Occasionally a new technology emerges that calls for the reevaluation of a university's ethics policy, how such a policy should be written, and perhaps more importantly, how that policy should be enforced. Such is the case with the recently launched Web site UniversityJunction. The Web site is not wholly different from other social networking sites, though in this case, the subject matter is not the trading of personal information, but academic sources.
UniverstyJunction, which is rapidly expanding to campuses around the nation, allows students to upload and share non-copyrighted information including old tests, homework assignments, papers and student-written class notes.
The Web site, like other online communities, has tremendous potential to connect students who would otherwise be divided along institutional and geographic lines.
Collaboration is an inextricable part of academics and education more generally. This new Web site allows students to share their work and assist one another in ways that ideally encourage productive collaboration.
Ideal situations, though, sometimes collide with reality. UniversityJunction also has the potential to facilitate cheating by providing students with easy access to unauthorized tests and papers from which to plagiarize.
While the site contains an ethics agreement that all new members must sign, pledging to abide by their respective University's ethics policy, concern regarding ethical breaches is warranted.
The site does not share its information with turnitin.com, which will prohibit professors who utilize this service from accurately determining if plagiarism has occurred.
Of course, the ultimate responsibility lies with students themselves. In the end, if a student wishes to cheat, he or she will find a way. Unfortunately, at least one Hopkins professor had previously stopped assigning papers due to the prevalence of plagiarism. Students must take it upon themselves to ensure that this new technology, which has the opportunity to enhance learning, is not misused.
It remains to be seen how this new site is employed by students and enforced by the administration and students alike. We hope that it provides a catalyst for further ethical cooperation and collaboration and not academic dishonesty.
