https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2 Upon completion of a Master of Arts in Curriculum Design and Advanced Instruction, I aspire to be a better teacher in my current role as the Surgical Technology Program Director at Howard College in San Angelo, TX. en-us 2018-06-10 13:13:57 UTC 2023-01-20 23:03:58 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Balance.png cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266467839 Upon completion of a Master of Arts in Curriculum Design and Advanced Instruction, I aspire to be a better teacher in my current role as the Surgical Technology Program Director at Howard College in San Angelo, TX.]]> 2018-06-10 13:19:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266467839 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266467924 FERPA is listed as number four among the top ten legal issues facing community colleges. It has three major components: the student's right to access their records, the student's right to privacy, and the student's right to correct any inaccurate information in their records (Pessin Katz Law, 2016).

Copy right violations, especially unintentional ones, were listed as number six. Though many instructors are protected under the TEACH Act of 2002, it is recommend that institutions train librarians and IT staff members to recognize copy right violations not protected under the TEACH Act ( Pessin Katz Law, 2016).

Pessin Katz Law. (2016). The Top Ten Legal Issues Facing Community Colleges. Retrieved from http://pklaw.com/wp-content/uploads/Perspectives-March2016-final.pdf

]]> 2018-06-10 13:21:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266467924 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266467995 Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law the redeveloped plan for remedial courses. Instead of asking students to pay for courses that do not receive credit, the students in need of remedial help will take courses for credit with an added support course to be taken concurrently with the course for credit (Smith, 2017; TACC, 2017). Texas community colleges are required to take in all applicants, regardless of their math and/or reading levels. This is why remedial courses are necessary for many students who do not score well on the college entry exams. The goal is to keep high risk students in college and on the path to success (Smith, 2017, TACC, 2017).

Selected Texas community colleges will be allowed to offer baccalaureate degrees in nursing, applied technology, early childhood, dental hygiene, and applied science (Defender News Series, 2017;TACC, 2017). This has been allowed because of the vast shortage of skilled laborers and nurses, especially in the Houston area. The idea is that more students will pursue these degrees with the attraction they will graduate with less student loan debt than if graduating from a university (Defender News Series, 2017; TACC, 2017).

Defender News Series. (2017). Texas governor signs bill that allows community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees. Retrieved from https://defendernetwork.com/news/local-state/texas-governor-signs-bill-allows-community-colleges-offer-baccalaureate-degrees/

Smith, A. (2017). Texas requires credit-based remediation. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/07/12/texas-legislature-requires-colleges-use-popular-reform-approach-remedial-education

Texas Association of Community Colleges. (2017). The 85th Texas Legislative Session. Retrieved from https://www.tacc.org/uploads/tinymce/legislative%20resources/bills_85th.pdf]]> 2018-06-10 13:22:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266467995 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266468016 This article discusses the effectiveness of honor codes and provides evidence-based strategies for preventing academic dishonesty. According to Tatum and Schwartz (2017), there is cheating in all levels of education, including higher education. Often when students are caught cheating, the faculty either ignore the act or do not reprimand the students for their lack of integrity. The article suggests instead of focusing on the consequences of cheating, the schools use honor codes to help students focus on integrity rather than punishment.

I chose this topic because I am a current health profession instructor at a community college. I have caught students cheating in the past and with a most recent incident, I chose to remove the student from my program. The student went to my superiors and convinced my superiors to be allowed back into the program. This was very difficult for me to accept because I am trying to train individuals to save lives and an important characteristic in health care is integrity. If a student has proven to lack integrity, how can they regain it after graduation?

Tatum, H., & Schwartz, B. M. (2017). Honor Codes: Evidence Based Strategies for Improving Academic Integrity. Theory Into Practice, 56(2), 129-135.]]> 2018-06-10 13:22:45 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266468016 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266468359 FERPA is a law that has been around since the 1970s. However, many of itss dynamics are misinterpreted and many higher education faculty members admit they do not fully understand it. In addition, FERPA has been updated over the last decade with modern day applications that many long term faculty members are not familiar (Fuller, 2017).

Like the article suggests, I too feel as if I could benefit from truly understanding FERPA and its legislation. The institution I work for does provide yearly training on the subject, but I personally feel I need more training on this particular topic.

Fuller, M. (2017). An Update on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. New Directions For Institutional Research, 2016(172), 25-36. doi:10.1002/ir.20201]]> 2018-06-10 13:25:43 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266468359 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266470753 I have chosen to write about academic integrity because of some recent events occurring in my classroom in which I disagreed with the decisions made by my superiors. After these incidences, I realized I did not know what I legally could or could not do and I need to research this topic to prepare myself for the next time I encounter this particular issue.]]> 2018-06-10 14:02:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266470753 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266473258 Kiviniemi, M. T. (2015). The Case for Consequences for Academic Dishonesty. College Teaching, 63(2), 37-39.]]> 2018-06-10 14:35:34 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266473258 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266480367
McCabe, D. (n.d.). Cheating: Why students do it and how we can help them stop. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/winter-2001/cheating]]> 2018-06-10 16:19:41 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266480367 cdunagan https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266481099 Academic dishonesty is running rampant, ranging from elementary into higher education. Many studies have been conducted over the last sixty years and the instances of cheating continue to increase. It does not matter the age, sex, economic status, or race of the student, many of them are cheating (McCabe, n.d.). Why is this so prevalent in modern society? Is it considered ok by the majority of educators and administrators? One would think not, but the consequences and simple acknowledgement of cheating would say otherwise.

Why are students cheating? According to McCabe, (n.d.), students are influenced less by their parents and their teachers and more influenced by their peers. This unfortunately bleeds over into higher education, because students learned they were able to get away with cheating in high school, they assume it is okay in college. Another hypothesis provided by McCabe (n.d.), is teachers are afraid to accuse students of cheating for fear of the consequences the teacher may endure.

Marc T. Kiviniemi (2015) of the University of Buffalo says academic dishonesty in higher education is often ignored or treated as a lesser crime. Educators in higher education must show students that integrity and ethical behavior is of the upmost importance and that cheating will not be tolerated. If an educator ignores a student's academic dishonesty, they are providing a disservice to that student. Kiviniemi (2015) suggests a grade of F is the best way to handle the situation. Expelling the student from college is harsh because it will potentially ruin their career, however a grade of F will let the student know cheating will not be permitted and hopefully teach the student a lesson about their mistake.

How can academic dishonesty be prevented? McCabe (n.d.) suggests holding students to honor codes and promoting academic integrity. Teach the students why integrity matters and that no one learns from cheating. Educators should be upfront with students about their expectations and the seriousness of violating academic policies. Cheating is an epidemic and it has been left to the educators to prevent it and to address it when necessary.

Kiviniemi, M. T. (2015). The Case for Consequences for Academic Dishonesty. College Teaching, 63(2), 37-39.

McCabe, D. (n.d.). Cheating: Why students do it and how we can help them stop. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/winter-2001/cheating]]> 2018-06-10 16:29:27 UTC https://padlet.com/cdunagan/uq47rnbrx2e2/wish/266481099