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Frequently Asked Questions by Faculty
What is “academic dishonesty” here at UNC? I have my own views on what that idea means. The Honor Code discusses “academic dishonesty” in the following terms:
The Code’s language clarifies expectations in a number of respects. For example:
The Honor Code thus provides faculty with a set of baseline prohibitions designed to cover a range of academic situations. Faculty members are invited and encouraged to flesh out details, for example, by requiring students to conform to the relevant conventions in their discipline for referencing the work of others and following instructions on permitted collaboration. See the resources page on this website for more information. What kinds of misconduct are common here and when do they occur? What should I watch out for? Research has shown that problems of academic misconduct can arise most commonly when faculty and student perceptions of what’s required are inconsistent. It appears that cut-and-paste plagiarism from the Internet and unauthorized collaboration have increased significantly in recent years across the country. It also appears that problems arise most commonly in large classes where students feel anonymous, and in some kinds of business and science classes. During the 2002-2003, the UNC Undergraduate Honor Court heard 80 cases involving academic misconduct, 44 involving misconduct against persons (harassment, drugs, or other misconduct), and 15 involving other misconduct adversely affecting university interests (such as violations of the technology policy). Why does UNC have an Honor Code? UNC has a long history of relying on the Honor Code as a fundamental aspect of student self-governance. In its 2003 resolution restating the faculty’s commitment to the Honor Code, the Faculty Council stated that, at UNC,
Recent studies have shown that honor codes are an especially effective tool for assuring that students take their obligations as members of academic communities seriously. Do students themselves have to report cheating? Do I have to report cheating? Under UNC’s Honor System, students are encouraged but not required to report misconduct by others. Students take an honor pledge that states that “Under the Honor System, I am on my honor not to lie, cheat or steal, and further to see to it, as much as possible, that my fellow students do the same.” Pursuant to resolution of the Faculty Council, faculty members are, however, required to:
More information on why faculty members at UNC have long expected each other to report misconduct is available here. What should I do if I suspect that a student has cheated? Faculty may take a number of steps if they suspect that a student has cheated.
What should I do if there are several students with similar papers but I don’t know who is at fault? Faculty members generally find that in such instances it is wise to ask students to meet with them individually. An approach to conducting such meetings is outlined in the section of this website devoted to suggestions for handling misconduct. If I want to just go ahead and meet with a student I think has cheated, can I do that? If they confess, can I just handle the matter myself? Faculty members are encouraged to meet with students individually so that they can take advantage of the “teachable moment” and encourage students to take responsibility for their actions. On the other hand, such meetings should not involve efforts to intimidate students or for taking unilateral action inconsistent with the Honor System here at UNC. As part of the recent reform of the campus Honor System, a new type of “expedited hearing” is available in instances in which a) the student takes responsibility for his/her conduct, b) the facts are clear, and, c) the Student Attorney General agrees. It is important to route matters through this system so the campus can track the kinds of misconduct that may occur and take systematic steps to improve things. Under the new Honor System revisions, faculty members are invited to recommend the appropriate sanction to be imposed in instances in which students takes responsibility for their actions, and the expedited hearing system provides a means for prompt resolution and structured oversight through the Dean of Students office. I’ve heard that it’s a hassle to report students through the Honor System. Is that true? What happens if I report a situation? What rights to I have? What rights do the students have? In 2002-2003, the Honor Code was completely revised to clarify the kinds of conduct that is prohibited, sanctions imposed, and procedures used. There is now a very simple mechanism for faculty use in reporting suspected student misconduct, an on-line reporting form. New timelines have been implemented to assure prompt handling of cases, and an expedited hearing process has been developed to allow students who accept responsibility for their conduct to move immediately to the sanctioning phase of the process, if the Student Attorney General agrees. In addition, faculty members who suspect students of misconduct have a right (at their discretion) to meet informally with the students before reporting the suspected misconduct, if the students agree. They also have the right to recommend a failing grade (as to a particular assignment, course component or aspect, or the course as a whole), and to have that recommendation imposed by the Honor Court if the charged student is found guilty. In addition, faculty members who report suspected misconduct are entitled to attend most portions of the Honor Court proceedings, have their names or other personally identifiable information withheld from release to the public, the press, or others who are not direction involved in the case. They are also entitled to be notified of the outcome of the case if a legitimate educational interest is involved. More detailed information is available in Appendix C of the Code. Students charged with academic misconduct have a right to receive relevant information; to be represented by a student counsel (but not a lawyer); to review evidence and present witnesses; to be presumed innocent and be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the course of a fair hearing; and to pursue an appeal based on narrowly circumscribed grounds. Who actually is responsible for the operation of the Honor System? Are faculty members involved so that they can be sure that the system works fairly and reaches sound results? The ultimate responsibility for student discipline rests with the Chancellor, pursuant to University Board of Governors policies. The Chancellor has delegated many of the day-to-day oversight responsibilities to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the Judicial Programs Officer. When appeals are taken in connection with findings of student violations, University Hearings Boards include at least two faculty members, along with two students and an administrator. The Committee on Student Conduct (which includes at least three faculty representatives appointed by the Chair of the Faculty) has oversight responsibility and reports annually to the Faculty. As part of the recent Honor System reforms, five faculty members appointed by the Chair of the Faculty serve on the Faculty Honor System Advisory Committee. Student Judicial Officers for the Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Schools are responsible for the Honor System’s day-to-day operation, decisions to bring charges, and handling of hearings. I’ve heard that it takes forever to get a result from the Honor System. Is that right? In most instances, a decision whether to charge the student suspected of misconduct is to be made within 30 days of a report, with a hearing to be scheduled as soon thereafter as circumstances permit. Information on the length of time between submission of a complaint and resolution are available through the Student Attorney General’s Office. Can I go ahead and enter a grade if I find that a student has cheated? No. Faculty members are expected pursuant to Faculty Council legislation to report suspected misconduct and allow it to be handled through the Honor System. They may complete other facets of grading but should file a “No Grade” (“NG”) for the course pending resolution of the Honor Code report. What happens if the student’s parents start calling me and telling me I should drop the charges? What if the student comes in and says they’ll lose the job they’ve lined up after graduation? Parents are not automatically informed when a student is suspected of an Honor Code violation, since such allegations are covered by federal privacy law and must be kept in confidence unless the student consents. It is therefore relatively unlikely that parents will contact the instructor who referred the matter. If parents do contact a faculty member, they should be referred to the office of the Student Judicial Officer or the Dean of Students. Likewise, if a student contacts a faculty member who has referred a matter to the Student Attorney General, the student should be advised that they should confer with the Student Attorney General about the process, time lines, and possible sanctions associated with alleged misconduct. Faculty members are strongly urged to simply submit the information needed for an evaluation of suspected misconduct to the Student Attorney General, together with a recommendation on the appropriate sanction, if they choose to make one. They should not decline to submit such information simply because the student pleads hardship, but should instead leave sanctioning to the student’s peers within the framework provided by the Honor Code. What kind of sanctions do students face if they’re convicted? Do they fail the class? Do I have any say in that? In instances of academic dishonesty, students generally receive a grade penalty (an F on the assignment, course component or aspect, or course); and either suspension or probation, often with additional educational requirements (perhaps writing a paper, taking another course, participating in a program offered by the Writing Center, or something of that sort). The instructor has the right to recommend which type of grade penalty should be imposed depending on the circumstances. For example, the instructor might recommend an F in the course for egregious conduct on a major paper, or an F on a course component such as a quiz or homework assignment early in the course if the student takes responsibility and behaves appropriately in all other respects. Additional details on sanctions are provided in the Code. I’ve heard from colleagues that students never get convicted through the Honor System. Is that right? No. During the 2002-2003 academic year, 75% of students who were charged with misconduct under the Honor System were found guilty and received sanctions. Faculty members should bear in mind that federal privacy law mandates strict confidentiality regarding students’ educational records except in narrow instances (for example of educational necessity) absent a waiver by the student. As a result, it is not likely that anyone other than Honor System personnel and the referring professor will be aware of the outcome or be allowed to discuss it. One of my teaching assistants has just told me that they think they’ve got a cheating incident in one of the lab sections. I’m not sure whether that’s my responsibility or his. What should I do? Under Faculty Council legislation, departments and faculty members are strongly urged to provide training and counsel to teaching assistants who are at the early stage of their careers and thus may lack expertise on how to handle such matters. If asked by the teaching assistant, a supervising faculty member should offer advice and assistance in evaluating the circumstances and following through as appropriate with submission of a report. As the instructor in question, the teaching assistant is expected to follow the same rules that govern long-term faculty members in carrying out his or her responsibilities under the Honor Code. Teaching assistants may also wish to contact the Center for Teaching and Learning for advice, and are encouraged to review information provided by the Graduate School on dealing with academic misconduct in a variety of settings. I suspect a student who’s been struggling this semester has submitted a paper written by someone else. I’m afraid that this student is emotionally unstable and will hurt themselves if I report them. Are there any resources on campus that I can tap to get help? I’m really afraid to get involved, particularly since I’m trying to get work done that I have to finish to come up for tenure. What should I do? Faculty members should feel free to contact the UNC Counseling and Psychological Services Office or the Student Health Service. Many other useful resources on working with distressed students are available on line (for example, fromSan Diego State University). Faculty members are encouraged to talk with experienced colleagues and with the Dean of Students or Judicial Programs Office if faced with difficult situations. I’ve heard that if I report an international student for academic misconduct, they’ll lose their status and get deported. Is that right? A variety of special issues can arise in working with international students. For example, it may be particularly important to provide clear explanations of conventions for referencing authority and working collaboratively, since students for whom English is a second language may find it difficult to master research, writing, and citation skills at the same time, or may come from cultures that have different understandings about independent and collaborative activity. The International Center can provide further assistance upon request. If an international student is suspected of academic dishonesty, the instructor should nonetheless report the misconduct so the matter can be addressed by the Student Attorney General, taking into account all the facts and circumstances. I’ve heard that graduate students who violate the Code get thrown out of their program. That seems pretty harsh. Graduate and professional students, as well as undergraduates, must comply with the Honor Code, although cases involving such students are handled by the Graduate School, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy Attorneys General. If a graduate student engages in academic dishonesty and is found guilty, he/she will receive an F in the course (or a course component, as recommended by the instructor) and suspension or probation for a semester. The Honor Code specifies that the pertinent academic program must evaluate the significance of such a sanction for retention or ordinary progress in the program according to its own policies, rather than imposing immediate expulsion by virtue of conviction under the Honor Code. Contact the Judicial Program Office as listed at the end of this discussion for specific information on how to reach the student attorney general serving your school or program. I don’t teach undergraduates, only graduate students in one of the professional schools. Am I supposed to treat misconduct the same way that the campus treats undergraduates? I think that misconduct by professional students is much more serious since I don’t want someone dishonest injuring the public later on. Graduate and professional school students are subject to the same minimum requirements of compliance with the Honor Code as are undergraduates. Depending on their discipline, graduate students may receive intensive training in research methods and work closely with their professors in the laboratory or on publications. Professional school students generally receive early instruction in the importance of high standards of professionalism and the consequences of academic dishonesty that may have to be reported to licensing authorities upon graduation. Cases involving graduate and professional school students are handled by their peers, rather than undergraduates and faculty members reporting suspected misconduct should hold students to the standard they believe appropriate in their discipline in assessing the gravity of suspected misconduct and recommending appropriate sanctions. Information on how to contact the graduate school attorney general is available at the end of this set of questions. Will colleagues think I’m a bad teacher if I report students for cheating in my class? Who gets to hear about what happened? Reports of suspected misconduct are treated on a confidential basis by the Student Attorney General and other personnel involved through the Judicial Programs Office as explained in the pertinent provisions of the Honor Code. It is often very helpful to consult with a colleague in dealing with academic misconduct cases, particularly in doing so the first time. If a faculty member chooses, he or she may seek counsel from the Honor System Faculty Advisory Committee, which includes experienced faculty members who can provide reassurance that even the very best teachers may have to confront problems of this sort at some point in their careers. The Center for Teaching and Learning also provides helpful advice and may be contacted here. Where can I complain if I think the system hasn’t handled a situation I reported in the right way? The Student Attorney General’s Office and Honor Court has developed an evaluation form that those involved are invited to complete at the end of each case so that the Honor System can continue to improve through constructive feedback. If problems are encountered, faculty members may also contact the Student Judicial Officer and the Dean of Students, the chair of the Committee on Student Conduct, or members of the Honor System Faculty Advisory Committee. Contact information is provided at the end of this list. I’m concerned about other kinds of student misconduct. What happens if a student acts up and disrupts class? What about if I’m concerned that a student is being stalked or downloading files illegally? The Honor Code addresses many other types of student misconduct, in addition to academic dishonesty. Classroom disruption, stalking, abuse of campus resources and technology, driving under the influence, violations of drug laws, fighting, harassment, hazing, theft, and other forms of misconduct are also violations as explained in the Code. What can I do to discourage cheating in my classes and my lab? This website includes extensive information and suggestions on how to discourage cheating in classes and labs. For example, faculty members are strongly encouraged to include statements on the importance of academic integrity as part of their syllabi, and to provide specific guidance on expectations about dealing with authority and appropriate collaboration in connection with assignments and exams throughout their courses. Additional resources are provided on this website concerning plagiarism, tutorials and quizzes for students on this subject, research ethics, and possibilities for integrating problems and discussions of ethics into a wide range of classes. Are there any resources available to faculty for explaining the Honor Code? How about for helping me raise other kinds of issues of integrity in the classroom? How can I get more involved? This website includes materials for faculty, students, and parents on the Honor Code. Resources are provided for explaining not only the UNC Honor System, but also plagiarism (including handouts and quizzes), and research ethics. Links to resources useful in integrating a discussion of ethics and integrity into a variety of courses are also provided. In addition, the Center for Teaching and Learning has developed an extensive library of books, monographs, and multimedia resources for use in and outside of class, as listed elsewhere on this site. In addition, the Honor System Outreach Coordinator would be happy to arrange for students and faculty members actively involved in the campus Honor System to speak to classes, groups, or departments on campus upon request. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to take an active role in strengthening the culture of honor on the UNC campus and invited to become more involved in many different ways. How can I get advice about the Honor System and how it applies? Faculty members are encouraged to contact the Student Attorney General, Judicial Programs Officer, or members of the Honor System Faculty Advisory Committee at any time.
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