The UCSD Academic Senate, under the advisory of the Committee on Educational Policy and the A.S. Council are currently re-evaluating the implementation of the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship - which outlines the circumstances and process under which a student may be charged with academic dishonesty – and have introduced a one-quarter statute of limitations under which professors can bring charges of academic dishonesty.
Under a new policy approved by the Academic Senate, professors must bring academic dishonesty charges against a student within one quarter of the alleged incident.
This year, CEP has launched what its members call the Academic Integrity Initiative to address recent student concerns regarding their rights when being accused of misconduct, and reconcile student’s and faculty views of cheating policies.
“”The logistics of the policy have not always been followed by faculty when dishonesty is in question,”” said A.S. Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Rabia Paracha, who has been a leading student voice in the discussion. “”That is why it is so crucial to have student voices on the Academic Senate to express our concerns.””
Members involved in the discussions have put pressure on faculty members to adhere to university policy when there is suspicion of cheating.
“”As part of the initiative, members of the CEP and other involved campus officials will visit departments to discuss this important matter with faculty,”” CEP Chair Scott Ashford and Academic Senate Chair Henry Powell said in a statement.
The Academic Senate provides a guide for instructors to prevent incidents of dishonesty as well as how to appropriately handle alleged misconduct.
The inefficiency of the system in which misconduct cases are heard and decided has been problematic for the policy’s implementation. While many cases are opened, some remain open for a considerable amount of time, depending on the severity and sensitivity surrounding the accusations, as well as the length of time involved in the hearing process.
In response to this concern, all matters of academic integrity were removed from the office of Student Policies and Judicial Affairs in 2005, which is responsible for other forms of misconduct, and were re-assigned to the Student Affairs department because academic misconduct is considered more serious than social misconduct.
A second major change involved the creation of a new full-time position under the title of Academic Integrity Coordinator. The position, currently held by Tricia Bertram-Gallant, is responsible for processing each case of alleged dishonesty, among other responsibilities.
“”Of the 33 hearings backlogged since I started my position at UCSD, we are now down to three left from that group,”” Bertram-Gallant said.
Charges are now subject to a statute of limitations under the new policy.
“”Now the professor has one quarter to report a case unless substantial new evidence is presented,”” Paracha said. “”This is important to many seniors who have been preparing for graduation and realize they are accused of cheating in a class they took a few quarters ago.””
The revisions have improved how academic misconduct cases are carried out now, according to Bertram-Gallant.
“”This discussion is fundamental to what we are doing at an educational institution,”” she said. “”It’s about creating a great space for teaching and learning.””
Last year, professors reported over 270 cases of suspected academic misconduct; however, this figure is limited by underreporting, according to Bertram-Gallant.
“”It would be safe to say that over half the undergraduates in the economics department are involved in academic dishonesty, but you can’t just fail half the class,”” teaching assistant Grayson Calhoun said. “”Most students don’t see copying on homework as cheating.””
The fine line between what is acceptable collaboration and what is considered dishonest has forced faculty and students alike to make sure the policy is clear.
“”I really don’t think any student comes to UCSD with the intension of cheating,”” Paracha said. “”It has a lot to do with the obscurity of what constitutes dishonesty.””
The Academic Senate will discuss relocating Bertram-Gallant to the Academic Affairs office in the coming months.
