EDFI Expectations

The Division of Educational Foundations and Inquiry (EDFI) provides courses and academic advising to program areas within the College of Education and Human Development (i.e., teacher education, special education, counseling and psychological services, higher education, and educational leadership). EDFI encompasses three primary content areas: Educational Psychology, Research and Assessment, and Social Foundations of Education. EDFI provides courses within these areas to students on-campus, off-campus, and on-line. To provide a measure of consistency across these different delivery platforms and within the division, the following expectations for performance have been agreed upon by the faculty of EDFI.

The Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) (1999) has identified five fundamental values of academic integrity for faculty and students. These five values serve as the framework for EDFI expectations.

• Honesty  “Honesty is the foundation of teaching, learning, research, and service and the prerequisite for the full realization of trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility” (CAI, pg. 5). Faculty and students will adhere to the University’s general Codes of Conduct defined in the BGSU Student Handbook. Specifically, the Code of Academic Conduct (Academic Honesty Policy) requires that students do not cheat, fabricate, plagiarize or facilitate academic dishonesty. For details, refer to the BGSU Student Handbook.
• Trust  “Trust is promoted by faculty who set clear guidelines for assignments and for evaluating student work; by students who prepare work that is honest and thoughtful; and by schools that set clear and consistent academic standards and that support honest and impartial research” (CAI, pg. 7).
• Fairness  “Fair and accurate evaluation is essential in the educational process” (CAI, pg. 7). EDFI faculty will communicate course expectations and criteria for student evaluation prior to assigning papers/projects. Faculty and students have the right to expect fair treatment.
• Respect “An academic community of integrity recognizes the participatory nature of the learning process and honors and respects a wide range of opinions and ideas” (CAI, pg, 8). EDFI faculty respect diversity of opinion, individual differences, and personal experiences. Students demonstrate respect by attending and participating in class, actively listening to multiple perspectives, fulfilling academic deadlines, and performing to one’s best ability.
• Responsibility "Every member of an academic community—each student, faculty member, and administrator—is responsible for upholding the integrity of scholarship and research” (CAI, pg. 9). Students have a responsibility for their own learning, which includes knowing course expectations and being prepared for class. Students enrolled in EDFI courses should be prepared to:
  • Complete at least two hours of outside work per week per credit hour;
  • Complete a major inquiry/research paper/project;
  • Utilize campus resources (i.e., library, Writing Center, Math & Stats Tutoring Center, Student Technology Center, etc.) as needed or required;
  • Recognize that the faculty member is the primary resource for questions regarding the course requirements, student expectations, and evaluation; and
  • Adhere to APA style, citation, ethical principles for research and writing.