The following are questions faculty frequently ask the Director of Community Accountability regarding the Honor Pledge and adjudication of violations. They are provided to assist you if a violation occurs in your class. If a question is not answered in this document, the Director of Community Accountability (accountability@belmont.edu or 615-460-6407) can provide additional counsel.
- Do I have to report an alleged Honor Code violation to Community Accountability?
- Yes! Faculty are required to report academic misconduct to this office. Reporting these incidents to Community Accountability gives us the opportunity to work with the student to change their behavior for the future and to protect the integrity of your class and the university.
- Some faculty are reluctant to submit documentation to Community Accountability based on their belief that reporting an incident will result in lifelong consequences or “ruin their lives”. This is an exaggeration. In fact, students can get their Honor Code violation expunged from their record as early as a semester after the incident.
- What do I do if I am not certain an Honor Code violation has occurred?
- What level of “proof” or “evidence” do I need that a violation has occurred?
- How much time will this take?
- Will I lose control of the situation if I contact the Director of Community Accountability?
- Can I handle this situation informally?
- What if a student threatens to sue?
- What grade do I submit if grades are due, but the case is still pending?
- Does this create a permanent black mark on the student’s record?
- Is it academic dishonesty or an issue with academic preparation?
- Is there a separate process for graduate students?
Contact Community Accountability. You can share what you have observed, and we can help determine the next steps regarding the alleged violation or concern.
Many times, faculty feel they need to possess the “smoking gun,” evidence that definitively proves an Honor Pledge violation has occurred. However, Belmont’s accountability process uses a preponderance of the evidence standard to determine if a student is responsible for a violation. Preponderance of the evidence simply means that available information must support that it is more likely than not (51%) the student violated the Honor pledge. For example, if a professor cannot find the actual source a student plagiarized, the fact that the language in question does not match the student’s voice in prior work may still be enough to hold him or her responsible for plagiarism.
The process approved by the Faculty Senate simplifies the steps required for a professor to personally address a violation. Many times, a student will accept responsibility and the entire process can be completed in an hour. Even if a student denies responsibility, the process will not be greatly prolonged. A professor will simply need to take time to review and weigh any information the student provides to show he or she is not responsible. Occasionally violations will be complex and/or involve several individuals. However, these situations tend to be rare, and the Director of Community Accountability can assist.
The Director of Community Accountability is a resource who can consult and assist you with a violation. Professors are empowered under the process approved by the Faculty Senate to adjudicate violations themselves or refer it to the Honor Council. Professors are encouraged to participate in Honor Council inquiries.
There is no informal mechanism for resolving violations of the Honor Pledge. Faculty should follow the formal process as that will provide them and the university protection from liability. Further, it allows the university to track whether a student has engaged in academic dishonesty in multiple courses. Finally, research supports that formal adjudication of violations reduces academic dishonesty in the student body.
Belmont’s legal standard for decision-making in relation to academic matters is fairly broad. As long as a professor and/or the university substantially adhere to the approved process for addressing honor pledge violations, a student will likely be unsuccessful pursuing a legal recourse.
Many times, honor code violations occur during final exams. If grades are due and the case is still pending, the recommendation is to submit an “Incomplete”. Once the case is completed, you can connect with the Registrar about a grade change.
The university maintains records of Honor Pledge violations for 10 years. However, those records are only shared internally when a legitimate educational purpose or other narrow FERPA exception applies. Externally, records are shared when a student has provided signed consent or is enrolling at another institution. In typical admissions decisions, then, students are aware Belmont is sharing information. Further, students often have an opportunity to address the violation with the admissions committee or employer. Most academic institutions would not consider a conduct incident an absolute bar to admission.
Professors can find themselves in an unclear situation when issues in a student’s work may arise from academic dishonesty or a lack of academic preparation. For example, is a citation issue plagiarism or bad writing? Students can unintentionally violate the Honor Pledge, as intent is not a required element for a finding of responsibility. However, the professor may use his or her discretion in determining whether the issue is more accurately a teachable moment rather than academic dishonesty.
No. The Honor Pledge is the same throughout the community. The Honor Council is consistently composed of faculty and students at both the graduate and undergraduate level.