Dear Editor,

We are writing to clarify some inaccurate information recently published by the Guardian within Joe Del Porto’s March 12 article, “”New Policy Redefines Cheating Accusation Process.”” Specifically, the article incorrectly states that “”charges are now subject to a statute of limitations under the new policy”” and implies that Tricia Bertram Gallant, the academic integrity coordinator, cites this “”revision”” as something that has “”improved how academic misconduct cases are carried out now.”” However, we wish to clarify that no policy changes have been made to incorporate such a “”statute of limitations”” for a professor to bring forward a charge of academic misconduct.

Gallant’s comment about improvements was about the creation of the academic integrity coordinator position and the move of academic misconduct administration from the office of Student Policies and Judicial Affairs to its current place under the direct supervision of Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Joseph W. Watson. The AIC is now responsible for receiving charges of misconduct from professors, forwarding them to the appropriate dean and scheduling academic misconduct hearings. The AIC and A.S. Council have worked closely together to ensure the efficiency and impartiality of the Academic Dishonesty Hearing Board, and the AIC regularly seeks out and includes student voices in decision making processes.

The AIC, college deans and the associate vice president of student advocacy, along with the associate vice president of academic affairs, have suggested policy changes to the Committee on Educational Policy, but at this point, no significant changes have been made to the Policy on Integrity of Scholarship since April 2006. Had either of us been aware of the intent of the article to announce a “”statute of limitations,”” it would have been possible to correct this misinformation before publication.

The original intent of the article, according to the sources quoted, was in regard to the potential move of the AIC from Student Affairs. While this move has been discussed, no decisions have been made at this time. We encourage the Guardian to speak directly with the Committee on Educational Policy and the Academic Senate before commenting further on the policy and any proposed or rumored changes. This will help to ensure that you publish correct and factual information.

-Lindsay Root, Tricia Bertram Gallant and Rabia Paracha

Associate Vice President of Student Advocacy, Academic Integrity Coordinator and Associate VP of Academic Affairs