Honor Committee October 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 (or will soon complete) since taking office in the spring of 2007. Questions should be
directed to the Chair of the Honor Committee, Ben Cooper at bencooper@virginia.edu.
Honor Chair Ben Cooper
The Honor Committee began its term by establishing several ad-hoc committees to allow
for work on several issues it felt needed focused attention and also appointed the chairs of the
various standing committees. This summer, the Chair traveled aboard the Semester At Sea ship
in order to give the administration, faculty, and students an overview of the Honor System and to
evaluate the implementation of the System on board. He then made a presentation to the Board
of Visitors during their annual retreat in Roanoke, Virginia and addressed any questions and
concerns they had about the Honor System. Throughout the summer, he ensured that every
student entering the University, both graduates and undergraduates, received an orientation on
Honor. Finally, he contracted with a technology firm to have the Honor Committee’s trial room
sound equipment modernized.
Vice Chair for Trials Brian O’Neill
Since this Committee assumed office in the spring of 2007, it has conducted two trials.
The students in both trials were found guilty of an Honor offense. Additionally, two students
have LAG’d (left the University admitting guilt). One claim of a contributory mental disorder
was granted.
The VCT is working on recruiting a new class of counsel.
Vice Chair for Investigations Linda Liu
Fourteen cases have been reported to the Honor Committee since the start of its term in
the spring of 2007. Six conscientious retractions have been filed during the same period.
The VCI has been working to make sure that the Committee’s training and operating
materials reflect the significant procedural changes the 2006-2007 Committee made to the
investigations process (“Transformation”). Linda will soon present a preliminary assessment on
Transformation’s success in accelerating the investigation process. She has also worked to
expand the support officer recruitment effort: working with the Black Student Alliance and
University Judiciary Committee to host the first-ever study hall for prospective support officers
and making the tryout test available on the Honor Committee website.
Improving support officer training is an ongoing project for the VCI. For example, she
plans to integrate the training received by counsel and advisors and incorporate team building
into the process.
Vice Chair for Education Allie Moore
This semester, the Education pool is focusing on revamping educational programs to
improve outreach, particularly to first years and underrepresented student populations. The
previous model of first year Honor orientation, which took place in large auditoriums, was
replaced with smaller Dorm Talks. The change provided a more comfortable environment for
new students to engage the system. Additionally, the Dorm Talks will be supplemented by the
Dorm Liaisons program. Dorm Liaisons will include UJC representatives and will encourage
first year discussion on hot topics in the Honor and Judiciary systems.
Additionally, the Education pool worked with the counsel and advisors to recruit new
members. Educators attended the Student Activities Fair, ASU Activities Fair, and the BSA
student activities fair. Further, Educators passed out information in Newcomb and advertised
around grounds.
Currently, the Educators are interviewing TA's around the University to solicit feedback
on their interactions with Honor. The information form these conversations will be used to
gauge the effectiveness of current Honor training programs, opinions of Honor, and will help
increase communication between TA's and Honor.
Long term projects for the Education pool include a large first year social event,
revamping the Honor orientation video, and a sustained dialogue program.
Vice Chair for Community Relations Josh Hess (Chairs the Community Relations
Committee)
The Community Relations Committee was reorganized to reflect a new emphasis on
protecting and expanding the benefits students receive as a result of living in a Community of
Trust. Three Community Relations Coordinators were appointed to manage efforts to expand
benefits in three areas: student access to University facilities, relationships with area merchants,
and the availability of take home and flex exams.
At the end of the spring semester of 2007, the Vice Chairs for Community Relations and
Education ran an advertising campaign for the Honor Loans program available through the
Office of the Dean of Students. Additionally, the Honor Committee held an open Committee
meeting directed at First Years in Webb Lounge earlier this semester.
Soon, the VCCR hopes to propose re-running an Honor Committee survey of students
conducted in 2000 and 2002. The VCCR will also be collaborating with the Diversity Advisory
Board on a round table discussion or forum on race and the Honor System in the near future.
Diversity Advisory Board, Chaired by Jon Overdevest and Kat Custodio
The mission of the Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) is to promote understanding, solve
problems, explore opportunities and provide advice for the Honor System and its governing
body, the Honor Committee, on all issues related to race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, gender,
sexual orientation, and other forms of diversity. To further this focus, members of DAB
revitalized the Honor orientation program provided to international students. A new emphasis on
group learning and dynamic interaction replaced the previous presentation style format. Small
group discussions fostered provocative discussions where students found themselves discussing
the benefits and detractions of the current embodiment of the Honor System.
DAB will concentrate upcoming efforts on advancing discussion of pertinent issues
through both open forum dialogues and small group mentorship programs. These programs will
be held in conjunction with other organizations that share DAB’s goals of increasing
understanding and relevancy of Honor across all facets of the community.
Faculty Advisory Committee, Chaired by Adam Trusner
The Faculty Advisory Committee has committed to examining the issues surrounding
faculty relationships with the Honor System, including discussions about the low rate of faculty
reporting, ways to encourage faculty participation in the system, and methods to maintain the
student-run nature of the system. The Committee meets on the first Tuesday of each
month to discuss these issues.
Procedures Ad Hoc Committee, Chaired by Catherine Anne Daley and Alex Hawkins
The Procedures ad hoc was created “to examine and propose changes to the Honor By-
Laws and Constitution to promote efficiency and quality and to increase community participation
in the Honor System.”
Thus far, the committee has reviewed a proposal for changes and clarification in pre-trial
and trial procedures. Among these changes are alterations to the rules governing admission of
evidence in Honor trials and the relationship between accused students and their counsel. The adhoc
has also addressed a proposed change to the appeals process. These will likely seek to make
the appeals process more efficient and less dominated by the Executive Committee of the Honor
Committee.
For the rest of the year, the Procedures ad hoc will be addressing one such major topic at
each meeting. Topics will include the use of precedent in the system, several forms of
retractions, and reporting by students and faculty.
Technology Ad Hoc Committee, Chaired by Vanessa Trahan and Thad Darden
The Technology Ad-Hoc is working with ITC to develop a new computerized case
management system. The new system will help improve the security of confidential information
and make case processing more efficient.
Additionally, the Technology Ad-Hoc is working to revamp the Committee’s web page.
UVA 101 Ad Hoc Committee, Chaired by Eric Flow
The UVA101 Ad-Hoc is currently recruiting student leaders to participate in an Ad-Hoc
brainstorm to develop a curriculum for a new UVA 101 course. This curriculum would include
elements of the University’s history and student life such as Honor, UJC, minority issues, and
Greek life. The new curriculum will be submitted as a suggestion to the University’s plan for the
future
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