A total of 250 cases were heard for student violations of the VCU Honor System during the 2008-09 academic year, this number represents an increase of 65 from the 195 cases in the previous year.
According to the 2008-09 Annual Report for the VCU Honor System, released August 13, the Office of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity heard 206 undergraduate cases during the 2008-09 academic year, an increase of 44 from last year (162). The majority of cases involved cheating and plagiarism. The most common sanctions were a grade of ‘0’ for the assignment or a failing grade for the course.
The report stated the OJAAI heard 44 cases involving graduate and professional students, an increase of 14 from last year (30). The Honor Council heard 43 cases, an increase of one from last year (42).
“I think there’s been a gradual increase in the numbers,” said the Director of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity Karen Belanger.
The executive board, who reviewed the data, recommended more efforts be made to educate faculty and staff and increase participation in the honor system.
Despite the recent job cuts, Belanger said she does not suspect there will be less application of the honor policy.
The rise in student violations of the honor system might be attributed to multiple circumstances, according to Belanger. There are often periods of stabilization and then technology changes or the trends change and the numbers may go up as trends stabilize again.
Belanger said the increased enrollment in the university along with the awareness and utilization of the honor system for students, faculty and staff affects the number of violations.
“The Center for Teaching Excellence (works) with faculty to help them to be aware of new technologies,” Belanger said. “Faculty may change their testing methods or how they structure an assignment. It’s not necessarily a reflection that more students are violating the policy. It may just be that more incidents have been recognized.”
Coordinator for Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity Kevin Heise said he agreed with Belanger that the rise in student violations might be attributed to more than just increased enrollment.
The number of faculty being educated is increasing along with the volunteers who serve on the honor council.”
The Executive Board tracks the types of violations (plagiarism, cheating, facilitation, lying or stealing), results of cases (responsible, not responsible, withdrawn or pending), sanctions (honor probation, an “F” or “0” on assignment, an “F” or “0” in the class, suspension, expulsion or revocation) and general student information (name, year, school).
According to Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students Reuban Rodriguez, the honor system was revised in 2007 and shifted from individual schools and colleges to the OJAAI for a more centralized honor system.
Since 2007, the OJAAI has been responsible for processing all undergraduate, graduate, and professional student violations and educating the different schools about the honor process and policy for several years according to Belanger.
Belanger said any accused student is assumed to have not violated the policy until the investigation is completed. Students are encouraged to continue participation in the course because some students are found not responsible.
The honor policy states that a student will be tried by honor council members from their department or college so a large pool of volunteers is utilized by the OJAAI. The list of honor council and adviser volunteers includes 140 members, according to Belanger.
“The overall goal is to protect the students who are putting in the time, the effort and the work and doing things with integrity,” Belanger said. “We hope through the Executive Broad and the Honor Council to get to a point or a climate where the entire university community participates.”
How will the Office of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity contact students regarding an alleged infraction?
What is the judicial process?
The Office of Judicial Affairs & Academic
Integrity receives and reviews the allegation.
An appointment letter is sent to the student via US Mail and VCU e-mail.
The judicial officer meets with the accused and witnesses as necessary and appropriately.
The student can choose from three options for adjudication of the matter:
– Administrative adjudication: The judicial officer determines if the student is responsible and if sanctions should be imposed.
– The University Hearing Board: A panel with faculty, staff and student representation determines if the student is responsible and if sanctions should be imposed.
– Withdraw from the university: The students opts to withdraw from the university before the judicial process runs its course; a hold is placed on the student’s future registration at the university.
Can students appeal the finding or the sanction?
A student may appeal a determination of guilt and/or a sanction by the University Hearing Board decision. The appeal is heard by the University Appeal Board. The University Appeal Board issues a recommendation, which is reviewed by the university president. The president’s decision is final.
Information provided by the Office of Judicial Affairs and Academic Integrity at www.students.vcu.edu/judicialaffairs.