1. First-Year Writing Orientation Policies Concerning Students: FERPA & The Honor Code
Jason Ciejka,
Assistant Dean, Office for Undergraduate Education
August 19, 2016

2. Agenda FERPA The Honor Code
Defining, Detecting, and Preventing Plagiarism
The Honor Code Process

3. FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 1974
Students have a right to inspect their educational records and have them amended if incorrect.
Schools must receive a student’s consent before disclosing information about that student to third parties (or even family members). There are exceptions (e.g. directory information, award announcements, health and safety emergencies).
You may share information with other school officials with a “legitimate educational interest.”

4. FERPA: Practical Considerations
School officials with legitimate educational interests usually include advisors and deans in the Office for Undergraduate Education, the course coordinator, and departmental leadership.
Curiosity is not a legitimate educational interest.
You may not discuss a student’s performance with parents or other third parties unless that student provides express consent to do so. That consent does not require you to speak with parents or other third parties.
You may not post grades with personally identifiable information, including student ID numbers. Do not leave graded material to be picked up.
When in doubt about a request, contact OUE.

5. The Honor Code
Academic integrity is governed by a student initiated Honor Code. All students are required to maintain “a standard of unimpeachable honor in all academic work.” (Preamble, Emory College Honor Code)
Faculty have a duty to report any suspicion of academic misconduct to the Office for Undergraduate Education.
Each case will be investigated and adjudicated by the Honor Council, which includes 20 students and 20 faculty members.
The Honor Council will determine if academic misconduct took place and recommend a sanction.
Sanctions include a grade penalty and a mark on the student’s record. Other actions like suspension and expulsion or educational programs may also be recommended.

6. Honor Code Violations
“Academic misconduct is an offense generally defined as any action or inaction which is offensive to the integrity and honesty of the members of the academic community.”
Seeking or providing unauthorized assistance on a test/quiz
Copying assignments from other students
Collaborating with others when individual work is required
Lying to faculty to gain an academic advantage
Plagiarizing

7. Honor Code Statement
The Honor Code is in effect throughout the semester. By taking this course, you affirm that it is a violation of the code to cheat on exams, to plagiarize, to deviate from the teacher's instructions about collaboration on work that is submitted for grades, to give false information to a faculty member, and to undertake any other form of academic misconduct. You agree that the instructor is entitled to move you to another seat during examinations, without explanation. You also affirm that if you witness others violating the code you have a duty to report them to the honor council.
council/faculty-resources.html

8. What constitutes plagiarism?
Improper paraphrasing (with or without references)
Lack of quotation marks
Lack of references
Copying-and-pasting in part or in whole
Resubmitting an old paper for a different class
Purchasing a paper from a website
Paying for a custom written paper

9. Retrieved from http://thevisualcommunicationguy
Retrieved from August 17, 2015

10. Detecting plagiarism
SafeAssign (Blackboard); Vericite (Canvas), anticipated in Fall 2016
Google
Changes in style of writing
Style of writing doesn’t match previous work
Prose is “just too good”
Writing that is awkward suddenly becomes elegant
References to highly specialized information
Changes in font or font size

11. Safe Assign

14. Preventing plagiarism
Talk to your class about plagiarism
Give examples of proper methods for quoting and citing material
Be clear about whether outside sources are allowed
Assign papers that are specific instead of generic
Divide research papers into smaller graded tasks (proposal, outline, annotated bibliography, draft, etc.)
Use plagiarism detection software
Accept late work (with a penalty) or offer extensions

15. Why do students plagiarize?
Lack of knowledge about plagiarism
Uncertainty about expectations
Don’t understand the material
Carelessness/Forgetfulness
Don’t understand importance of citing
Writing may just feel like an exercise
Perceived emphasis on content, instead of form
Not invested in assignment/class
Procrastination
Fear of low grade
Can’t see any other option
Pure malicious intent

16. The Honor Code Process Reporting Violations
Investigations and Hearings
Sanctions

17. http://donaldclarkplanb. blogspot. co
Accessed 10/26/2015

18. Why is it important to report violations?
Students and faculty alike have an obligation to report suspicions to the Honor Council
The Honor Code provides due process for accused students
Students receive consistent sanctions
Process is a learning experience that deters future violations
A neutral body handles the case so you can focus on teaching
The student may have a history of misconduct
The problem may continue if not addressed
The process protects faculty members

19. Reporting violations
Contact the Office for Undergraduate Education at:
Jason Ciejka Blaire Wilson
I can discuss the incident with you and determine whether it is necessary to move forward through the Honor Council process.
You may discuss the case with the chair, the DUS, or a faculty member who acts as a resource for the department about HC matters. Please avoid disclosing information about the student’s identity.

20. Handling reported students
Students may be informed of possible violations in two ways: directly from the instructor or through the Honor Council.
If you elect to inform the student directly, have a conversation in private or write to the student. Do not reveal information about any other reported student. Do not discuss the details of the incident. Remain dispassionate. Emphasize it was your duty to report, there is a process in place to handle the situation, and you want to focus on teaching the student.
Alternatively, I will contact the student to inform him/her of the suspected violation.

21. Honor Council Process
Step One: Preliminary meeting (15-30 minutes, longer for very complex cases) in your office
Investigative team with one student and one faculty member
Step Two: Honor Council Hearing (0, or 1-2 hours)
Faculty may or may not be asked to attend depending on the type of hearing
Step Three: Appeal Process (0 hours)
Faculty is not involved

22. Sanctions Grade penalty Mark on the student’s personal record
F in the course is typical, but zero on the assignment is often recommended for less serious cases. For unintentional plagiarism, student may be given an opportunity to resubmit work.
Mark on the student’s personal record
Typically given for two years
May not be given for very minor infractions
May be permanent for egregious violations
Suspension or Expulsion
Uncommon; typically given for students with a history of violations or extreme acts of dishonesty (impersonating faculty, sabotaging work of another student, fabricating evidence)
Educational Programs

23. Resources Honor Council Webpage:
council/index.html

24. Questions?