Abstract of the Honor Council
Case #24, Spring 2006
September 19, 2006

Member Present:
Becky Thilo (presiding), Charles Lawrie (clerk), Ryan Stinnett, Paul Cambell, Jennifer Cieluch, Annalise Gill, Tara Grigg, Jon Jackson, Chris Koops, Rachel Patterson (observing)

Ombuds:
Lauren Hunt

Letter of Accusation:
The Honor Council received a letter of accusation from a professor in a lower-level engineering course accusing one pair of students, Student A and Student B, of having identical answers on an assignment as another pair of students, Student C and Student D.  The professor alleged one pair may have copied from the other’s work.

Evidence Packet:
            Letter of accusation
            Written statements
            TA Deposition 1
            TA Deposition 2
            IT email 1
            IT email 2
            Original modules
            Additional copies of modules
            Assignment prompt
            Syllabus
            Professor Deposition

Plea:
Student A pled “Not In Violation.”
Student B pled “Not In Violation.”
Student C pled “Not In Violation.”
Student D pled “Not In Violation.”

Testimony:
All four students opened by stating that they did not copy or cheat on the assignment.  Student C stated that students were given class time to work on the assignment, and were to complete it outside of class.  Both pairs of students (Student A and Student B, and Student C and Student D) stated they finished the assignments in question outside of class.  Student B stated that her group received help from the labbie outside of class on the assignment. 

A member of the Council asked if specific values for variables needed to complete assignments were given, or if the students had to come up with the numbers on their own.  Student C responded that the numbers different students use may be same because everyone got similar help from the labbie.  Student A stated that some numbers used were fairly standard.  Student D added to Student A’s comment by stating that often, a certain number will give an optimal solution to the program, so many students may find this same number through trial and error.  Student B agreed with Student D and explained that the numbers used by the two groups of students in their programs may have been the same because the numbers were an optimal solution to the problem given.

Another member of the Council asked if the two pairs of students in question worked together on the assignment.  Student D stated that, frequently, many students struggle with the same sections of assignments, so the labbie would more often than not help the students in large groups during class.  Additionally, she stated that because of this, groups may have the same numbers in their programs.  Student A stated that during class time, it is common for students to share helpful tips with each other.

A member of the Council asked if it was reasonable that two pairs could come up with the same numbers in the assignment in question.  Student C responded that the assignment in question used features of prior assignments, which would have been very similar amongst all students in the class after they had been reviewed and corrected.

Another Council member asked how much help students typically received from the labbie on assignments.  Student C and Student D responded that it depended on the nature of the assignment and the students.

A member of the Council asked if anyone felt as though their work on the assignment in question was copied from.  All four students responded no.  A Council member asked if it was possible one of the students had obtained an electronic version of another student’s without her knowing.  All four students responded no, and Student D stated that the computers they use automatically log users out after a few minutes of inactivity.  Student D stated that she saved her files on her u-drive, and that a password would be required to view her files.  A Council member asked if any of the students had tried to access one of the other’s u-drives.  All four stated that they had not.

In their closing statements all four students stated that they did not copy from anyone else’s assignment. Student B reiterated that answers are often similar in the class because everyone has access to the same sources of help, including the labbie.

Time of testimony:
28 minutes.

Verdict Deliberations:
Initial impression of whether or not a violation occurred:
One Council member observed that there was enough cooperation allowed within the class’ Honor Code policy for the assignment in question to be considered Not in Violation of the Honor Code.  Another Council member stated that the only way a violation could have occurred was if a student had copied another student’s assignment word for word.  Most members of the Council felt that the identical numbers could have been a coincidence.  All members of the Council agreed that there was too much help allowed between students and from common sources for a violation to have occurred.

Straw Poll #1 is there clear and convincing evidence that a violation occurred?
Yes: 0
No: 9 + 1 nonbinding vote
Abstentions: 0

Straw Poll #1 was made binding.

Thus, the Honor Council finds Student A, Student B, Student C, and Student D not in violation of the Honor Code.

Time of deliberation: 31 minutes.
(Total time of hearing: 59 minutes)

Respectfully submitted,
Charles Lawrie
Clerk