FIU Values Academic Integrity
FIU Online expects that all members of its academic community adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards. To ensure that we maintain academic integrity, we have developed policies and procedures designed to support academic excellence and intellectual growth. Academic dishonesty undermines the educational experience for everyone, and we ask that all FIU Online students familiarize themselves with rules and policies concerning academic misconduct.
By taking an online course as a student, you agree to adhere to FIU’s Student Content of Honor Code. FIU Online collaborates with The Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity (SCAI), which works to ensure that FIU is a “safe and stimulating environment in which scholarship and personal growth may occur.” For details on FIU’s academic integrity policy and procedures, please review SCAI’s Student Conduct and Academic Integrity webpage below.
Netiquette
Keep in mind that when communicating through text in an online course, your body language and tone cannot always be taken into account by others. This makes the words you use even more important. While you should feel free to express your ideas as you would in a face to face course, the following tips should help you as you communicate inside your course:
- DON’T SHOUT! Typing in all caps indicates shouting and might be offensive to others.
- Check your writing for grammar and spelling errors. Nobody’s perfect, but a good writing style will make a better reflection on you and your ideas. Use general systematic options to check your spelling before sending/posting communication in an online course.
- Treat your classmates with respect in terms of their privacy and of their opinions. Ask for clarification if you don’t understand what another classmate means or if you feel there might be a conflict.
- Keep it polite and maintain all discussions in the context of a classroom where we are all learning from each other in order to help each other achieve a positive and valuable learning experience.
- Think before you write. Words live for a long time on the Internet, including to some extent in an online class. While you should feel free to express your opinions and participate in class discussions, it is a good idea to think first about the consequences before posting.
- Use proper language and titles. Do not use slang or even profane words in an online education environment, even if they are words you consider, "not so bad," as they may sound offensive to the reader. As a sign of respect you should recognize and refer to your professor as Professor, Instructor, and/or Dr. (if s/he is credentialed as so.)
- Be Professional. Leave the characters like smiley faces, and instant message abbreviations out. Your friends may like it, but chances are, your professor will not. Save it for personal conversations or definitely ask for permission before using them. They may be interpreted as childish or too casual for the online education environment. Last, always say please and thank you to demonstrate requests or appreciation versus making statements that might sound like demands as your professor and colleagues are there to facilitate your learning experiences.
- Avoid Spam. Any information not related to the course must be approved by the instructor before posting. No advertising, selling or soliciting will be accepted.
- Students are prohibited from posting advertisements or commercial solicitations in any area of the course, including on the discussion board or through messages/email, without the express consent of the instructor.
Civility
The Civility Initiative is a collaborative effort by students, faculty and staff to promote civility as a cornerstone of the FIU community. FIU prides itself as a community of diverse backgrounds: ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, social, political, economic, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability. The University encourages, supports and appreciates these differences, and discourages all forms of prejudice, bias, bigotry, discrimination, and intimidation in the process of learning.
Civility is an essential component of the core values of FIU and that includes classroom behavior, whether in-person or online. FIU believes in fostering a supportive, safe, and caring environment conducive to learning. When both faculty and students model civility in the classroom, it contributes to the growth of individuals and their role as concerned and enlightened citizens. All opinions and experiences, despite how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse. Students are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but never to attack an individual.
This statement is provided as part of FIU’s Civility Initiative, for more information visit the Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution website.
Resources
Below is a list of resources that can help you prepare for a successful semester
Participate in various workshops in order to improve your skills in a particular area:
Visit these websites for helpful tips on how to avoid plagiarism:
- The Purdue Owl: Research and Citation
- FIU Libraries: Citations and Plagiarism
- FIU Libraries: Plagiarism Prevention
- Westmont College: For Students | Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism
Watch videos on an array of subjects, including proper citation: