It appears on every syllabus, every semester: a reference to the university’s academic honesty policy. But that policy could be changed by the beginning of next semester.
A student-focused modification of the academic misconduct policies, procedures and committee may start as soon as January, said Dean of Students Michael White.
The decision to modify the policy came about in response to the fall 2002 cheating scandal where copies of a college algebra final exam were reproduced and sold to other students, White said.
“After this incident, we brought in a national expert on academic integrity who conducted several seminars to various groups on campus,” said White,
The expert, Donald McCabe, founding president of the Center of Academic Integrity at Duke University, suggested several changes.
“A committee was appointed to examine our present policies regarding academic honor and to perhaps recommend other policies,” White said.
The committee, made up of students, faculty and administration, drew up what is now the blueprint for the new policy, which is working its way through the approval process, he added.
Proposed changes include setting up a student judicial board to replace the academic honesty committee, which is composed mostly of faculty, and having each student sign a pledge to promise to uphold and promote academic integrity.
Another change will be the implementation of an XF sanction on transcripts, with the opportunity to have the X removed through successful completion of an academic integrity course, White said.
“I believe it is with the Faculty Senate now, and ultimately, it will end up with the Executive Council, which includes the president and vice president,” said White.
Associate Dean Thomas Bourgeois said he hopes students will take academic misconduct more seriously with the implementation of an all-student board.
“It sends a stronger message,” he said. “The students’ own peer group makes a more valid committee and, in many essences, it’s more open and fair.”
The new policy will create an environment where the students will feel a greater sense of responsibility, not only to their peers but also to themselves, said Associate Provost Ruth Prescott.
“Before, just an F was given for academic misconduct, and with the new policy, an XF will be given, with the option of erasing the X through successful completion of an academic ethics class,” she said. “So, if the student decides to not take the class, the X will represent a serious flaw in integrity.”
The signed pledge is symbolic and gives the students a sense of ownership of the policy, White said.
White also said he hopes an educational component will complement the integrity component.
“This education component will be one where a student will be able to go to a department, such as the learning center, to receive information regarding plagiarism, proper citation and other information that would be helpful in avoiding academic misconduct,” he said.