International Day of Action Draws Attention to the Growing Threat of Contract Cheating

Students cheat for any variety of reasons, but, in many cases, sheer desperation and fear of failing drives them to hire someone else to write their essay, do their homework, or take their exam. Researchers predict that 8% of students engage third-party individuals or services to complete their work, which is a practice called contract cheating. On October 17, colleges and universities will draw attention to this problem as instructors, students, and administrators pledge to #DefeatTheCheat and #ExcelWithIntegrity during the 3rd Annual International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating. Click to Tweet.

The goal of International Day of Action is to unite educational institutions around the world to put an end to the contract cheating industry. It’s an initiative founded by the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), whose mission is to support higher education institutions in cultivating cultures of integrity. “Educational institutions, students, citizens and governments must take a stand against the contract cheating industry,” says Tricia Bertram Gallant, ICAI Board Member. “And as educators, we must work diligently to ensure that we are facilitating and assessing learning rather than cheating. It is our ethical obligation to our students and the world.”

Turnitin is a leading provider of academic integrity solutions and believes in a balance of human interactions, policies, and technology supports to protect the value of a college degree and the institutions awarding them. “As part of our ongoing effort to bring attention and urgency around the rising threat of contract cheating, Turnitin is once again supporting the International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating,” said Turnitin CEO Chris Caren. “Turnitin is committed to providing the most effective educational tools to protect intellectual property, safeguard institutional reputations, and promote academic integrity so that degrees continue to have meaning.”

Institutions and individuals are encouraged to get involved in the International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating by signing the pledge to raise awareness and drive action about this issue; by publicly declaring their opposition with whiteboard messages that can be shared via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using #defeatthecheat and #excelwithintegrity; and by hosting events that will engage and inform students, faculty, staff, and leaders about the threat of contract cheating.

Turnitin, which is a sponsor of ICAI’s International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating, encourages institutions to register their #DefeatTheCheat and #ExcelWithIntegrity activities with ICAI and to join the Facebook event.