Academic integrity policy may be implemented
After receiving support from the Education Policies Committee, the Academic Integrity Policy continues its way to Faculty Senate, where it could receive its final approval and become part of the University code.
During the EPC meeting yesterday, Scot Allgood, chairman of Academic Standards Committee, presented the policy to the committee with help from Jeri Brunson, graduate studies vice president for ASUSU. The Academic Standards sub-committee gave their support for the policy, Allgood said in his report. With the approval from the EPC, the policy will continue on to Faculty Senate, where Brunson said she thinks the odds are good it will pass.
The policy began in ASUSU with Brunson, Nick West, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences senator, Kevin Abernethy, academic senate president, and Brittany Woytco, Science senator, working to come up with a solution to the lack of a set policy for professors and students to follow when a student is accused of cheating, Allgood said. He also said there has been work on this issue since 1964, with the most recent changes in 2002. There have been attempts to pass a new policy by students, faculty and others, but none passed as the groups worked alone, Allgood said. This time there have been numerous groups involved, such as ASUSU, associate deans, the provost’s office, and regional campuses, Allgood said. As the groups who need to approve the policy have been involved in the forming of it, Brunson said she thinks this is the key to passing it this time.
“I’m quite happy with the process, it’s streamlined and we feel effective,” Allgood said.
Norm Jones, history department head, said he liked the idea, and having the policy formalized will be helpful. Currently there is no set policy for professors and students to follow concerning cheating and, as such, Brunson said she doesn’t know how widespread the issue of cheating is on campus.
If the policy passes the Faculty Senate at the end of April, Brunson said the next step will be to have the code put into legal terms, while the Information Technology department puts together the form online. As the policy will continue into the next academic year, Brunson said it will be up to next year’s ASUSU to make sure they follow through with the policy.
-alison.baugh@aggiemail.usu.edu