Nov. 17, 2000

Background

Discussion of a proposed honor code system began in spring 1999 due to student concern over cheating witnessed on campus. UCSU student leaders met with Ron Stump, then interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs. Stump, who had experience with the Honor Code System at the University of Virginia as associate dean of students, offered to contact Virginia officials for information on how their system was developed.
Two presentations on the University of Virginiaπs Honor Code were held on Nov. 6, 1999 at the University Club for CU-Boulder students, staff and faculty. The sessions were presented by a UVA graduate who had previously served as chair of the Honor Committee, and a UVA faculty adviser to that committee. The presentations focused on the structure, roles, relationships and expectations of the UVA Honor System. Information also was provided on the legal issues, sanctions, the successes and challenges of their Honor Code and how UVA community members are educated about the Honor System.
An Honor Code committee of students, faculty and Student Affairs staff was formed at CU-Boulder, including Eric Lentell, junior, and Trey Lyons, first-year law student, as co-chairs. Faculty and staff committee members include Ron Stump and Elease Robbins, dean of students; Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education; Jim Sherman, assistant dean in the College of Engineering and Applied Science; Tom Sebok, director of the Ombuds Office; and Diane Sieber, assistant professor, department of Spanish and Portuguese. Members attended conference on academic integrity in π99-π00 and fall π00, including two presented by the Center for Academic Integrity.
A draft information booklet for the proposed Honor Code System was developed and distributed for campus feedback in fall π99. It was revised and distributed again in October π00.
A web site with information on the proposed Honor Code also was created at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
Information on the proposed Honor Code was included in the 2001-02 university catalog, which states, ≥A student-run Honor Code is expected to be implemented in fall 2001. The intent of the Honor Code is to establish a community of trust within the colleges and schools in addressing acts of academic dishonesty.≤
Honor Code committee members met with a variety of groups in fall π99, spring π00 and fall π00, including: Boulder Faculty Assembly, Council of Associate/ Assistant Deans, the Chancellors Executive committee, UCSU Legislative Council, United Government of Graduate Students, Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils, Residence Hall Representative Council, Business and Engineering Student governments and the Parents Association.
A campus newspaper, the Carillon, published by the department of University Communications, printed a story in November π99 on the Honor Code and the initial steps being taken by the committee to explore the feasibility of developing an honor code system for CU-Boulder. Carillon also ran an article on the special election in an October π00 edition.
The local print and broadcast media published stories on the proposed Honor Code System in February, May and October π00.
The Honor Code Committee co-chair asked UCSU for its authorization to use their secure online election server, ≥I-vote,≤ which was approved by the UCSU Legislative Council on Oct. 19. The election was scheduled for Nov. 14-16 via the UCSU electronic voting system.
A student e-memo on the November Honor Code special election was sent to 25,539 students, both graduate and undergraduate, via the Registrarπs student e-memo system, on Oct. 26.
Presentations were held on Nov. 1-2 by Donald McCabe, professor of organization management at Rutgers University, who has conducted extensive research on college cheating and was the chair of the university-wide committee that developed a new code of student conduct at Rutgers in 1994. He also has worked with many colleges in reviewing and revising their student judicial policies.
The Boulder Faculty Assembly approved a resolution supporting the Honor Code on Nov. 2. The resolution noted that ≥honesty and integrity are essential for the achievement of academic excellence≤ and ≥national research has demonstrated that the institution of an honor code significantly reduces lying, cheating and stealing on university campuses.≤ It also stated that the laws of the Board of Regents ≥give the faculty principal responsibility for developing policy in the area of academic ethics,≤ and that BFA ≥intends to have full faculty participation in the writing of the code and the articulation of its specific policies. (Silver & Gold Record, Nov. 2, page 16).
The UCSU Legislative Council also approved a resolution supporting the Honor Code on Nov. 2 by a vote of 9-2-1.
Table tents, bookmarks, newspaper ads and a letter to student opinion leaders on the Honor Code election were distributed Nov. 6-14.
Two Open forums were held on Nov. 7 and Nov. 13 to discuss the Honor Code proposal.
Students voted electronically on the proposal in a special election on Nov. 14, 15 and 16. In the three days of balloting, 1,098 students voted in favor and 503 voted against the measure for a total of 1,601 voting students. The measure passed by an almost 2-1 margin.

Current Situation

The Honor Code committee is developing strategies to educate faculty and students on the honor code system. Four committees have been organized on Structure and Bylaws, Faculty Relations, Education and Adjudication. Student recruitment strategies to broaden committee participation also are being planned.
The Honor Code system must be approved by Chancellor Byyny before becoming final.

Comment

≥Discussion of a proposed honor code system began about a year and half ago, because of concern over cheating, which some students have witnessed on campus. The passage of this initiative proves that many CU-Boulder students have an interest in upholding high standards of behavior. Iπm glad that their beliefs in personal and academic integrity will be channeled into the development of an honor code for the University of Colorado at Boulder,≤ said Ron Stump, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.