The Collegian

Issue date: 11/21/06 Section: Feature

Media Credit: Annie Douglass

Even though the Academic Honor Code is now in its third year, the code and the Academic Honor Council (AHC) that implements it remain a mystery to many students.

"A significant portion of the student body has no clue what the Academic Honor Code is," said AHC Co-chair Brianna Hardy '07. Additionally, Shipra Bhalla '07, who co-chairs with Hardy, said, "Not a lot of people know about the council. If they do, they know very little."

"It's so hard to get the word across," said Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts Shawny Anderson, who is one of the original authors of the code. "We know it's a slow process."

Most students, if not all, have signed the pledge to obey the honor code. The AHC holds pledge ceremonies during freshman and transfer orientations. However, said Bhalla, "Only a few people pay attention."

Although students sign the pledge, some don't understand it. According to Anderson, the biggest challenge for the AHC is for everybody to understand what they committed to.

"I think students need to be aware of who they are, what they do, and the consequences of cheating, plagiarizing," said Erik Coloma '09, APASA vice president of student affairs. "I don't think the student body really knows what they do and who they are, especially."

Because there is a lack of awareness of the code and the AHC among students, Bhalla is worried that the wrong information will spread. Sometimes, stories spread of students supposedly suspended or expelled by the AHC. "I don't want people to get a bad impression of the council," said Bhalla.

As the AHC's Co-chairs, Bhalla and Hardy teach the integrity seminar that honor code violators have to take. The seminar meets for an hour and a half once a week for a total of six meetings. In the seminar, students learn about academic integrity through films, discussions, and projects.

Taking the seminar gives the student the opportunity to remove the "X" in the "XF" standard sanction. The sanction doesn't necessarily "scar the person's transcript," said Hardy. With an "F," the student can retake the course and get a better grade, thus erasing any evidence of the sanction. "We are giving the student so many chances," said Bhalla.

"A lot of people see [the code] as this threat of punishment, but that's not what it is at all," said Anderson.

Continued...

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