Academic integrity is a hallmark of the credibility of any university. The standards for academic achievement and scholarly research must be universally expected of all faculty and top tier administrators. An institute of higher learning cannot expect to impart solid academic standards among students unless those who educate them lead by example.
This is one of the reasons why colleges and universities have zero tolerance for plagiarism, for example. There must be integrity in the papers and studies that college personnel present to the public. Simply, one cannot lead by edict; one can only lead by example.
This concept is one of the reasons why the recent and current events at Kean University are so disheartening for New Jersey and all of academia. The University is not leading by example and, as a consequence, all New Jersey higher education has taken a backward step that places our academic and administrative integrity in jeopardy. We cannot expect to be respected by other states unless we can clean our own house.
Furthermore, the value of an education from a New Jersey institution has been devalued.
Kean University President Dawood Farahi was accused of, and admitted, misrepresenting himself and his academic record when he applied for the position in 2003.
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