Methods to curb cheating will be discussed at an informal lunch today.

It will take place at noon today in the Faculty/Staff Club suite in the Nittany Lion Inn, and the discussion will cover how to model academic integrity in scholarly pursuits and other activities.

Penn State's Academic Integrity policy, now in its second year, underwent modifications in fall of 2000 in order to make it clearer for students and faculty and also to make it more effective.

Academic integrity has always been an important issue at Penn State, Jeremy Cohen, associate vice provost for undergraduate education, said in an e-mail.

"The difference now is that far more we see it as a teaching and learning issue, as well as a matter of behavior or conduct," he said.

According to the academic administrative policies manual, academic sanctions can range from a warning to removal from the academic program.

One situation on campus that has raised concern about cheating is the large number of students who take tests together in the same room.

"It's not an ideal situation," said Jean Pytel, assistant dean of student services, referring to the large testing sizes.

However, she said, students should not be tempted by these circumstances.

Pytel, who has helped advise faculty on academic integrity situations, said cheating is an ethical question for the students to answer.

"If it's easier to cheat, is it right?" she said.

Under the university's current policy, students who are accused of dishonesty must be told about the investigation by the faculty member who is making the allegation. The faculty member then explains what disciplinary action may be taken and asks the student to sign the college's academic integrity form, thereby admitting responsibility.

If the student denies responsibility for the violation, the case will automatically be forwarded to the college's Academic Integrity Committee. If the committee finds the student guilty, it can carry out the proposed academic sanction on him or her.

In rare occurrences, if there has been a severe act of academic dishonesty, the committee and the Office of Judicial Affairs may record an XF as the student's grade for the course.

The XF is calculated as an F in the student's grade point average, and will be noted on the student's transcript as: "fail, academic dishonesty."

"To my knowledge, they (XFs) are very seldom handed out," said Barbara Copland, associate director of judicial affairs.

She said a student who receives an XF can appeal the decision to judicial affairs.

Copland said academic integrity is being emphasized more in the classroom, and that students should take it seriously.

"Ultimately it cheapens a Penn State degree," said Copland, referring to students who cheat.

The lunch discussion today about academic integrity is part of a monthly series sponsored by the Teaching and Learning Consortium and the Faculty/Staff Club.