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Honor Committee November 2007 Update

The Honor Committee is lead by five executive officers and consists of a number of standing and ad-hoc committees. Below is a summary of the work those officers and committees have done in the past month (or will soon complete). Questions should be directed to the Chairman of the Honor Committee, Ben Cooper (bencooper@virginia.edu).

Honor Chairman Ben Cooper

This past month saw the implementation of the Honor Committee’s new digital recording and conferencing equipment, which proved to be a marked upgrade from the previous tape-based system. It is our belief that this new system, coupled with the changes in our investigations and trials processes, will serve to reduce the burden for those involved with an Honor proceeding by allowing witnesses to be involved with proceedings via teleconference.

The Chairman was also involved in the strategic planning for the recruitment and training of the new Honor Committee Support Officers. In particular, training this year will include segments focused on ensuring the pools have more interaction with one another than in previous years, building cohesion among the groups and ensuring an effective working environment as they begin to take on cases themselves.

Vice Chair for Trials Brian O’Neill

In October, there was one Honor trial in which an undergraduate students was found guilty of cheating. The student was accused of plagiarism and the case was reported by a professor. Additionally, one student’s claim of a contributory mental disorder was granted this month.

Also this month, the Vice Chair for Trials selected a new pool of counsel. Training of the new counsel has begun and is expected to end next semester.

Vice Chair for Investigations Linda Liu

The Vice Chair for Investigations is currently overseeing seven investigations. Two conscientious retractions were filed this month. Additionally, she conducted an empirical assessment of the success of last year’s significant reforms of the investigations process. The results of that assessment were disclosed in an Honor Committee meeting and forwarded to the Faculty Senate. Finally, the VCI selected a new pool of advisors and has begun training them.

Vice Chair for Education Allie Moore

This month, the Vice Chair for Education undertook three significant educational projects. She distributed packages of information to new UVA faculty on the Honor System. In conjunction with the University Judiciary Committee, the VCE trained a pool of educators to serve as liaisons to first year dorms. Moreover, she gained approval from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to develop an Honor “FOA,” an educational program targeted at members of the Greek community.

In addition, the VCE selected twenty five new educators and has begun their seven to eight week training program.

Vice Chair for Community Relations Josh Hess (Chairs the Community Relations Committee)

The VCCR, in conjunction with the Chair and Vice Chair for Investigations, developed a brief memorandum on the recent reforms to the investigations process for distribution to the Faculty Senate. His committee is also preparing to distribute informational materials to area merchants regarding the scope of the Honor system in merchant interactions with University students. Members of the Community Relations Committee continue to work to expand the availability of take home and flex exams to University students. Finally, the VCCR (in conjunction with a member of the Cavaliers Daily Managing Board) began what he hopes to be a continuing dialogue with the University Library regarding the security of students’ belongings in those facilities.

Diversity Advisory Board, Chaired by Jon Overdevest and Kat Custodio

On Thursday, November 1, the Diversity Advisory Board will hold a meeting to recruit support officers. Those support officers will conduct presentations geared towards soliciting Honor-related feedback from members of diverse organizations on grounds.

Procedures Ad Hoc, Chaired by Alex Hawkins and Catherine Anne Daley

The Procedures Ad-Hoc proposed two by-laws amendments to the Honor Committee this month. One sought to clarify an evidentiary rule prohibiting the inclusion of evidence that is “far more prejudicial than probative” in Honor trials. The other sought to change the Committee’s appeals process by streamlining it and decreasing the involvement on the Executive Committee in deciding appeals. These proposals will be voted on at the end of the semester. In the coming month, the Procedures ad-hoc will consider proposals regarding the Honor Committee’s jurisdiction and retractions.

Technology Ad Hoc, Chaired By Vanessa Trahan and Thad Darden

The Technology Ad-Hoc is working on two major projects. First, it continues to work with University ITC to develop a digital case management program. To that end, the ad-hoc has mapped out the program’s rules respecting member access to information. In the near future the ad-hoc will move to develop a mock up of the program.

Additionally, the Technology Ad-Hoc has developed a plan for revamping the Honor Committee’s website. It continues to search for web-developers to implement that plan.