Spring Break
Academic honesty policy changes on hold
NICK WARLICK
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Proposed changes to the University's academic honesty policy have been stalled, a University official said Tuesday.
Deborah Bell, coordinator of academic honesty for the University, said that while a subcommittee continues to meet on the subject, nothing has changed since proposals first were made last October.
The new proposal would make expulsion automatic for a student after he or she is found to have violated the honor code a second time.
However, Bell said the standstill is not necessarily a terrible thing, because the current system is advantageous to both students and professors.
"The current system allows students and teachers to come up with a suitable punishment," she said.
Changes to the University's policy were proposed last October in order to take pressure off professors who may not want a student's expulsion on their conscience.
Bell also said the current policy may explain the rise in reports of academic dishonesty, rather than increasing student cheating.
Bell said the most recent numbers from fall semester 2006 show 213 reports of academic dishonesty - a marked increase from the 72 violations reported in fall semester 2002.
She said professors usually do not mind dealing with the current policy and are less likely to ignore cheating to avoid personal guilt and the lengthy process associated with student expulsion.
Craig Piercy, director of the Terry College of Business master of Internet technology program, said the current academic honesty system is effective.
With 750 students on average in his classes each semester and effective software programmed by his department to detect infractions, Piercy said he has had a lot of experience with the policy.
The current teacher-student-facilitator meeting system helps keep academic honesty meetings professional and straightforward, he said.
He also said it is a system students can trust - one that keeps accusations in the open rather than "behind closed doors where shady deals can be made."
Deborah Bell, coordinator of academic honesty for the University, said that while a subcommittee continues to meet on the subject, nothing has changed since proposals first were made last October.
The new proposal would make expulsion automatic for a student after he or she is found to have violated the honor code a second time.
However, Bell said the standstill is not necessarily a terrible thing, because the current system is advantageous to both students and professors.
"The current system allows students and teachers to come up with a suitable punishment," she said.
Changes to the University's policy were proposed last October in order to take pressure off professors who may not want a student's expulsion on their conscience.
Bell also said the current policy may explain the rise in reports of academic dishonesty, rather than increasing student cheating.
Bell said the most recent numbers from fall semester 2006 show 213 reports of academic dishonesty - a marked increase from the 72 violations reported in fall semester 2002.
She said professors usually do not mind dealing with the current policy and are less likely to ignore cheating to avoid personal guilt and the lengthy process associated with student expulsion.
Craig Piercy, director of the Terry College of Business master of Internet technology program, said the current academic honesty system is effective.
With 750 students on average in his classes each semester and effective software programmed by his department to detect infractions, Piercy said he has had a lot of experience with the policy.
The current teacher-student-facilitator meeting system helps keep academic honesty meetings professional and straightforward, he said.
He also said it is a system students can trust - one that keeps accusations in the open rather than "behind closed doors where shady deals can be made."
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