“Academic Integrity and You” comes from the GATA Handbook  and was written by  Danielle Istl, LLM. To read or download the complete handbook, see http://uwindsor.ca/gatahandbook.

As a Graduate Assistant or Teaching Assistant, you have a unique position on campus. You are at all times a student of the University, but you are also an employee of the University. The duties of your employment are varied, depending on the needs of the professor with whom you work. Your may mark tests and assignments, assist students with labs and homework, hold office hours, proctor exams, assist in research, or engage in a combination of these activities. Because of the nature of your duties, you are in a position of trust and responsibility. You may be privy to confidential information, and you are expected to uphold the standards of the University with respect to that information. In short, you often stand in the shoes of a professor.

You are an integral part of maintaining academic honesty on campus.

The Academic Integrity Office (AIO) values the assistance of GAs and TAs as it relates to preventing academic dishonesty, role-modeling appropriate behaviours, reporting academic misconduct, and providing evidence during investigations. Therefore, you have a very important role to play in this process. You are an integral part of maintaining academic honesty on campus.

FYI: The Academic Integrity Officer, Danielle Istl, or the AIO Assistant, Maureen Friest, are always available for any questions or concerns you may have on any academic-integrity related issue:

In person: 201/203 Assumption University Building

By phone: 519.253.3000 extension 3929

Via email: istld@uwindsor.ca or mfriest@uwindsor.ca

Each September GAs and TAs are required to participate in an Orientation workshop offered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies in which academic integrity is discussed. At that workshop, you will learn more about your role as it relates to academic honesty, how best to deal with problematic student behaviours, how to avoid misconduct allegations yourself, and what the University’s expectations are in the event your assistance is sought by others who wish to cheat or you suspect students under your supervision of cheating.

The AIO website has a page dedicated to GAs and TAs, which you can access at http://www.uwindsor.ca/aio, under the “Information for Students” link. This includes not only access to the GA/TA Orientation PowerPoint presentation (if you missed the orientation or to refresh your memory), but also access to a recent workshop delivered to GAs, TAs, and professors called “Exam Security and Cheating Prevention: A Guide for Invigilators.” The PowerPoint supporting this workshop includes more detailed information on the finer points of Senate Policy E3: Rules of Conduct for Examinations, which will assist you in learning how best to invigilate exams. If you missed the opportunity to attend this workshop or are new to the job, you are strongly encouraged to visit the AIO website and have a look at this presentation, as well as other available resources that may help you become the best GA or TA you can be!

Senate Policy E3, with which every invigilator should become familiar, is available on the AIO website under “Relevant Bylaws and Policies” or on the Senate Office website (http://www.uwindsor.ca/senate) under “Bylaws and Policies.” The AIO website also includes a “Frequently Asked Questions” page for GAs and TAs, which is designed to answer some common questions. If you have any questions that are not covered there, be sure to let the AIO know.

Finally, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with and refer your students to the AIO brochure, which can be found on the AIO homepage. Alternatively, feel free to visit the AIO to pick up print copies for distribution and to keep in your campus office.

Flickr photo is cc-licensed by Jared Stein.