Resolutions on Procedures for Adjudicating Alleged Violations of Academic Integrity

Resolution I

Whereas, students have a vital stake in the maintenance of the highest standards of academic integrity at the University and are most directly injured by violations of academic integrity; and

Whereas, there is evidence that indicates that regardless of the specific provisions, students at honor code institutions report significantly less cheating than students at comparable schools without honor codes; and

Whereas, student leaders at Rutgers have expressed a strong interest in establishing student responsibility and control over the maintenance of standards of academic integrity;

Therefore be it resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council recommends and endorses the establishment of the maximum feasible student responsibility for and control of administration and enforcement as part of the new policy on academic integrity in New Brunswick; and

Be it further resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council recommends the adoption in New Brunswick of the principles of an honor code and those provisions of an honor code that are appropriate and workable.

 

Resolution II

Whereas, there is agreement among faculty that the procedures for adjudication and sanctioning are unsatisfactory; and

Whereas, these unsatisfactory procedures can act as a disincentive for faculty to report violations of academic integrity;

Therefore be it resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council recommends the development of procedures for the adjudication of charges of violating academic integrity be developed that would allow the complaining faculty member the option of limiting her/his role to that of a witness; and

Be it further resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council recommends that procedures be developed that would allow the complaining faculty member to make recommendations for sanctions for separable offense and that these recommendations would be given substantial weight.

 

Resolution III

Whereas, faculty have an indispensable role in educating students about standards of academic integrity, and

Whereas, faculty are situated best to identify instances when students violate these standards,

Therefore be it resolved that the New Brunswick Faculty Council recommends that consideration be given to the development of University programs that provide training for faculty to increase their awareness of the forms in which dishonesty may be manifest in all student work submitted for credit, and to apprise them of University policies and procedures for dealing with breaches of academic integrity.