| Honor Council Rice University |
Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #10. Spring, 2001
April 23, 2001
Members Present:
Aaron Martz (presiding), DJ Brasier, Andrew Lee, Jason Longoria, Marie Ng, Geneva Rhee, Samrat Sarkar, Tamara Blaha (observing), Ayse Celikkol (observing), Chris Conrad (observing), Randy Meissen (observing), Ravi Patel (observing), Bruce Schuler (observing), Jay Bodas (observing).
Ombuds:
Maeve Quigley, Joan Shreffler (observing)
Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a formal letter of accusation from a professor in an upper level science class. The letter stated that Student A had turned in a homework set containing a problem she copied off the solution set from the previous year's course.
Evidence Submitted:
Letter of Accusation
Student A's written statement
Amendment of written statement
E-mail from professor about the honor code policy in the class
The course syllabus
Student A's homework assignment
Copy of the problem set questions
Copy of the solutions to the assignment
Copy of problem set questions from the previous year
Copy of the solutions to the assignment from the previous year
The homework assignment of a previous student that Student A copied from
Plea:
Student A plead In Violation
Testimony:
Student A stated that she had violated the Honor Code for the class by copying from a homework set assigned the previous year but that her violation was not intentional. She explained that she had not received the class syllabus until the third or fourth week of classes due to many absences beyond her control. The student had received old notes and homeworks from a friend who had recommended the class and she used one of the homework assignments to solve a problem. She testified that she had to miss class that week due to an emotionally stressful event and that she had used the friend's homework without knowing that it was a violation of the honor code in the class to use old homeworks. The student also explained that she did not the turn in the homework assignment late because she had already attempted to turn a homework set in late and lost credit on the assignment. When asked if she had copied the problem solution exactly from her friend's assignment, the student explained that she did indeed copy some things but had attempted to work through most of the problem.
In closing, Student A reiterated that she had committed a violation and voiced her regret and apology for not reading the syllabus more carefully.
Deliberation:
Jay Bodas arrived to observe as a non-voting member. The members of the Council discussed the mitigating circumstances, including the severity of the violation and the cooperation of the student. The Council agreed that Student A was In Violation.
Straw Poll #1
In Violation: 7 (+6 observing)
Not in Violation: 0
Abstentions: 0
The members then discussed possible penalties. Since the assignment was worth less than 10% of the course grade, the consensus penalty is an F in the course. After discussing which mitigating circumstances could and could not be considered during deliberations, some members suggested a loss of credit in the course, a letter grade reduction in the course, loss of credit on the assignment, and an F in the assignment.
Straw Poll #2
Loss of credit in the course: 0
F in the course: 0
Letter grade reduction in the course: 1
Loss of credit in the assignment: 4 (+6 observing)
F in the assignment: 1
Abstentions: 1
The Council debated the severity of the violation and of the penalties. Some members observed that the homework answer in question looked like it had been copied exactly. The abstaining member also pointed out that an F or even a loss of credit on the assignment was too light a punishment for copying a solution. A 2/3 letter grade reduction in the course was suggested as a possible penalty.
Straw Poll #3
Loss of credit in the course: 1
F in the course: 0
2/3 letter grade reduction in the course: 2 (+1 observing)
Letter grade reduction in the course: 4 (+5 observing)
Abstentions: 0
The members again debated whether to aggravate or to mitigate the penalty. Some of the Council agreed that when Student A had copied the answer from another assignment, plagiarism had occurred. Another straw poll was taken to unify the response of the Council.
Straw Poll #4
Loss of credit in course: 0
F in the course: 0
2/3 letter grade reduction in the course: 1 (+1 observing)
Letter grade reduction in the course: 6 (+5 observing)
Abstentions: 0
Straw Polls #1 and #4 were made binding.
Thus the Honor Council finds Student A In Violation of the Honor System and recommends that she receive a letter grade reduction in the course. Additionally, a suspension clause will be attached to her record.
Time of Trial and Deliberation: 1 hour, 16 minutes
Respectfully Submitted,
Geneva Rhee
Trial Clerk