Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of intellectual honesty—a responsibility of every student, faculty and staff member.ÌýThe Honor Code was designed to uphold our commitment to academic integrity by prohibiting all acts of academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to plagiarism, cheating, clicker fraud and resubmission of work.
The Honor Code procedures have recently changed in an effort to create a more streamlined and timely process. Changes to the Honor Code procedures affect the investigation and sanctioning of academic misconduct referrals. No changes have been made to prohibited academic conduct: Any and all acts of academic dishonesty by members of the Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder community are prohibited.
Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder Today discussed the changes with Jessica Doty, director of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Jeff Cox.
How do the changes impact students?
Doty: First and most importantly, Å·ÃÀ¿Ú±¬ÊÓƵ Boulder’s standards of academic integrity have not changed. All students are subject to the Honor Code on academic matters.
The process for investigating and sanctioning allegations of a violation of the Honor Code has changed.ÌýIn the past, students would meet with a hearing board comprised of three student panelists to determine if a violation occurred.ÌýIn the new process, students will meet with a professional staff member who works closely with students to investigate all reported acts of misconduct.
After the investigation, the case will be reviewed by the Faculty Student Advisory Board (FSר), which is comprised of three faculty members and three students to provide equal weight to faculty and student concerns; the FSר meets weekly to discuss and determine sanctions for misconduct. The FSר will discuss individual cases, outcomesÌýand sanctions.
How do these changes impact faculty?
Cox: The process of submitting Honor Code violations has not changed.ÌýFaculty may continue to , email or phone.ÌýFaculty continue to have full discretion on academic sanctions.
Under the new procedures, faculty will receive updates about the investigative process and will see cases adjudicated more quickly. Through the Faculty Student Advisory Board, faculty will have increased involvement in the discussion of sanctioning.
The Faculty Student Advisory Board will review trends related to academic misconduct, so that we can work to improve our students’ understanding of academic expectations.
Why were the changes made?
Doty: Changes made to the Honor Code procedures were enacted to promote a strong collaboration between faculty, staff and students and to streamline the process. Through this new model, faculty and students will come together to discuss issues and trends of academic misconduct.ÌýThis model ensures that students have a timely resolution to their infractions and that faculty receive updates throughout the process.
Cox:ÌýThese are important changes to the Honor Code process that ensure greater consistency and more timely resolution of Honor Code violations. The Boulder Faculty Assembly and its chair played an integral part in making these changes.ÌýThrough collaboration with our students and colleagues in Student Affairs, we have created a process that will improve the experience of our faculty, staff and students and continue to uphold our highest academic values. Ìý