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V. Operating Guidelines for Promotion and Education

V. Promotion and Education Guidelines

The University believes strongly in the concept of education as a method for encouraging and maintaining academic honesty. As a result, various methods are encouraged and required for the increasing educational awareness.

V. A. Promotion and Academic Integrity

V. A. 1. Syllabus Statement

All Undergraduate course syllabi shall contain a section that states and refers the student to the Honor Code Procedures on the University website. The minimum required statement is listed below. Additional information about the expectation of academic integrity in the particular course may be appropriate:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times.  I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Each student who enrolls at Virginia Tech is responsible for abiding by the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any graded assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectation of the Honor Code.

For additional information please visit: [INSERT Honor System Website]

V. A. 2. Addition of Honor Code Assignments

Adherence to the Honor Code is expected on all course assignments. Instructors are strongly encouraged to print the following on assignments and examinations and require each student to sign:

“On my honor, as a Virginia Tech student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this assignment.”
________________________________
Student Signature

This statement indicates that the student understands and has complied with the requirements of the Honor Code and the assignment as set forth by the instructor.

V. A. 3. Educational Website

The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity will maintain a website that brings together resources used to promote academic integrity and to address academic misconduct.  The website will contain information about the Undergraduate Honor System process, educational tips for both faculty and students designed to prevent academic misconduct, semester data updates, ways to get involved, the Honor Code, and the Honor Code pledge. The website will allow students and faculty members to report alleged incidents of academic misconduct to the Undergraduate Honor System.

The Undergraduate Honor System will be made up of students, instructional faculty, and members of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity’s staff and will be actively involved in developing and enforcing standards pertaining to academic integrity.

V.A.4. Development of Training Programs

The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity will offer training and programs on academic integrity to students, student organizations and through classes, seminars, programs, discussion groups, and other appropriate forums.

V.A.5. Integration of Honor Code into Existing Programs

Discussion of the Honor Code and academic integrity will be integrated into:

  • New student orientation/transfer orientation
  • The first meeting of every course
  • New faculty orientation
  • Graduate teaching assistant training
  • Faculty/staff in-service training
  • Hokie Camp

V.A.6. Dissemination of Academic Integrity Information

Written information about academic integrity to be disseminated to students and faculty will include:

  • Definitions of academic misconduct
  • Reasons why academic misconduct is prohibited
  • Expectations and responsibilities of students
  • Expectations and responsibilities of faculty and instructors
  • Procedures for reporting violations of the Student Honor Code

V.A.7. Additional Methods

V. A. 7. a.

The Honor Code statement will be printed in:

  • The Virginia Tech catalog
  • Admissions application material
  • Course syllabus in every course
  • The faculty/staff handbook
V. A. 7. b.

Periodic correspondence to be sent to faculty, instructors, staff, teaching assistants and student leaders will include:

  • Efforts to reduce academic misconduct
  • Relevant data on academic misconduct
  • Suggested improvements to policies and practices
V. A. 7. c.

As a symbol of the University’s commitment to academic integrity and the Honor Code, the Honor Code pledge shall be posted in  classrooms, dining facilities, recreational facilities and residence halls.  

V. A. 7. d.

Regular announcements about efforts to promote academic integrity will be communicated through the student media organizations.

V. A. 7. e.

Case results (without identifying information) will be regularly published in the student media.

V. A. 7. f.

Editorials will occasionally be written by the Honor System personnel in the student media.

V. B.  Training and Faculty/Student Assistance

As a part of its efforts to develop widespread education regarding academic integrity, the Undergraduate Honor System will develop various training and assistance programs.

V. B. 1. Training

Training on academic integrity/academic misconduct will be provided for all who teach, including graduate teaching assistants. This training will include information on:

  • Classroom atmospheres that promote academic integrity
  • Testing techniques that promote academic integrity
  • Definitions of academic misconduct
  • Prevention strategies
  • Strategies and rules for handling violations, i.e., referrals to the Undergraduate Honor System
  • Sanctions

V. B. 2. Faculty Assistance

Faculty assistance will take a variety of forms.

V. B. 2. a. Proctoring Service

A proctoring service will be created (as a function of the Undergraduate Honor System) to provide services by trained proctors for all tests where needed or requested.

V. B. 2. b. Plagiarism Detection Service

A plagiarism detection service will be made available for use by instructors and students where needed. Training in the appropriate use of this service will be provided to instructors and students.

V. B. 2. c. Academic Integrity Modules

Academic Integrity modules will be developed for faculty usage in the classroom.

V. B. 2. d. Case Assistance

Case assistance/consultation is provided for all instructors when alleged academic misconduct occurs, including:

  • Honor Code rules and procedures
  • Expectations for reporting and resolving cases of academic misconduct
  • Methods for gathering information
  • Strategies for presenting information at a hearing

V. B. 3. Student Assitance

Students will be assisted in numerous ways.

V. B. 3. a. Academic Integrity Module

The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity shall develop an online module that will be made available to all students and faculty. 

The module will address the Honor Code process, provide examples of what constitutes academic misconduct, and identify strategies that students can employ to avoid committing academic misconduct.

V. B. 3. b. Other Guidance

Guidance is provided to the accused student, including the following:

  • Honor Code policies and procedures
  • Expectations
  • Methods for preparing for hearings and appeals

V. C. Academic Integrity Education Program

The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity focuses on a Three-Part Intervention Strategy. The Office will develop and coordinate an Academic Integrity Education program that explores the ethical implications of the academic enterprise, including the creation and communication of new knowledge.

V. C. 1. Disciplinary Intervention

V. C. 1. a.

F* sanction

V. C. 1. b.

Requires participation in two components to remove the  *.

Educational Intervention: Academic Skills Enhancement Seminar

Academic Integrity Component:

  • What it is and why it is important
  • Examples of academic misconduct
  • Academic Skills Training Component:
    • Time Management
    • Study Skills
    • Test- Taking Skills
    • Writing Skills
    • Anxiety Management
    • Goal Setting
    • How to avoid academic misconduct
    • Assessment Component

Ethics/Ethical Decision Making Seminar

  • Case studies,
  • Discussions and written work regarding ethics,
  • Values, and
  • Moral development.

Successful completion of the Academic Integrity Education Program enables the student to petition the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity to delete the * dishonesty notation on the transcript. 

V. D.  Academic Integrity Research and Experiential Learning Opportunities

To ensure that the Virginia Tech campus is a community for which the Honor Code and academic integrity serve as the foundation, the Undergraduate Honor System will integrate its educational initiatives into residential life.

V. D. 1. Integration of Academic Integrity into Residential Life

The Undergraduate Honor System will create programs designed to provide educational materials to the residential communities on campus.

V. D. 2. Collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Research

The Undergraduate Honor System will collaborate with the Office of Undergraduate Research to engage undergraduate students in Undergraduate Research on Integrity and Academic Integrity

V. D. 3. Facilitation of Cross-Disciplinary Research on Academic Integrity

Efforts will be undertaken to develop research across disciplines on academic integrity.

V. D. 4. Creation of Student Organization to Promote Academic Integrity

The Undergraduate Honor System will create and sponsor a student organization designed specifically to assist in conducting educational programs on academic integrity.

Examples of the activities with which this organization will be involved include:

  • Sponsoring of Academic Integrity Weeks and Days
  • Creating and delivering academic integrity presentation