Honors Given to Academic Staff for Exceptional Service in Maintaining Academic Integrity and Sustained Impact
Academic Integrity Champions at Syracuse University: Gallagher and Lisnyczyj Honoured
Syracuse University's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) has an academic integrity program that plays a vital role in maintaining the university's high academic standards. The program, which oversees and administers the university's academic integrity policies and educational efforts, is crucial in ensuring that students and teaching staff understand the importance of academic honesty [1][2].
Key aspects of the program's role and significance include policy enforcement and case management, education and training, and support for university-wide academic standards. The academic integrity violations are managed through a distinct process administered by the Academic Integrity Office, which operates under the Center for Learning and Student Success. The CTLE actively educates graduate teaching assistants and faculty about academic integrity policies, using case-based discussions to illustrate common violations and strategies for handling them effectively [2].
Aileen Gallagher, an associate dean for academic affairs in the Newhouse School of Public Communications, served as the academic integrity coordinator for the Newhouse School during the 2024-25 academic year. Gallagher provided comprehensive case submission, faculty interview completion, and faculty panelist service to the academic integrity office. She also spearheaded campaigns to share procedural updates and created a sense of faculty buy-in [1].
Laura Lisnyczyj, an assistant teaching professor of languages, literatures, and linguistics in the College of Arts and Sciences, is another academic integrity champion at Syracuse University. Lisnyczyj has provided valuable feedback from a faculty perspective to the academic integrity team and has helped improve the academic integrity seminar, faculty reporting forms, and policy violation and sanction classification rubric. She is also known for helping students navigate situations and questions in the classroom [1].
Both Gallagher and Lisnyczyj received the Academic Integrity Outstanding Service Awards, which recognise achievements in maintaining academic integrity standards and policies. Kate Marzen, the CTLE assistant director of academic expectations, stated that the recipients go well above and beyond for their department [1].
The academic integrity team consists of two full-time employees, several part-time student panelists, a spring practicum student, and a pool of volunteers. The team maintains records of all academic integrity cases and creates online resources for classroom use. They work closely with faculty, instructors, students, and staff to promote understanding of the University's academic integrity policy and coordinate its administration [2].
The academic integrity program is significant for fostering a culture of integrity, ensuring fairness, and protecting the value of academic credentials at Syracuse University. Without the volunteers involved in the academic integrity program, the CTLE could not fulfill its responsibilities effectively.
[1] Syracuse University Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. (n.d.). Academic Integrity. Retrieved from https://ctle.syr.edu/teaching-resources/academic-integrity/
[2] Syracuse University. (n.d.). Academic Integrity Program. Retrieved from https://www.syr.edu/academic-integrity/index.html
Gallagher and Lisnyczyj, being academic integrity champions at Syracuse University, played significant roles in fostering a culture of learning and education-and-self-development by promoting understanding of the University's academic integrity policies. Their contributions, particularly in educating faculty and students about academic integrity, are essential in supporting university-wide standards and upholding the value of academic credentials.
