Honor Council Rice University  
 

Investigation Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #8, Fall 2004
January 20, 2005

Members Present:
Chris Edwards (presiding), Marcie Jackson (investigator), John Brawley, Becky Thilo

Ombuds:
Risa Gordon (Brandon Wagner supervising)

Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a letter of accusation from an instructor in a lower level engineering course indicating that the accused student had breached the seal on a roommate’s exam envelope, viewed the exam, resealed the exam envelope, and possibly used the exam as an aid in completing his own exam.

Evidence Submitted:

Investigation:
Student A admitted to opening the exam envelope, viewing the exam, and resealing the exam back in the envelope, though only after completing his own exam and sealing it in its envelope. Student A also stated that he had not viewed his roommate’s exam in an attempt to cheat, but only to gauge his own performance, and hence never altered his own exam in light of what he had viewed. The Investigative Committee found no evidence to suggest that the roommate’s exam was a source of aid in completing Student A’s exam.

Since the Investigative Committee could not find evidence to suggest that the integrity of either assignment was compromised (beyond the breaking of the seal), the Committee determined that there was and likely never would be sufficient evidence to proceed to hearing on the basis of academic fraud.

The Investigative Committee also considered the possibility that the act of breaking the seal on an exam and/or resealing it without the knowledge of the roommate was a violation of the trust placed in students under Article I, Section 2 of the Honor System Constitution, and hence a violation of the Honor System under Article X of the Constitution. The Committee determined that, while it frowned on the act and arguably did represent a breach of trust, it did not represent a breach of trust within the scope of the Honor System.

In light of the above line of reasoning, the Investigative Committee voted 3 - 0 to dismiss the case.

Respectfully Submitted,
Chris Edwards, Chair
Rice Honor Council

Last modified Tuesday, January 25, 2005 05:06 PM
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