UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 30, Page 2
May 7, 1992
Senate provides options to handle academic dishonesty

     A  revised academic dishonesty policy that eliminates automatic
failure for cheating and allows professors "some elbow room" to
resolve minor cases themselves was passed at Monday's University
Faculty Senate meeting.
     Two other measures pertinent to students also were passed at the
meeting. One resolution forbids exams to be held on Reading Day, and
the other clarifies procedures and timetables for student grievances.
     Under the new academic dishonesty policy, a faculty member has
three ways of dealing with a case of academic dishonesty. The first
option permits a written reprimand or a requirement that the student
repeat the work. The second option allows the professor to assign a
lower or failing grade on the assignment or test, a lower or failing
grade in the course or removal of the student from the course. The
third option is direct referral of the case to the dean of students
for adjudication by the Undergraduate Student Judicial System.
     The first two options require the faculty member to forward to
the dean of students a statement summarizing the dishonest action and
the sanction. The student may contest the allegation within five days
and request a judicial hearing. Should a student be found guilty at
the hearing, the penalties can be no greater than what the professor
recommended.
     If the dean of students finds that the student is a multiple
offender, the professor will be asked to refer the case directly to
Undergraduate Student Judicial System.
     Direct referral to a hearing carries the minimum sanction of an
F/X grade if the student is found guilty. An X remains on the official
transcript until the student attends a special six-week course on
academic dishonesty.
     Robert Bennett, chairperson of the Committee on Student Life,
said that the earlier academic dishonesty policy was too elaborate and
that faculty  "find instances of dishonesty that don't require an F/X
grade."
     Although some senators objected to the lack of uniformity in
sanctions that will occur, the new policy passed by a vote of 36 to
14, with two  abstentions.
     In other action, the senate elected new officers and approved a
new honors degree in food science and a non-thesis option for a master
of mechanical engineering degree.
     The new officers for 1992-93 are Bonnie Scott, professor of
English, president; David Sperry, associate professor of life and
health sciences, vice president; and Judith Roof, associate professor
of English, secretary.
     In his remarks to the senate, Provost R. Byron Pipes said the
University has met three goals for next year's freshman class: to
increase the academic quality of the new admissions, to increase the
number of African-American students and to decrease the size of the
1992-93 class.
     Pipes said that next year's freshman class is projected to be
3,100 students, down 300 from this year. The average SAT scores of the
entering freshmen are up 12 points, for an average of 1035. And the
number of African-American students admitted has increased from 48 to
91.
     The University's Honors Program will have its largest class next
year, Pipes said, with 265 students making deposits, compared to 168
last year. The average SAT scores for these students is 1251.
     An additional $300,000 in scholarship funds was made available to
offer to the top 10 percent of the applicant pool, he said.
     -Cornelia Weil