Panther Nov. 2013 | Page 5

Keeping you informed Robert De Our integrity, our shared values and our ethical conduct form the basis of American College’s standing in the United States and around the world. anco Fr Academic integrity characterizes honesty and trust in all aspects of academic development. When combined with the quality and performance of our students and faculty, those elements create an incredibly powerful platform for success in both business and academic careers. The Sloan Consortium reports that nearly twenty percent of all U.S. higher education students were taking at least one online course in the fall of 2006. “The 9.7 percent growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the 1.5 percent growth of the overall higher education student population.” With rapid growth of online education comes responsibility; and with responsibly comes principled obligation. We live in a society where the “bottom-line” tends to receive gratuitous importance, often to the marginalization of other values. Each of us should therefore endeavor to be a person of integrity since all human affairs, and therefore the very fabric of our society, is predicated on our capacity to trust one another. Hence, our behavior should be based on decency and fairness. When students do not uphold an institution’s academic integrity policy, they weaken the reputation of their institution and the members of its college community. In order to best maintain our obligation of integrity and fairness to ourselves and our community, ACAS has chosen to become a Higher Education Partner with ProctorU, a leader in the field of academic security and assessment authentication. Beginning in the Fall 2013 semester, all online comprehensive final exams will be proctored thus allowing students to conveniently and securely complete assigned exams using almost any Web cam. With a computer and an approved Web cam, students can take online exams at home, at work, or almost anywhere they have Internet access. ProctorU connects students directly to their proctor via Web cam so they can both see and talk to one another. ProctorU will also monitor the student’s computer while they complete the exam. S Academic integrity is the backbone of higher education. Integrity begins with each of us. We are pleased to begin the next phase in our intuition’s progress and look forward to making a statement to the world that online learning at ACAS is as substantial as that which is found at any campus-based institution. Sincerely, ? Robert DeFranco President Panther-Mag.indd 5 http://www.amcollege.us 5 10/29/13 11:59 AM