It is the time of the semester when papers are due and students are scrambling into the library to complete research. The fight against time can tempt many students to perform unethical behaviors, such as plagiarism or falsifying data.

N.C. State has taken notice of the temptations and has begun a widespread effort to educate students about ethical decisions.

This week, as part of Research Ethics Week, four seminars have been dedicated to addressing ethics in conducting research, specifically in the math and science fields.

“[Seminars] really build a community,” Lonnie Balaban, coordinator of the Research and Ethics Program, said.

The University is part of an international and national community dedicated to bringing ethical awareness to students and faculty members.

“We think it’s good to be aggressive in this area and support discussions about research integrity and research conduct,” Gary Comstock, professor and director of the Research and Ethics Program, said.

He also said the University has initiated two grants.

Land Grant University Research Ethics (LANGURE) is a group of universities from across the country and a private corporation that works together to form a model curriculum for teaching doctoral students ethics in the fields of “physical, social and life sciences,” according the research ethics Web site.

“N.C. State is the leading University in this effort,” Comstock said, “and we’re delighted that three historically minority-serving universities are involved.”

On campus, the program has reached faculty and students through workshops, seminars, fellowships, grants and Web presence, according to Kristen Rosenfeld, a doctoral student in botany.

“We’re doing a good job,” Rosenfeld said.

Rosenfeld said she hopes the program on campus creates a culture of ethics.

“We have the responsibility to do this,” Rosenfeld said.

Although the courses taught about research ethics are designed for graduate students, the program invites undergraduate students to attend the seminars.

“Professors need ethics and integrity,” Rosenfeld said.

According to Comstock, one of the important ways of learning about ethics is through mentoring from professors.

“There are issues that come up between students and professors,” Balaban said, “[They are] very basic problems that everyone deals with.”

The interest in research ethics is increasing across campus. Nine departments on campus have specific courses or curriculum to make students aware of ethics in research.

Rosenfeld said she felt the University’s effort to bring attention and train students in ethics is one of the ways NCSU is unique when compared to other universities.

“We all win if we infuse a culture of ethics on campus,” Rosenfeld said.