Sarah Elaine Eaton - A woman with short curly hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt and a black jacket. The photo is taken outdoors and there is green foliage blurred in the background.

Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton

PhD
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Positions

Full Professor

Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Leadership

Werklund Research Professor

Werklund School of Education

Contact information

Email

seaton@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

Learning, Teaching and Leadership

@DrSarahEaton

Phone number

Office: 403.220.6378

Location

Office: EDT916

For media enquiries, contact

Clayton MacGillivray
Content and Media Specialist

Email: clmacgil@ucalgary.ca
Twitter: @UCalgaryEduc

Background

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy Leadership, Policy and Governance, University of Calgary, 2009

M.A. Hispanic Literature, University of Calgary, 1997

B.A. (Honours) English Literature, Saint Mary's University, 1992

Eaton_Sarah Elaine_CV_2023_08

Biography

Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton, PhD, is a Professor and Research Chair in the Werklund School of Education and Chair, Leadership, Policy, and Governance specialization area. She holds a concurrent appointment as an Honorary Associate Professor, Deakin Learning Futures, Deakin University, Australia. 

Professor Eaton’s research focuses on academic ethics in higher education. Her work can be found in the Canadian Journal of Higher Education, the British Educational Research Journal, Educational Policy, and the Journal of Academic Ethics, among other places.

Dr. Eaton is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal for Educational Integrity (Springer Nature), a Q1 (Education) journal published by BMC Springer. Dr. Eaton was the co-founder (2018) and co-editor (2018-2020) of Canadian Perspectives on Academic Integrity. 

Dr. Eaton is an internationally recognized authority in the field of academic ethics. In 2020 she received the National Research and Scholarship award from the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education (CSSHE) for her contributions to research on academic integrity in Canadian higher education. In 2022, she received the outstanding research award from the European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI). Her books include:

Handbook of Academic Integrity (2nd ed.), (Eaton, ed., 2023)

Fake Degrees and Fraudulent Credentials in Higher Education (Eaton, Carmichael, & Pethrick, eds., 2023)

Ethics and Integrity in Teacher Education (Eaton & Khan, eds., 2023).

Contract Cheating in Higher Education: Global Perspectives on Theory, Practice, and Policy (Eaton, Curtis, Stoesz, Clare, Rundle, & Seeland, eds., 2022) 

Academic Integrity in Canada: An Enduring and Essential Challenge (Eaton & Christensen Hughes, eds., 2022)

Plagiarism in Higher Education: Tackling Tough Topics in Academic Integrity (2021)

Women Negotiating Life in the Academy: A Canadian Perspective (Eaton & Burns, eds., 2020)

External Appointments and Elected Roles

Editor-in-Chief, International Journal for Educational Integrity

Chair, Society for the Study of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) Committee on Academic Integrity and Contract Cheating (CAICC)

Memberships & Affiliations

  • American Educational Research Association (AERA)
  • British Educational Research Association (BERA)
  • Canadian Association for the Study of Education (CSSE)
  • Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE)
  • Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education (CSSHE)
  • International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI)
  • European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI)
  • International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL)
  • Society for the Study of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE)

In addition, Dr. Eaton offers expertise to a variety of government and non-profit organizations. From 2012 to 2017 she supported the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs with her knowledge in the areas of program development, evaluation and strategic planning for educational organizations. Her work has contributed to the ongoing development and improvement of public diplomacy programs enacted through the teaching of American English that operate in more than 100 countries worldwide.

 

Research

Areas of Research

Scholarly Activity

Dr. Eaton’s research program focuses on academic ethics, specializing in academic integrity including plagiarism, contract cheating, and academic misconduct policy.

Funded Research:

  • Understanding the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Higher Education, Sarah Elaine Eaton, Principal Investigator, SSHRC Connection Grant ($25,000 CAD) Grant #611-2022-0398)
  • Partenariat universitaire sur la prévention du plagiat (PUPP) / University Partnership for the Prevention of Plagiarism (PI: Dr. Martine Peters, UQO). Sarah Elaine Eaton, Co-investigator. SSHRC Partnership Grant 2021-2027 ($2,499,980 CAD) Reference: 895-2021-1016; Website: https://pupp.uqo.ca/en/home/
  • Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity: The Ethics of Teaching and Learning with Algorithmic Writing Technologies. Sarah Elaine Eaton, Principal Investigator, Robert Brennan (Co-Investigator), Jason Wiens (Co-Investigator), and Brenda McDermott (Co-Investigator). University of Calgary Teaching and Learning Grant 2022-2025 $40,000 CAD; Website: https://osf.io/4cnvp/
  • Academic Integrity Online: Developing Support Mechanisms for Online Graduate Students to Understand Plagiarism. Sarah Elaine Eaton, Principal Investigator, Jennifer Lock (Co-Investigator) and Meadow Schroeder (Co-Investigator) University of Calgary Teaching and Learning Grant $35,206.00 CAD
  • Pre-service teachers at risk: Intervention strategies for and by teachers. Alberta Advisory Committee for Educational Studies (AACES) Grant). Amy Burns, PI; Sarah Elaine Eaton (Co-Investigator), Diane Gereluk and Katherine Mueller (Co-Investigators) $5,984 CAD
  • Investigating academic integrity in the Werklund School of Education: Process, policy and perceptions. Werklund School of Education, Office of Teaching and Learning, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant.  Sarah Elaine Eaton, Principal Investigator, $10,000 CAD.
  • Student Learning in Synchronous Online Classes. Werklund School of Education, Office of Teaching and Learning, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant.  Barbara Brown, (P.I.), Sarah Elaine Eaton (Co-investigator) and Meadow Schroeder (Co-investigator) $10,000 CAD.
  • Developing a Community-Based Bachelor of Education Program, Dianne Gereluk (P.I.), Roswita Dressler (Co-investigator) and Sarah Elaine Eaton (Co-investigator), SSHRC Insight Development Enhancement Grant, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. $2500 CAD
  • Building a Robust Online Teacher Education Program - Dianne Gereluk (P.I.), Roswita Dressler (Co-investigator) and Sarah Elaine Eaton (Co-investigator), Werklund School of Education, Office of Teaching and Learning, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant. $10,000 CAD.
Research Expertise:
  • Academic integrity
  • Academic misconduct
  • Admissions fraud
  • Artificial intelligence and Large Language Models (LLMs), as they relate to ethical teaching, learning, assessment, and academic integrity
  • Cheating
  • Contract cheating
  • Corruption
  • Educational administration and leadership
  • Ethics
  • Fake degrees
  • Fraud
  • Fraudulent credentials
  • Higher education administration and leadership
  • Paper mills
  • Plagiarism
  • Postplagiarism
  • Publication ethics
  • Research ethics
  • Research integrity
  • Equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility
  • Social justice
Academic integrity
Ethics
Plagiarism
Postplagiarism
Misconduct
Corruption
Fraud
Artificial intelligence

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Human dynamics in a changing world

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
EDER 602 LEC 02 02 Program & Practice Evaluation 2020
EDER 70308 LEC 03 03 Directed Study 2021
EDER 705 LEC 01 01 Doc Seminar in Educ Leadership 2020

Projects

Artificial Intelligence for Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Academic Integrity

Our multi-country transdisciplinary research team investigates the ethical use of artificial intelligence for teaching, learning, and assessment in higher education. This project has been funded by the following sources:

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), 2023 Connection Grant (#611-2022-0398)

University of Calgary Teaching Grant (2022)

University of Calgary International Research Partnership Workshop Grant (2023)

Awards

  • Award for Exemplary Research, European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI). 2022
  • Research and Scholarship Award, Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education (CSSHE). 2020
  • Teaching Excellence Award, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2015

Publications

Google Scholar

ORCid

In the News

More Information

Press and Media

Featured Story:

Canadians can't bribe their way into university. Following the US College scandal, Jonathon Muma finds out if Canadians bribe their way in. pic.twitter.com/4V3HG8NiVr

— Breakfast Television & CityNews Calgary (@BTCityNewsCGY) March 14, 2019

Dr. Eaton is a sought after media guest on topics relating to ethics, integirty, fraud, and misconduct in educational settings. She has been featured by CNN, CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation); CTV; Global, City TV, as well as various print / web outlets and podcasts. 

Television

Radio

Dr. Eaton is an engaging radio show guest  local and syndicated shows. Here are some her radio interviews since 2020.

  • McInnis, Loren. (2024, January 24). Diploma Mills in Alberta [Interview with Sarah Elaine Eaton]. CBC Calgary. Calgary Eyeopener. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-5-calgary-eyeopener/clip/16037443-diploma-mills-alberta 
  • Smyth, Mike. (2023, April 19). Students cheating with ChatGPT. Mike Smyth Show. Global News Radio: 980 CKNW, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed). 10:38 PST. https://globalnews.ca/radio/cknw/?gref=cknw 
  • Bird, C., (2023, February, 27). Chelsea on CHED talk radio show. Academic misconduct and contract cheating. 630 CHED. Edmonton, AB. https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CORU3025799288.mp3?updated=1677540341
  • Brown, Andrew (2023, January 24). Artificial intelligence in education. CBC. Alberta@Noon.
  • McGinnis, Loren (2023, January 10). Artificial intelligence in post-secondary education. CBC Calgary Eyeopener, Calgary, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed). 08:10 https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-5-calgary-eyeopener/clip/15958968-artificial-intelligence-post-secondary-education 
  • Smyth, Mike. (2023, January 2). Artificial intelligence and academic cheating. Mike Smyth Show. Global News Radio: 980 CKNW, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed). 11:00 PST. https://globalnews.ca/radio/cknw/?gref=cknw 
  • McIntyre, D. (2021, May 31) Academic misconduct during COVID-19. Global 630 CHED Mornings, Edmonton, AB. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Shurman, P. (Guest host). (2021, May 28). John Oakley Show. Global News Radio 640 Toronto. Toronto, ON, Canada (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Deyell, S., & Schultz, A. (2021, May 7). Morning News. 770 CHQR (Global News Radio). Calgary, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Joyce, S. (2021, March 17). Expert weighs in on rise in plagiarism cases at TRU. Daybreak Kamloops. CBC Radio, Kamloops, BC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed). https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-108-daybreak-kamloops/clip/15831803-expert-weighs-rise-plagiarism-cases-tru?share=true
  • Doucette, T. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Windsor Morning. Windsor, ON. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Hadley, A. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Superior Morning. Thunder Bay, ON. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Schwabe, M. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Morning North. Sudbury, ON. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Hillier, B. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Newfoundland Morning. St. John’s, NL. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Clark, P. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Information Morning. Halifax, NS. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • McGinnis, L. (Host).  (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. The Trailbreaker, Yellowknife, NWT. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Cormier, M. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Island Morning, Charlottetown, PEI. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Sutherland, S. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Information Morning. Sydney, NS. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Craigie, G. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. On the Island. Victoria, BC. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Walker, C. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. Daybreak South. Kelowna, BC. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Gray, D. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. The Eyeopener. Calgary, AB. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Quinn, S. (Host). (2021, April 9). CBC Syndicated Radio. The Early Edition. Vancouver, BC. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Radley, S. (2021, February 2). Will Zoom exams creepily spy on students? Scott Radley Show, Global News Radio: 900 CHML, Hamilton, ON. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Smyth, M. (2020, November 25). Cheating at UBC. Lynda Steele Show, Global News Radio: 980 CKNW, Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Deyell, S., & Schultz, A. (2020, October 14). Morning News. 770 CHQR (Global News Radio). Calgary, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Ramsay, A. (October 6). Nova 103. RTBN Radio (SAIT). Calgary, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Kokott, A. (2020, October 5). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. 770 CHQR. Calgary, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • J’lyn Nye. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct and plagiarism numbers have risen sharply during the pandemic. Global News Radio 630 CHED, Edmonton, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Clark, P. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Information Morning show, CBC (Syndicated), Halifax. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Laco, L. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Superior Morning show, CBC (Syndicated), Thunder Bay, ON, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  •  Zandbergen, R. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. London Morning show, CBC (Syndicated), London, ON, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Hillier, B. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Newfoundland Morning show, CBC (Syndicated), Corner Brook, NL, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Salome, A. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Qulliq show, CBC (Syndicated), Iqaluit, NU, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Connolly, M. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Edmonton AM show, CBC (Syndicated), Edmonton, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Gray, D. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. The Eyeopener show, CBC (Syndicated), Calgary, AB, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Caron, J. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Quebec AM show, CBC (Syndicated), Quebec City, QC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Walker, C. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. Daybreak South show, CBC (Syndicated), Kelowna, BC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Langenegger, S. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. The Morning Edition show, CBC (Syndicated), Regina, SK, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Quinn, S. (2020, June 22). Academic misconduct during the pandemic. The Early Edition show, CBC (Syndicated), Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Panico, G. (2020, June 19). CBC National News. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed).
  • Cummings, M. (2020, March 3) Cheating allegations at the U of A -- among computing science student. CBC News, Edmonton AM. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed). https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-17-edmonton-am/clip/15764006-cheating-at-the-u-of-a
  • Hiller, B. (2020, February 7) Exam cheating in Newfoundland. CBC Newfoundland Morning. (Eaton, S.E., interviewed). https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-210-cbc-newfoundland-morning
  • Daly, J. (2020, January 18). Academic dishonesty. Back on the Beat show. Global News Radio 980 CKNW., Vancouver, BC. https://globalnews.ca/bc/program/back-on-the-beat

Print / web media

Podcasts