Believing that academic integrity is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an academic community, Donald McCabe urged listeners to consider new methods for ending the cheating game during his Wittenberg Series address, Sept. 4, in Weaver Chapel.

McCabe, a leading authority on academic ethics who is well known for his research on college cheating, helped to usher in the 158th academic year at the university’s annual Opening Convocation. Hundreds were on hand to hear his speech titled “Promoting Academic Integrity,” and to recognize faculty advancements and student leaders.

Many students have seen enough cheating in high school and college, McCabe explained, and they want change. “The real challenge for educators is how to help students with change,” he said.

To that end, McCabe suggested that Wittenberg implement an honor code or a modified honor code created by students with faculty involvement. “You need a system of shared responsibility,” he said, and you need to “build campus traditions around academic integrity.”

Citing survey responses from college students across the country, McCabe also discussed how students at schools with honor codes “view academic honesty through a different lens.” In addition, he noted how such codes tend to encourage greater faculty-student trust, and how they are valued at such schools, but not in society.

“We’ve lacked effective moral leadership for decades,” McCabe said, “but most students are willing to be moral leaders.”

McCabe is the first in a distinguished line of speakers and performers scheduled to appear as part of the 2002-2003 Wittenberg Series titled “Forging New Understanding: Lessons for Our Time.”