Innovative, critical thinkers. Global citizens.
They're a few words to describe Grand Canyon University students. Another word to add to the list: integrity.
The GCU chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) will kick off this year's Integrity Week, which will run from Feb. 6-10.
The campaign's goal is to inspire students to make integrity-driven decisions in academic settings. It's also meant to inspire students and staff to reflect on integrity and character.
Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli has high hopes for the initiative after last year's efforts earned the campus' NSCS chapter a Merit Award. She says this year’s Integrity Week will be even bigger.
“This year we want to extend it beyond students and make sure we are supporting faculty, staff, administration and the entire GCU community with all things character and all things integrity,” said Naegeli. “Since this campaign already existed, everyone partnered and teamed up to say, ‘How can we make this a university-wide effort?’”
The campaign is receiving support from other departments, colleges, the Associated Students of GCU, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Faculty Training and Development and other clubs that have collaborated to provide programming, communication efforts via social media, informational booths and guest speakers.
GCU is one of more than 330 universities and colleges that participate in Integrity Week nationwide. This will mark the first year GCU is making it a university-wide campaign, extending its efforts from ground students to more than 90,000 online learners.
With 2023 being a notable year in the development of artificial intelligence technology, talks on integrity are crucial in academic settings — and it's exactly why Integrity Week exists.
“There is a fine line between being inspired and empowered by access to new information generated by AI technologies, and being tempted to copy over content that was never your original work to begin with. This is the best time to have this campaign because we are seeing the prevalence and usage of AI technology increase,” said Naegeli. “This is something to embrace and strategically integrate into higher education, but it must be done with ethical decision-making and integrity.”
Naegeli hopes that through Integrity Week, students will gain a new perspective on what integrity means and how faculty can further implement that within lesson plans and classroom settings.
“All of these efforts are more than just events and a fun opportunity to grab food, stickers and promotional items,” she said. “It is actually something that will make them think and reflect on themselves and what is going on today.”
INTEGRITY WEEK SCHEDULE
Monday: Academic Integrity
Character & Integrity Fair | Student Union Promenade | 12-2 p.m.
Integrity & Ethics in International Affairs | 2:30- 3:30 p.m. | CHSS 16-205
What to know about Halo Write | 2:30- 3:30 p.m. | Virtual
How to Properly Cite Your Sources | 3:30- 4:30 p.m. | Virtual
“Food for Thought” Pop-Up Shop | 4- 6 p.m. | Grove Patio
Tuesday: Servant Leadership
Character & Integrity Fair | Student Union Promenade | 12-2 p.m.
The Power of Integrity and the Growth Mindset | 12-1 p.m.| Encanto ACE Center, Room 131
Inside Entertainment | 4:30-6 p.m. | College of Arts and Media, Room 157
Wednesday: The Competition Edition
Character & Integrity Fair | 12-2 p.m. | Student Union Promenade
Thursday: Integrity in the Workplace
Character & Integrity Fair | Student Union Promenade | 12-2 p.m.
Provost Speaker Series: Ethics & Integrity in Today's Workplace | 5:30-7 p.m.
Friday: Integrity in the Digital World
AI’s Role in Academia: Perceptions and Prospects | 9-10 a.m. | ENG 1-205
How Integrity is Addressed in Job Interviews | 11-12 p.m. | Virtual
Character & Integrity Fair | Student Union Promenade | 12-2 p.m.
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