Ad Hoc Honor Code Committee

1999-00 Annual Report

Submitted 5/2/00 by Kathleen V. Schreiber, Chair

1999-2000 Members (elected by faculty senate)	Department
K. Schreiber, Chair	Geography
J. McLarnon	History
J. Rudden	Elem & Early Childhood Education
S. Hoffman	Elem & Early Childhood Education
J. Craven	English
J. Miller	Philosophy
J. George	Library
G. Nesbitt	Wellness and Sports Science
C. Phillips	Academic Programs and Services

Meetings:
The committee was established by faculty senate in early March 2000. Two meetings took place in the academic year-on March 30, 2000 and April 27, 2000. The first meeting focused on the charge of the committee as provided by faculty senate, introducing members, and reviewing current MU policy on academic integrity. The committee agreed that MU policy, at minimum, should be modified and expanded. Jill Craven explained the basics of an honor code system. Finally, each of the members present agreed to explore the present academic integrity policies of particular agreed-upon universities (focus universities). Included in this list were a number of SSHE schools, universities in southeastern Pennsylvania, Penn State, University of Delaware, and a number of universities with well-established honor codes. It was agreed that comments from faculty with previous experience with honor codes should be solicited by email, and this was done. Following the meeting, Jessica George distributed a number of articles on use and success of honor codes in higher education.

At the second meeting, plans were made for preparing for a faculty forum on honor codes and the potential introduction of an honor code at MU. This faculty forum was initially suggested by Steve Centola and Terry Madonna, and presented to the committee chair via Joel Piperberg, chair of faculty senate. It was agreed the forum should take place in early fall 2000, and a short paper defining an honor code and its benefits/drawbacks should be distributed to faculty before such a meeting. Also at this committee meeting, the comments from faculty with experience with honor codes were reviewed, and academic integrity policies of a number of the focus universities were summarized. It was noted that most non-honor-code schools working diligently on improving academic integrity actively and frequently discuss the issue in numerous ways with students. It was agreed that in order to be prepared for the faculty forum this fall, committee members should focus intensively this summer on gaining a full knowledge of what an honor code is, how it is applied, benefits/drawbacks of such a policy, and what its alternatives are. Focus university academic integrity policies and the distributed honor code manuscripts were to be used to these ends. Each member was asked to develop a vision for how academic integrity should be addressed at MU.

Motions forwarded to Senate:
None.

Other deliberations/actions:
None.

Matters currently in committee:
The group is focused on gaining an understanding of the range of academic integrity policies used, what an honor code is, and how it is applied. Preparation is being made for a faculty forum on honor codes in fall 2000. The ultimate goal is to advise the faculty senate on the feasibility and advisability of an honor code at MU.

Future Plans:
A faculty forum will be held during fall 2000 on the honor code form of academic integrity. The committee will report on its progress to faculty senate in fall 2000. The committee will present its final recommendation to faculty senate in spring 2000.

Additional Information Comments:
None.

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