FutureSTATE 2015
A strategy for Mississippi State University to become
the region's most respected land-grant institution
FutureSTATE 2015 Progress Reports
Spring 2008
ENHANCE STUDENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Initiative: Promote honor and academic integrity. Create an Honor Council with widespread representation from all colleges, educate students and faculty about issues related to academic misconduct, increase enforcement of penalties for academic misconduct, and provide a remediation step that would encourage students to make reparations for past poor behaviors.
Achievements of the past year:
The Honor Code Council adjudicated over 100 cases of academic misconduct to date. Procedures are in place, Councils are fully functioning and staffed with appropriate membership of faculty and students. Academic Integrity Intervention Program and Educational Intervention Program are both established and functioning. An Honor Code web site was developed and functions in good order. Honor Code Orientation was provided for new faculty and Graduate TAs as well as faculty/staff in-service training. The Honor Code was posted in classrooms and buildings throughout the University.
Goals for the next year:
- Increase response to faculty who turn in violations of the Honor Code by hiring a full time person for the Honor Code Office.
- Modify the Policy and forms slightly based on input from faculty.
- Compile reports for the campus from the first year (07-08).
- Increase use of turn-it-in.com among faculty and students.
Constraints to full implementation of this initiative:
Few constraints are anticipated. Space is adequate and the budget will allow us to meet the standards.
Proposed modification of the initiative:
None
Overall assessment of the status of the initiative or other comments:
We are mostly pleased with the progress to date as this initiative was a major change in the academic integrity culture of the University. Students and faculty have increased their dialog regarding academic integrity. We feel we have made giant strides in creating a culture of academic integrity in the campus. Perhaps the one area of disappointment is the low percentage of XFs that are given for cheating. Overall this initiative has been successful.
