Honesty Matters:
Strategies for Fostering Academic Integrity
Ms. Deborah C. Bell
Director for Academic Honesty
dbell@uga.edu
Mr. Hunt Revell
Coordinator for Academic Honesty
huntrev@uga.edu
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602
706-543-4336
honesty.uga.edu
Quick Introductions
Your Name
Your Institution – public/private
The role you play in the academic honesty
process at your institution
honesty.uga.edu
Quick Facts
UGA today
Academic Honesty, Academic Affairs
Facilitated Discussion Model
Faculty, Administrators, & Staff Volunteers
Students apply to serve as Panelists
Every instructor is required to include honesty
expectations on the course syllabus
“A Culture of Honesty Earns a Degree of
Respect”
honesty.uga.edu
The University of Georgia’s
Facilitated Discussion Model for Resolving Academic Honesty Issues
Possible Dishonesty Reported to the Office
of the VP for Instruction
LEVEL 1: Instructor/Student
Facilitated Discussion
Allegation
Dismissed
Dishonesty &
Sanction(s)
Agreement *
Dishonesty – No
Sanction
Agreement
No Agreement or
Student Rescinds
LEVEL 2: Instructor/Student
Continued Discussion with
Sanctions:
Level 1 – Determined by instructor
& student
(* Subject to student’s 5-day right of
rescission)
Level 2 – “0” on assignment(s) & at
least one of the following:
“F” in course
Transcript Notation
Suspension
Dismissal
Expulsion
Level 3 – Transcript notation & one
of the following:
Expulsion
Dismissal
Suspension
Academic Honesty Panel
Allegation
Dismissed
Dishonesty
Confirmed &
Sanction
Assigned
LEVEL 3: Subsequent Violation
Acknowledged or Confirmed at
Levels 1 and/or 2. Student Required
to Meet with
Appeal to
Vice Provost
Allegation
Dismissed or
Sanction
Modified
Decision
Upheld
Appeal to
USG Board of
Regents
Multiple Violations Review
Board
www.honesty.uga.edu
Our Process
Fair
Educational
Quick
Academic
Exclusive method for reporting possible
violations
Protects students’ rights and instructors’ jobs
honesty.uga.edu
Dishonesty on the Rise ?!?!
(or are more faculty reporting)
Fall Semester 2013
258 students reported
Unauthorized Assistance
Plagiarism
Lying/Tampering
Other
honesty.uga.edu
Facilitated Discussion Survey, Fall 2013
Who: Students and Instructors
What:
https://ugeorgia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_d
bP1m0scfphqv3f
When: Within One Week, with up to two (2)
reminders
How: Qualtrics!
Why: To Create Actionable Data for
Developing Strategies
honesty.uga.edu
By the Numbers
334 surveys sent (226 students, ~97 different
instructors from
135 responses= 40% response rate
~95% of instructors and 80% of students
agreed the Facilitated Discussion was fair,
education, and neutral
honesty.uga.edu
By the Numbers (continued)
26% of reports (58 of 226) were dismissed
43% of instructors had never reported before
37% of students whose reports were
dismissed still responded to the survey
honesty.uga.edu
By the Numbers (continued)
 72 % of students were in their 1st or 2nd year at UGA
 21% were transfer students (20% at UGA)
 28% were Greek (26% at UGA)
 12% English was not native language (~5-6% at UGA)
 4.5% First Generation (???)
 94% of students were aware of the academic honesty
policy, yet 33% claimed they were unaware their action
was a violation
 Another 13% claimed they did not understand citation
rules, and 18% “felt forced or pressured into agreeing”
to a violation of the honesty policy.
honesty.uga.edu
Excuses - Everyone has one!
 I waited until the last minute to complete my
assignment(s)
 I wasn't adequately prepared for my quiz, test, or exam
 I was afraid of losing financial aid because of poor grades
 Others are cheating and gaining an unfair advantage
 I was unaware that my action was a violation of the policy
 I don't have time for the demands of college-level
academic work
 I did not understand citation rules and styles
honesty.uga.edu
Excuses (continued)
 I worked with a friend/classmate on an assignment that
was supposed to be done individually
 I have performed similar actions in other courses without
it being reported
 UGA's expectations are unreasonable or unfair
 I felt forced or pressured into agreeing that I violated the
policy
 Other (please explain)
honesty.uga.edu
Student Responses to Process
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Student Responses
 “I was treated fairly in the discussion and the
matter was resolved by myself and my professor.
This issue will never occur again.”
 “I truly forgot to cite part of my answers…I
thought judging this absolutely careless mistake a
violation was too much…I think the professor
should at least discuss with me first.”
 “I was in the wrong when I violated UGA’s
academic honesty policy. There is no denying
that.”
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Student Responses
 “I was in the wrong when I violated UGA’s
academic honesty policy. There is no denying
that.”
 “I looked on someone else’s test for one of my
answers when I knew they were different tests. I
made a bad decision and it will NEVER happen
again.”
 “I feel the facilitated discussion protects the
teacher more than the student.”
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Student Responses
 “The facilitator as well as the instructor were
both very good at truly listening to the discussion
and did not seem to have prior decision about
the situation made. It was a very fair way to have
all parties heard and understood.”
 “The instructor and facilitator were both kind and
understanding in our discussion.”
honesty.uga.edu
WHAT!?!?!??!
“I was teamed up against for a facilitated
interrogation.”
honesty.uga.edu
What are Students doing?
honesty.uga.edu
What are Students doing?
Presentations: Classes, Student groups,
Orientation testing
Promotion: Fun events, Campus presence,
Honesty Awareness Week
Partners: Student Judiciary, International
Student Life, School/College Ambassadors
Panels
People: Creative Consultant Outreach
honesty.uga.edu
Faculty Responses to Process
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Faculty Responses
“Professional but caring – well done.”
“I was impressed with how quickly and
professionally the situation was handled.”
“I appreciate that the student is given
information about rights and that the
facilitator makes certain that the student can
express her or his view of the event. Although
the power difference still exists, it feels like a
more level field for discussion.”
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Faculty Responses
“I think a concise, plain-language version of
the policy to accompany the full policy would
be great.”
“I appreciate the facilitator making it clear to
the student that the professor was not
singling out the student, but was required to
initiate this process”.
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Faculty Responses
 “I value this process as a learning experience for
the students, and a way for faculty to safely work
through issues of academic honesty.”
 “I will include a link to “A Culture of Honesty” in
my syllabus in the future, and include a statement
on the use of cell phones during class. I will also
talk about expectations on the first day of class.”
 “The process here makes the experience
educational and not as menacing nor stressful for
both parties.”
honesty.uga.edu
Individual Faculty Responses - 
“Debbie Bell is an institutional treasure. I
cannot imagine how she manages such
emotionally-charged proceedings on a daily
basis. I know that I can always count on her to
be a neutral, calming presence who sets both
parties at ease even in the most difficult of
mediations…she’s nothing short of amazing.”
honesty.uga.edu
What are Faculty doing?
 Syllabus Statement: “As a University of Georgia student,
you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic
honesty policy, “A Culture of Honesty,” and the Student
Honor Code. All academic work must meet the standards
described in “A Culture of Honesty”. Lack of knowledge of
the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable
explanation for a violation. Questions related to course
assignments and the academic honesty policy should be
directed to the instructor”.
 Reminders before quizzes, papers, tests, etc.
 Statements on Online Assignments
 Plagiarism Tutorials
 Presentations
honesty.uga.edu
What are WE doing?
 New student orientation (1st year, transfer, graduate
students, international students)
 Online module: https://ovpi.uga.edu/Academic-HonestyVideo/player.html
 Syllabus Statement
 Student Academic Honesty Council, Creative Consultants
 Classroom plaques
 Academic Honesty Resources
 Conducting Surveys
 Seeking partners
 Managing Webpage
honesty.uga.edu
Academic Honesty Resources
UGA Librarians
CAPS – Counseling and Psychological Services
Health Promotion
ASPIRE Clinic
UGA Writing Center
Division of Academic Enhancement
Disability Resource Center
honesty.uga.edu
3-Minute Small Group Discussion
What unique techniques do instructors and
administrators at your institution utilize to
discourage academic dishonesty –
encourage academic honesty?
Please share 2 of these with the group.
honesty.uga.edu
GROUP DISCUSSIONS
(share lists and discuss
whether this will work at
your school)
honesty.uga.edu
Thank You!
Honesty Matters:
Strategies for Fostering Academic Integrity
Debbie Bell & Hunt Revell
Office of the VP for Instruction
University of Georgia
114 New College
Athens, GA 30602
honesty@uga.edu
honesty.uga.edu