New York Institute of Technology hosts presentation on developing a comprehensive strategy to promote academic integrity

80% of the students have cheated during the course of their education

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 14, 2008 -- The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) today hosted a presentation by Mr. Joseph M. Ford, Vice President for Student Affairs at New York Institute of Technology IN Abu Dhabi, that examined the pressing issue of academic integrity; its causes; its threats to educational enterprise; and how to combat its apparent rise through strategy.

With the title "Developing a Comprehensive Strategy to Promote Academic Integrity using the Five Fundamental Values: Honesty, Trust, Respect, Fairness and Responsibility", the presentation offered a thorough analysis of the current situation, followed by the offering of a framework containing intervention strategies to address the concerns created.

Recent research suggests that most college students cheat on tests and engage in other forms of academic dishonesty at alarming numbers.  McCabe (1990, 1992 and 1995) reported that 80% of undergraduate students engaged in one or more incidents of cheating. Butterfield, McCabe and Trevino (2006) reported that 56% of graduate business school students and 47% of non-business graduate students admitted to cheating at least once during their academic program.

After discussing the issues facing academic institutions, and their reputations, across the world, Mr. Ford provided a new working definition of academic integrity as presented by The Center for Academic Integrity using the five fundamental values, and concluded with expanding upon the work of Kibler (1993) in offering a framework with intervention strategies to address this concern.

The presentation drew heavily on Mr. Ford's vast intellectual knowledge, acquired through more than 25 years of experience in academic and student affairs administration, across some of the most reputable academic institutions in the United States.

Mr. Ford's extensive experience allowed him to draw on real and timely examples to bring the topic to life. His policies and leadership have played a vital role in establishing the highest levels of integrity in the institutions in which he has served. Recognition of his achievements include a Juris Doctor degree from Ohio Northern University and a Bachelor of Science "with honors" in Political Science from Radford University where he was a Danforth Scholar nominee. In 2006 he was the recipient of the prestigious national Champion of Integrity Award presented by The Center for Academic Integrity.

Attendees were able to benefit from the first-hand experience of Mr. Ford, as well as putting to him questions pertinent to their own concerns over the issues of academic integrity.

"Dealing with the issue of academic dishonesty is very complex and some suggest that colleges and universities do not care and turn their back on the problem, but we do care as academic dishonesty undermines the core mission of our university." Said Ford

The presentation ran from 2:00pm until 3.30 pm, at the campus of NYIT, Abu Dhabi.

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About New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
NYIT is the college of choice for more than 15,000 students enrolled in more than 100 specialized courses of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in academic areas such as architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions, behavioral, and life sciences; management; and osteopathic medicine.

As a private, nonprofit, independent institution of higher learning, NYIT embraces an educational philosophy of career-oriented professional education for all qualified students and supports applications-oriented research to benefit the greater global community. Students attend classes at NYIT's campuses in Manhattan and Long Island, as well as online and in a number of programs throughout the world. To date, more than 73,000 alumni have earned degrees at NYIT. For more information, visit www.nyit.edu.                                                                                  

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© Press Release 2008