You've been hearing about the hypothetico-deductive method of science. One thing we haven't specifically said is that this system only works if all parties are scrupulously honest, even when they argue aggressively. That mostly means:
- Not making up false data ("fabrication")
- Not copying or referencing the work of others without attribution ("plagiarism")
This is relevant to broader issues of academic life. Here, we must guard agains the crimes listed above and also against some that are unique to the university. The university, through the Office of Student Conduct enforces a rigorous code of student conduct that a student here ignores at his/her peril. Merck has seen what happens from all sides - as a complainant, as a member of judicial honor boards, and as a friend/advocate for accused students.
The academic elements of the code:
- Cheating: "Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise."
- Fabrication: "Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise."
- Plagiarism: "Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in an academic exercise."
- Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: "Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty."
The process:
- Complaint: An instructor may file a complaint against you to the OSC for any suspicion of academic dishonesty. There is no standard of "probable cause." Whether they contact you first is up to them. If they don't, your first indication of a problem maybe when a final grade is not recorded in the course.
- Interview with Office of student Conduct: If the OSC deems the complaint worthy of investigation they will contact you and arrange an interview. You may at that time plead responsible, and accept the standard punishment. You may, however, opt to present your defense in a full honor board hearing, where your responsibility or non-responsibility will be determined by an honor board.
- Present at the hearing:
- A non-voting student presiding officer.
- Four voting honor board members - two from the faculty and staff, two from the student body.
- The complainant - the instructor bringing the charge.
- A student community advocate who aggressively presents the case against the accused.
- The respondent - i.e. the accused student.
- A student defender (optional and must be arranged by the respondent.)
- Any material or character witnesses that either side might bring.
- Judgment: The board determines responsibility then and there. Recommendations are then made for the sanction. After the complainant and respondent are dismissed, the board determines the sanction.
- Appeal: Is possible to allow presentation of new relevant information.
The sanction:
- Twelve month XF: An XF is a special F that one earns for academic dishonesty. Typically, it can be expunged from your record after twelve months provided you complete an academic integrity seminar and request the expunging. You are crazy not to do that.
- Mitigating and aggravating circumstances: these may result in a lesser penalty (as little as an F on the assignment in question) or greater (up to expulsion from the university.)
Legal aid:
If you are ever accused of an honors or reslife housing violation, be sure to consult with the Student Legal Aid Office.
Expunging of XF:
An XF on your record is BAAAAAAAD juju: You can forget about law school or ever getting a job that requires a security clearance. Fortunately, the X part of the XF is usually removable after a certain interval (6 - 12 months) provided you complete an on-line training. Do this as soon as you can or you're an idiot.
The XF and the Scholars citation:
Mutually exclusive: If you have an XF on your record when we review you for completion of the Scholars citation, we will deny it to you. (Ooops!)
The good news:
If you want to establish unusual and valuable professional credentials and meet some of the smartest students on campus, volunteer for the University Student Judiciary, the students who serve as community advocates and honor board members and presiding officers.
