Introduction
Notions of ethical behavior are of particular concern in every professional sphere. Ethical behavior presupposes the observation of rules of honesty and morality during the execution of particular functions. Academic and professional ethics should be promoted in every working environment as far as it is essential for the respectful behavior and ethical decision-making that comprise the basis for the efficient academic and professional performance.
Academic and Professional Ethics
The primary distinction between academic and professional ethics refers to the target audience. Thus, students comprise the target audience of academic ethics. As a branch of knowledge, professional ethics aims at creating the efficient working environment at the university, faculty, and between staff members. According to Crews and West (2006), both professional and academic ethics “adhere to moral and ethical principles; honesty. The key to integrity is consistency — not only setting right personal standards for oneself (honesty, responsibility, respect for others, fairness) but also living according to those standards every day” (p. 146).
Principles of academic ethics predetermine students’ behavior towards each other, the educational institutions, and their academic activities. Moral principles define the code of conduct for students. The most significant aspect of academic ethics refers to the promotion of academic honesty. Cheating and plagiarism are two most widespread problems among students. The primary aim of academic ethics is to develop the understanding of the adverse effects of dishonesty.
Principles of professional ethics concern faculty members and their interactions with each other and students. Moral values are of great significance for the successful job performance as far as they create the positive environment. Also, students’ success is influenced drastically by the professional culture of the institution.
Examination of Kaplan Plagiarism Policy
The central idea of the Kaplan University plagiarism policy refers to need to produce original works. A paper, document, presentation, or any other type of work must contain references that are cited correctly (What You Need to Know about Plagiarism, n.d.). Kaplan University requires all students to follow all necessary requirements to avoid plagiarism. It is of great significance to bear in mind that any plagiarism, either intended or unintended, will be treated in the same way.
Three levels of consequences for plagiarism are envisaged. When the plagiarism is identified, the student receives notification. When the first offense occurs, the student fails the assignment with plagiarism (What You Need to Know about Plagiarism, n.d.). The second level of consequences is more serious than the first one. If the student does not manage to improve his writing for the second time, he or she will fail the class. The third level is final, and it can lead to the exclusion of the university (What You Need to Know about Plagiarism, n.d.). These levels demonstrate University’s attitude towards academic dishonesty and prove its aim to educate only highly qualified specialists.
Kleish (2012) suggests four ways to avoid plagiarism in works. A student has to understand the notion of plagiarism, conduct thorough research, study and employ particular writing strategies. The realization of plagiarism is essential for the academic honesty. Thus, one should be aware of mistakes that lead to plagiarism such as improper formatting and intentional or accidental use of somebody’s information. The second stage includes the adequate research and reading strategy. Thus, one has to note all sources, pages, and quotations. It is crucial to choose sources that develop and support writer’s ideas. The next step refers to the evaluation of the found sources and planning of the paper. The writer has to present his or her ideas first and support them with the help of sources, and not vice versa. Finally, a student has to control the usage of quotes. For instance, it is advisable to avoid direct quotations in short papers. Besides, both quotations and paraphrasing should comprise no more than 15% of the document (Kleish, 2012).
Examples of the Impacts of Personal Choices
Personal choices related to academic and professional ethics can influence future careers. The first example demonstrates that academic dishonesty may affect not only one person but also many others. According to the study of Carrell, Malmstrom, and West (2008), when one individual employs the practice of cheating, it is more likely that others start cheating too. Consequently, more students practice academic dishonesty, and they lower the level of their knowledge. The second example refers to the story of Kaavya Viswanathan, a student at Harvard University, who wrote the novel “How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life”. More than a half of the paper was plagiarized. After it had been found out, all her books were withdrawn from sale (Consequences of Plagiarism, n.d.). The other example concerns Jayson Blair, who was a journalist at the New York Times. Blair wrote national news for the paper, and most of his works were either plagiarized or imagined at all. Consequently, he lost his job and respect (Real World Examples, n.d.). Dismissal from the job is not the worst thing that can happen. The fourth example refers to cases when people’s lives are at risk. One has to think about students who study at medical faculties and cheat at classes. The doctor who lacks necessary knowledge may do only harm to the patient. The fifth example demonstrates the story of the college student who has been dismissed from the semester at sea at Virginia University for plagiarism (Real World Examples, n.d.). The student lost opportunities and time.
A Plan of Action for Maintaining Academic and Professional Ethics
The maintenance of academic and professional ethics requires time and efforts. First, one has to be aware of essentials of ethics. It is necessary to know such concepts as academic and professional integrity. The second step in the plan includes the familiarization with the most widespread misconducts. Students, in particular, should know the meaning and adverse effects of plagiarism and cheating. Sometimes, a person has to work on his or her writing style to avoid plagiarism. It is crucial to follow rules of referencing correctly. One should always bear in mind that it is necessary to check the paper for mistakes. Nevertheless, moral values, professional and academic ethics relate not only to writing papers. Every decision-making process should be accompanied by thoughtful considerations of whether the action is morally justified and honest.
Conclusion
Principles of academic ethics refer mostly to students’ attitude towards studying while principles of professional ethics concern relationships and organizational culture of the faculty and personnel. Kaplan plagiarism policy pays particular attention to the notion of academic honesty. Real life examples prove that academic dishonesty may lead to adverse outcomes in academic and professional careers.
References
Carrell, S., Malmstrom, F., & West, J. (2008). Peer Effects in Academic Cheating. The Journal of Human Resources, 43(1), 173-206.
Consequences of Plagiarism. (n.d.). Web.
Crews, G., & West, A. (2006). Professional Integrity in Higher Education. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 30(2), 143-161.
Kleish, E. (2012). How to Avoid Plagiarism: An Overview. Web.
Real World Examples. (n.d.). Web.
What You Need to Know about Plagiarism. (n.d.). Web.