[In these minutes: Review of Advocates for Academic Integrity, Discussion
of students repeating a course after being accused of Scholastic Dishonesty,
OSAI Update, SAIC Survey Update]
STUDENT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COMMITTEE
(SAIC)
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11,
2004
2:30 – 4:00 PM
300 MORRILL HALL
[These
minutes reflect discussion and debate at a meeting of a committee of the
University of Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities Campus Assembly; none of the
comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the view
of, nor are they binding on the Senate or Assembly, the Administration, or the
Board of Regents.]
PRESENT: Micky Trent (Chair), Mark Bellcourt,
Shawn Curley, Sharon Dzik, Laura Coffin Koch, Robert Pepin, Kirsten
Rewey.
REGRETS: Dorothy Anderson, Laura Krause, Matt
Swanson.
ABSENT: Lindsay Craig, Marilyn Grave.
1. REVIEW
OF MATERIALS FOR ADVOCATES FOR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Sharon Dzik
distributed materials to the members on the Coco-Cola grant she applied for, the
timeline, and a draft application. She said that the educators would be taught
specific presentations on topics relating to student academic integrity and then
be available to give these presentations to student groups and classes as
needed.
She asked members how to recruit minority students to
participate; members suggested contacting minority programs such as MLK, SEAM,
and MEP, as well as Carolyn Nayematsu and Peggy Hampton. When asked about
outcome assessment, members suggesting surveying groups at the end of the
presentations for feedback and ways to improve.
Members then provided
changes to be made on the application and the interview questions, as well as
redesigning the timeline to have students recruited in the spring semester and
training taking place in the fall semester.
2. DISCUSSION ON STUDENTS
REPEATING A COURSE AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Micky
Trent said that at the last meeting the committee started to talk about the
possibility of assigning two versions of the ‘F’ grade, with one
denoting a failing grade due to cheating (‘Fx’). She also asked if
a student should be allowed to retake the same class from the same professor who
found them cheating the first time. She asked for feedback from members, who
made the following comments:
- This is a learning opportunity for students, so they should not receive a
permanent mark
- It is hard to put a student back in the same class with the same professor
who caught them cheating, but if it is not allowed, then could a student
complete their major?
- The standard for what is and is not cheating is still not clear
- Students should try to take classes from a different professor
- Until the system is fair and even, a mark should not follow them
- The student’s intention and the severity of the scholastic dishonesty
should be considered
- Students should be assigned an ‘Fx’ if found cheating a second
time
- Reporting has improved, but still not all cases are sent to OSAI
- ‘Fx’ grade should only be able to be assigned by OSAI for repeat
offenders
- Is the ‘Fx’ internal or noted on the
transcript?
Micky Trent said that she would summarize the
committee’s discussion on this topic, ask members for their changes, and
then forward the summary to the Educational Policy Committee for further
consideration.
3. OSAI UPDATE
Sharon Dzik only reported
that new cases continue to be sent in.
4. SAIC SURVEY
UPDATE
Micky Trent stated that Professor McCabe is doing the primary
analysis, comparing Minnesota data to similar institutions, and should have data
to the committee this week. The question is how to proceed and if decisions
wait until fall or if meetings take place over the summer. Members made the
following comments:
- Committee wants to maintain momentum into next year
- Next step might be focus groups or designing a University-specific
survey
- A public report will need to be released
- First meeting of fall should be done as a retreat
- Committee needs to remember the qualitative data as
well
It was decided that at least one summer meeting would be
scheduled to talk about the next steps, once the committee has the actual data.
All members will be invited, but no attendance will be required.
5.
OTHER BUSINESS
With no further business, Micky Trent thanked the
members for their service this year and adjourned the meeting.
Becky
Hippert
University Senate