administrator would essentially serve as the judge, jury and final say so on a student's academic discretion.

When a student is admitted to the University they sign the Carolinan Creed and the Carolina Honor Code, both of which clearly states the prohibition of cheating, plagiarizing, and all other forms of academic dishonesty.

The Office of Academic Interity's statement on academic interity states, academic ethical behavior is essential for an institution dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and learning. The University of South Carolina is committed to fostering a university environment which exemplifies the values embodied in the Carolinian Creed. All members of the University Community have a responsibility to uphold and maintain the highest standards of integrity in study, research, instruction, and evaluation; as well as adhering to the Honor Code.

The Honor Code states, tt is the responsibility of every student at the University of South Carolina Columbia to adhere steadfastly to truthfulness and to avoid dishonesty, fraud, or deceit of any type in connection with any academic program. Any student who violates this Honor Code or who knowingly assists another to violate this Honor Code shall be subject to discipline.

With the above being mentioned I am happy to say that the University is taking progressive steps to ensuring the quality of its degrees awarded are more than a fancy sheet of paper but when taken and compared to other worthy institutions an alum with be comforted in knowing hey earned their degree and the academic system hadn't been watered down with those to lazy to DO THEIR OWN WORK.