Academic integrity policy reviewed
Changes made to speed up appeal process
MEGAN JONES/Assistant news editor
Issue date: 4/14/05 Section: News
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In order to give students facing plagiarism or cheating charges a timelier and fairer appeal process, Eastern's academic integrity committee is suggesting changes to the way such cases are handled by the university.
The Student Government Association Student Senate viewed the changes and made suggestions last Tuesday.
Judy Spain, co-chair of the ad hoc academic integrity committee, said the university does have an adequate system for dealing with student plagiarism or cheating situations, but a better policy focusing more on educating students about what is right and wrong when it comes to cheating should be on the top of the university's agenda.
"With the current policy we have minimal problems, but couldn't we do a better job?" Spain said. "Shouldn't that be our priority?"
As an institution, Spain said, the university should be showing why academic integrity and ethics are important to students and making sure they learn the right way to complete assignments instead of the wrong way, encouraging good behavior.
Members of the academic integrity committee, including Spain, suggested a better process that combines the appeal and judicial processes and is fairer and faster for students.
"The academic integrity office is faster," she said.
The policy suggested by the academic integrity committee says professors should confront the student after the cheating incident. If the professor chooses to continue investigating the situation and discovers that a violation has occurred, a report is to be sent to the Office of Academic Integrity. The professor also tells the student about the allegation and the right to contest the allegation. If the student takes responsibility for their violation, the case is closed, and the student cannot appeal after this.
If the student doesn't accept responsibility and chooses to appeal or contest the allegation of cheating, the professor will refer the case to the Academic Integrity Office within five class days after the meeting. The Academic Integrity coordinator will meet with the student, and if the student decides to take responsibility and not contest the allegation, the case is closed and there is no appeal from this decision.
The Student Government Association Student Senate viewed the changes and made suggestions last Tuesday.
Judy Spain, co-chair of the ad hoc academic integrity committee, said the university does have an adequate system for dealing with student plagiarism or cheating situations, but a better policy focusing more on educating students about what is right and wrong when it comes to cheating should be on the top of the university's agenda.
"With the current policy we have minimal problems, but couldn't we do a better job?" Spain said. "Shouldn't that be our priority?"
As an institution, Spain said, the university should be showing why academic integrity and ethics are important to students and making sure they learn the right way to complete assignments instead of the wrong way, encouraging good behavior.
Members of the academic integrity committee, including Spain, suggested a better process that combines the appeal and judicial processes and is fairer and faster for students.
"The academic integrity office is faster," she said.
The policy suggested by the academic integrity committee says professors should confront the student after the cheating incident. If the professor chooses to continue investigating the situation and discovers that a violation has occurred, a report is to be sent to the Office of Academic Integrity. The professor also tells the student about the allegation and the right to contest the allegation. If the student takes responsibility for their violation, the case is closed, and the student cannot appeal after this.
If the student doesn't accept responsibility and chooses to appeal or contest the allegation of cheating, the professor will refer the case to the Academic Integrity Office within five class days after the meeting. The Academic Integrity coordinator will meet with the student, and if the student decides to take responsibility and not contest the allegation, the case is closed and there is no appeal from this decision.
