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By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu
The University Council has approved changes to “A Culture of Honesty,” the university’s academic honesty policy, that are intended to make the process for responding to cases of alleged student dishonesty “less legalistic and more educational.”
The policy, enacted by the council last year, is designed to encourage students to perform academic work without cheating, lying, plagiarizing, tampering or using other dishonest tactics. The policy includes steps for investigating alleged dishonesty and sets penalties for students found guilty of infractions.
But in its first eight months of operation, the policy has frustrated officials in the Office of the Vice President for Instruction who are responsible for administering it, David Williams, chair of the council’s Educational Affairs Committee, told the council.
According to a report presented by Williams, there were several problems with the policy:
- The process, which included an initial investigation by a student panel, was too lengthy, sometimes stretching over two semesters, and was complicated by the necessity of coordinating schedules of at least 12 people.
- The three minimum penalties allowed by the policy--a transcript notation, suspension for a semester or permanent expulsion--were so severe that some faculty have chosen not to send cases forward, and some students who have been charged have hired lawyers.
- The process was too legalistic, detracting from the policy’s main purpose of educating students about the importance of honesty and integrity.
A subcommittee of the Educational Affairs Committee studied the policy and suggested several changes, which the full committee endorsed and the council approved. The changes replace the investigation phase with a discussion between a faculty member and a student accused of a dishonest act. A trained facilitator will be present to keep the discussion focused on the educational aspects of honesty and to assure a fair meeting.
In cases that go to hearings, minimum penalties will include a fourth option--giving the student a grade of F for the course.
The changes “will make the process quicker, less legalistic and more educational,” Williams told the council. The changes go into effect immediately for all new cases brought to the Office of the Vice President for Instruction, Williams said. However, cases already in process, including some left from spring semester, will be brought to conclusion according to the old rules to assure fairness and consistency.
The council also gave final approval to several changes in the University Statutes and council bylaws. The statute changes include formalizing the positions of vice president for instruction and associate provost and of vice president for government relations, and making the president of Staff Council a member of the University Council Executive Committee. Another change increases the number of council meetings from at least two to three per semester.
The bylaw changes add a representative of Staff Council to the council’s standing committees on libraries, student affairs and facilities. At the request of one of its graduate student members, the council voted to increase student membership on the educational affairs and facilities committees and designate one seat for a graduate student.
In other action, the council approved a request to establish a Center for River Basin Science and Policy.
The next council meeting will be Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the law school auditorium. |
