Code of Ethics being revised
The Student Code is being simplified, because at more than 100 pages, it’s so specific it’s ineffective, said Jim Stephenson, academic vice president for Associated Students of USU.
Each student at Utah State University is required to live by the Student Code, which maps out issues like cheating, plagiarism and other disorderly conduct that may go on at the university.
Stephenson said over the years the Student Code has been added to several times, individually naming situations and the disciplinary actions that should accompany it. Stephenson is leading a committee to consolidate and clarify the entire document.
Caryn Beck-Dudley, professor of ethics and a lawyer, is advising the committee. She said the student code is impractical.
“The current ethics code is very legalistic – and I’m a lawyer,” Beck-Dudley said.
She said her experience in business has shown naming individual situations helps people get around disciplinary action.
The committee, made up of ASUSU President Ben Riley, Natural Resources Senator Sandra Keil, Science Senator Brandon Hart, students Steve Neville and Peter Dawson and faculty members Beck-Dudley, Dallin Phillips and Ray Dueser, is working on simplifying the code to be broader. Although it is still in the beginning stages, Stephenson said when they finish the code, it will include fairness, integrity, respecting people and property. These types of statements encompass cheating on a test, plagiarizing a paper or yelling racial slurs.
Stephenson said the rewriting of the student code will not introduce any new rules.
“This is not like the Honor Code at BYU,” Stephenson said. “It’s really a positive thing and a simple thing.”
Beck-Dudley said she is helping the students on the committee with legalities.
“There are good ways and bad ways to create an ethical environment,” Beck-Dudley said.
She said the code’s overall purpose should be to help establish a place where people like to go to school.
One idea the committee has been thinking about is initiating a student review panel. The panel would investigate plagiarizing cases and other violations. Stephenson said studies have shown a peer review level of discipline reduces the rate of incidence.
The committee will meet with President Kermit L. Hall next week.
Stephenson said USU does not have a bad record for this type of behavior.
“This isn’t a negative reaction to things that have happened,” Stephenson said. “This will just be an umbrella over what is already in place.”
Once the code is easy to read and more accessible to students, students will know what is required of them and what the consequences are if it isn’t followed.
“There is a significant amount of research from across the country that an ethics code is a positive thing,” Phillips said.
The code is still being shaped, and Stephenson said he welcomes any input students or faculty may have. He can be reached in his office at 797-1726 or in the TSC Room 344.