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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> New Academic Integrity Policy
Post Info TOPIC: New Academic Integrity Policy
Delta Dawn

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New Academic Integrity Policy
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I learned today that the College of Business and Economic Development has adopted a new Academic Integrity Policy, reproduced below. Among other things, the policy prescribes the procedures whereby faculty are to report incidences of cheating, the hearings that may result from the reporting of infractions, the composition of the hearing committee, and the sanctions to be imposed, such as counseling, letter of reprimand, probation, suspension or expulsion from the college. Does this new CBED policy mean that each college within the university will ultimately develop its own set of guidelines? Does it apply only to students whose majors or in the CBED, or is it applicable to all students in the university who are taking courses within that college, regardless of major? The release, reproduced below, states that the CBED policy does not interfere with the university-level policy already in place. Does that mean that a student accused of cheating can choose which of the two sets of policies and procedures, e.g., college or university, will be followed? What was the rationalle for adopting a college policy rather than embracing the current university policy governing such matters? What are the differences between the new CBED policy and the current university policy? Why should the policy and procedures governing academic cheating and the other matters mentioned in the new CBED policy be different than those in the other colleges within the university? Does any other college at USM have a policy different than the currently existing univeristy policy? Might the existance of two such policies (CBED policy, university policy) be confusing for the student? This announcement says that this will be a first step in the creation of a campus-wide academic/integrity policy. Is it true that a university established in 1910 has yet to develop an academic/integrity policy? Is CBED the best unit to establish this "first step" in the development of a campus-wide academic/integrity policy? If so, were other colleges consulted as the new policy was developed? Was the new CBED policy been reviewed by the university attorney? Those are my questions. I trust that they were asked, and answered, as the new CBED policy was developed. I have one comment: I trust that no consideration is being given to decentralizing other major policy areas, such as those governing sexual harassment, among the various and sundry colleges within the university.


 


Interview Contact: Harold Doty (601) 266-4659


NEW ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY ADOPTED BY


COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 


            HATTIESBURG -- When students return to classes in the College of Business and Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi this fall, they’ll be subject to a new academic integrity policy recently adopted by the faculty.


            Intended to assure honesty in all classroom activities and research, the policy “recognizes that honesty and integrity are fundamental expectations in the academic and business community” and will be adhered to by all CBED administrators, faculty and students.


            “I believe this policy is a crucial component in the foundation that we are trying to build for students as they prepare for careers in the business world,” said Harold Doty, dean of the college. “The policy sets a clear standard for behavior in the academic setting. But beyond that, students need to understand the importance of integrity in the business world as well. Recent corporate debacles illustrate what happens when integrity lapses.”


            The policy outlines responsibilities for faculty, administrators and students, the reporting of violations and procedures for responding to violations.     


            Members of the college’s Academic Conduct Committee have worked since last September researching and putting the policy together, said chair Dr. Laurie Babin, professor of marketing. “I think having this policy in place sends the message that we don’t accept cheating in the CBED.”


Dr. Bill Smith, director of CBED graduate programs agrees. “Today’s business world has a new, improved definition of character, integrity and ethics. It is important that the students we send to the business world recognize and subscribe to the highest code of professional responsibility. While we have always practiced academic integrity on an individual basis, for ourselves and our classrooms, this new policy lays our standards out in the open where all good professional values belong.”


Faculty members will be required to inform students of the policy in each class at the beginning of the semester. Students must sign a form that will be kept on file stating that they understand and agree to comply with the policy.


            In addition to reporting incidents of cheating, faculty members also are responsible for specifying permissible and impermissible conduct for classroom activities, fair treatment of students and proper crediting of students’ work. According to the policy, violations of academic integrity may occur when there is “unauthorized and inappropriate behavior as defined by the instructor,” and it acknowledges that academic dishonesty can take many forms. The policy outlines areas of course work preparation, exam behavior, communications, use of university libraries and materials, and use of computer facilities.


            Violations may be handled in a number of ways including counseling the student, requiring other work or seeking college-level penalties that may include a letter of reprimand, probation, suspension or expulsion from the college.


            “Honor and integrity codes are appropriate in academic institutions,” said Dr. Eddie Holloway, Southern Miss dean of students. “Hopefully, the College of Business and Economic Development’s adoption of this code will serve as a first step in the creation of a campus-wide honor code and academic/integrity policy.  Codes establish expectations of academic performance and behavioral standards for students, faculty and staff.  They can also set ‘ground rules’ for common agreements for student life.”           


The CBED policy does not interfere with the university-level policy already in place, but, says Babin, will work in conjunction with it. The college’s Academic Conduct Committee will oversee the implementation of the policy and all hearings that may result from the reporting of infractions. It will comprise four faculty representatives, one from each of the four CBED academic units, plus one undergraduate student and one graduate student.



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natchezeagle

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Delta Dawn:


From what I hear, the policy was adopted so Dean Doty would have an accomplishment to list on his vita so that he would look like an impressive Dean when he goes job hunting.  I also heard a substantial portion of the CBED voted against implementation of the policy as well.  The whole university is becoming a joke by this point.



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Lost cause

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quote:
Originally posted by: natchezeagle
"Delta Dawn: From what I hear, the policy was adopted so Dean Doty would have an accomplishment to list on his vita so that he would look like an impressive Dean when he goes job hunting.  I also heard a substantial portion of the CBED voted against implementation of the policy as well.  The whole university is becoming a joke by this point."

You're right.  A substantial portion did vote against it.  One can only hope the "impressive" accomplishment is sufficient to remove him from CBED.



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Involved Student

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Lost cause
" You're right.  A substantial portion did vote against it.  One can only hope the "impressive" accomplishment is sufficient to remove him from CBED."

Yeah, I hear he is not the most cooperative Dean that Southern Miss has.


Out of curiousity... I am not completely familiar with the entire policy, so what were the reasons for voting against the policy? 


Also, does anyone have any insight on why this policy wouldn't simply be proposed to the administration for discussion and acceptance as a university-wide policy and not simply for one college?



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confused

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I'm a little confused here.  Do we now need 100 percent agreement to practice shared governance?  As I recall, almost 70% of the CBED faculty voted to adopt this policy.  It was developed by a faculty committee to help empower the faculty to deal with student cheating.  Im sure Doty was in favor of the idea, but I know he was not involved in the design of the policy.  How could this be interpreted as a negative thing? 

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dr. bice

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: confused
"I'm a little confused here.  Do we now need 100 percent agreement to practice shared governance?  As I recall, almost 70% of the CBED faculty voted to adopt this policy.  It was developed by a faculty committee to help empower the faculty to deal with student cheating.  Im sure Doty was in favor of the idea, but I know he was not involved in the design of the policy.  How could this be interpreted as a negative thing?  "
Not negative, more like silly.  I read the press release and the idea is laughable.  You say Doty wasn't involved in design, which I believe.  But, would the CBED even been considering such a thing without his suggestions to do so?  Probably not.

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elliott

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: confused
"I'm a little confused here.  Do we now need 100 percent agreement to practice shared governance?  As I recall, almost 70% of the CBED faculty voted to adopt this policy.  It was developed by a faculty committee to help empower the faculty to deal with student cheating.  Im sure Doty was in favor of the idea, but I know he was not involved in the design of the policy.  How could this be interpreted as a negative thing?  "
Actually, from what I heard the policy allows profs to insert little notes into students' files saying things like "I strongly suspect he/she cheated (in some way) in my class" w/out bringing any formal action against this student.  Faculty were urged to consult the files when writing rec letters, and if notes like this are in there, are encouraged to mention this in letters, etc.  From what I can tell, this type of a system violates students' right to due process and allows faculty to convict students (for all practical purposes) of cheating without meeting any sort of burden of proof.  The student is denied the right to confront his or her accuser.  The whole thing reeks of bad constitutional protection of due process if you ask me.  Exactly the kind of thing these blogs were set up to speak out against.  If it's true that it's simply a resume pad for someone, then that's even worse.

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Involved Student

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: elliott
"Actually, from what I heard the policy allows profs to insert little notes into students' files saying things like "I strongly suspect he/she cheated (in some way) in my class" w/out bringing any formal action against this student.  Faculty were urged to consult the files when writing rec letters, and if notes like this are in there, are encouraged to mention this in letters, etc.  From what I can tell, this type of a system violates students' right to due process and allows faculty to convict students (for all practical purposes) of cheating without meeting any sort of burden of proof.  The student is denied the right to confront his or her accuser.  The whole thing reeks of bad constitutional protection of due process if you ask me.  Exactly the kind of thing these blogs were set up to speak out against.  If it's true that it's simply a resume pad for someone, then that's even worse."

I agree!  This would mean that if just ONE professor adds a note in my file with suspection of me cheating in class, all of my professors from here on out could add on to that note and would cause problems with my academic career, even if I was honestly NOT cheating in any of my classes.  I do not like that idea at all.


I simply do not understand the concept of this policy, however.  What does this policy elaborate on that the current University-wide policy NOT cover?  And why wasn't this policy simply brought up as amendments to the current University-wide policy??  Why seclude it to simply one college?


Just my 2 cents.



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First Ant at the Picnic

Date:
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quote:




Originally posted by: elliott
". . . .  from what I heard the policy allows profs to insert little notes into students' files saying things like "I strongly suspect he/she cheated (in some way) in my class" w/out bringing any formal action against this student.  Faculty were urged to consult the files when writing rec letters, and if notes like this are in there, are encouraged to mention this in letters, etc." 


Elliott, I find it difficult to believe that a responsible faculty committee, anywhere, would incorporate such an outrageous statement as part of their academic integrity policy. I do hope what you heard is not true. Although stranger things have happened. For instance, once upon a time found a syallabus from a previous class someone had left in the classroom. The syllabus stated, "If I so much as suspect you are cheating in this course, you will receive an "F" on the test, an "F" in the course, and you will not be told why you got that F." Equally outrageous. If what you heard is true, however, then one of Delta Dawn's questions is answered: It is not likely that the new policy was reviewed and endorsed by the university attorney.



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