VII. Undergraduate Honor System Personnel

The Undergraduate Honor System personnel shall consist of the members of the Honor Council, hearing panel members, case facilitators, and the staff in the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. The Director of the Office of Academic Integrity or designee, when circumstances dictate, may appoint substitutes for any Undergraduate Honor System personnel in any case before the Undergraduate Honor System. The duties of each of these positions are discussed below.

VII. A. Honor Council

The Honor Council consists of faculty and students.

VII. A. 1. Honor Council Membership

The Honor Council shall consist of the following members.

VII. A. 1. a. Chair of the Honor Council

The Chair of the Honor Council shall be a member of the instructional faculty appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Executive Vice President and Provost in consultation with the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. The duties of the Chair of the Honor Council include the following:

Chair Honor Council meetings,
Assist in educating faculty on the Undergraduate Honor Code,
Serve as a liaison between the Honor Council and the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity, and
Coordinate orientation of new Honor Council faculty members.

VII. A. 1. b. President of the Honor Council

The President of the Honor Council shall be a student appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Executive Vice President and Provost in consultation with the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. This student must hold at least second-semester sophomore standing at the time of appointment, and should have served at least one academic year in the Undergraduate Honor System. In addition to the duties delegated to the Honor Council Delegates, duties of the President of the Honor Council include the following:

Chair Honor Council appeal hearings when delegated,
Provide oversight, under the direction of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity, of the students who serve in leadership roles in the Undergraduate Honor System,
Coordinate training of new Undergraduate Honor System student leaders,
Assist in investigating cases of alleged academic misconduct,
Assist in appointing Case Facilitators to participate during the Faculty-Student Resolution Process,
Serve on the appropriate University committees and commissions, and
Serve as a liaison between the student leaders and the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity.

VII. A. 1. c. Vice President of the Honor Council

The Vice President of the Honor Council shall be a student appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Executive Vice President and Provost in consultation with the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. The Vice President should have completed at least one semester of service in the Undergraduate Honor System. In addition to the duties delegated to the Honor Council Delegates, the duties of the Vice President of the Honor Council include the following:

Coordinate campus programming and outreach initiatives designed to educate students on the Undergraduate Honor Code,
Assume the duties of the President of the Honor Council in his/her absence, and
Serve as a liaison between the Vice Chairs/Peer Mentor of the Honor Council and the President of the Honor Council.

VII. A. 1. d. Honor Council Delegates

The Honor Council Delegates shall be appointed by the Honor Council with the approval of the Dean of the college in which the student is enrolled and the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity. Appointees should have at least one term of service in the Honor System at the time of appointment. Duties of the Honor Council Delegates include the following:

Select, with other honor system personnel, the panel members for cases,
to chair hearing panels,
Conduct administrative hearings,
Meet with students who are accused of academic misconduct,
Conduct case investigations,
Discuss the hearing process with individuals who will be participating in a hearing panel
Serve as case facilitators during the Faculty-Student Resolution Process, and
Assist in the training and orientation of Honor System personnel.

VII. A. 1. e. Faculty Honor Council Members

Five faculty Honor Council members will be appointed as follows:

Two administrative, instructional, or library faculty members who will be appointed to four-year terms appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Executive Vice President and Provost in consultation with the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity, and
Three instructional or library faculty members who will be appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Executive Vice President and Provost to staggered four-year terms.

VII. A. 2. Duties of the Honor Council

The Honor Council will perform the following functions:

VII. A. 2. a.

Serve as an appeal hearing body

VII. A. 2. b.

Assist in the University’s education and outreach efforts on Academic Integrity,

VII. A. 2. c.

Serve as an advisory body to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity, and

VII. A. 2. d.

Select the President of the Honor Council by:

Receiving applications from those who wish to serve in the capacity of President of the Honor Council,
Reviewing these applications and interview all applicants,
Recommending to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity from among these applicants a nominee for the position of President of the Honor Council,

VII. A. 2. e.

Recommend to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity the Executive Vice President for the Honor Council,

VII. A. 2. f.

Recommend to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity Vice Chairs of the Honor Council, and

VII. A. 2. g.

Assist in the education and training of Honor System personnel.

VII. A. 3. Honor Council Term Limits

No faculty member or administrator shall serve on the Honor Council more than two consecutive four-year terms. Students serve one -year terms that are renewable each year.

VII. B. Hearing Panels

The formal hearing panels will be drawn from two groups: students and faculty.

VII. B. 1. Student Panel Members

The Undergraduate Honor System shall maintain a list of undergraduate students who have volunteered to serve as hearing panel members. To be eligible, students must have completed one semester at Virginia Tech, not have been found responsible for an Undergraduate Honor Code violation, and be in good standing both academically and with the Office of Student Conduct.

VII. B. 2. Faculty Panel Members

The Undergraduate Honor System shall maintain a list of eligible instructional faculty whose names have been submitted by the Dean of each college.

VII. C. Case Facilitators

The Undergraduate Honor System shall maintain a list of eligible faculty and students who have volunteered to assist during the Faculty-Student Resolution Process as well as serve as a resource for students and faculty who are participating in an Undergraduate Honor System hearing.

During the Faculty-Student Resolution Process, a Case Facilitator will serve as a neutral party to explain the Undergraduate Honor System process, ensure fairness, and facilitate meetings designed to resolve cases of alleged academic misconduct. Case Facilitators will also be available upon request to explain the hearing process and assist with preparation for those who have an upcoming hearing.

VII. D. Professional Staff

The staff in the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity shall provide administrative oversight to the Undergraduate Honor System.

VII. E. Removal for Cause

Honor System personnel appointed by the Honor Council may be removed for cause by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Honor Council members present and voting.

In the case of the Chair or President of the Honor Council, in addition to a vote of at least two-thirds of the Honor Council members present and voting, removal requires the concurrence of the Executive Vice President and Provost.

Except for the President of the Honor Council, Honor System personnel removed for cause may appeal their removal to the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity.

Removal for cause includes failure to maintain membership eligibility, being found responsible of an Honor Code violation, conduct unbecoming a member of the Honor System, and failure to faithfully discharge the duties of the appointed office.