SR 1402: A Resolution In
Support Of Including an
Academic Integrity
Statement on Course Syllabi
Policy Brief
Academic Integrity Committee
Academic Policy Committee
www.utsenate.org
SAC 2.102
Siddharth Sridhar, Policy
Director
Siddha.sridhar@gmail.com
Table of Contents
I.
Executive Summary ............................................................................................... 2
Current Policy
Need for Change
Recommended Policy
II.
Background ........................................................................................................... 3
Statement of Purpose
Current Policy
Necessity for Change
III.
Discussion ............................................................................................................. 3
Alternative to Current Policy
Pros and Cons
Recommendation
IV.
Implementation ..................................................................................................... 5
Cost
Timeline
V.
Appendix A ............................................................................................................ 6
Executive Summary
Current Policy
The University of Texas at Austin General Information Catalog (GIC) provides a list of
required items for all class syllabi. This list includes requirements for grading policy, office-hours
information, and class overview. However, the requirements contain no mention of academic
integrity. Current syllabi requirements exclude the University Honor Code and a definitive action
plan for students questioned on the basis of their academic integrity.
The updated honor code is as follows:
“As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University
and uphold academic integrity.”
Need for Change
The inclusion of the Honor Code on course syllabi across the university will help set the
tone for classes and promote awareness of the new official Honor Code.1 Many of our comparison
schools require professors to include the Honor Code in course syllabi along with resources to help
students prevent issues with academic dishonesty. Functioning as written contracts between students
and faculty, course syllabi provide a unique opportunity to promote academic integrity on campus.
Requiring this change through Faculty Council would also raise awareness of the new Honor Code.
This would create an expectation amongst professors and students, alike, to discuss academic
integrity within the context of each course. Furthermore, a generalized syllabus statement that also
includes a reference to Student Judicial Services would promote student awareness of university
resources. If alleged of academic misconduct, a required syllabus statement would illustrate to
students the expectations and formal procedures of the university.
Recommended Policy
Senate recommends the formulation of a brief, generalized syllabus statement, including the
Honor Code and SJS resources (see Appendix A). As a requirement to course formation, this
statement shall appear on all university syllabi. If passed, the policy proposal will be sent to the
Office of the University Provost for university-wide implementation.
1
http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/academic-policies-and-procedures/class-syllabi/
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Background
Statement of Purpose
This legislation aims to uphold the values of this university by introducing a standard
syllabus statement including both the updated University Honor Code and resources for students
regarding academic dishonesty.
Current Policy
Currently, university policy regarding course syllabi makes no reference to academic
integrity2. The university offers a multitude of services for students accused of academic violations
such as Student Judicial Services. Conversations with students determined that while most students
understand these services exist, they remain unaware of what the services offer. For example,
students must navigate the Dean of Students website in order to see a list of procedures that follow
an allegation of academic misconduct. Additionally, students and professors, alike, do not retain
knowledge of the updated university honor code.
Necessity for Change
Currently, not all professors include the updated honor code on syllabi. Without a
requirement to include academic integrity expectations on course syllabi, many professors remain
unaware of the change to the Honor Code. By creating a syllabus statement, both students and
professors will become well versed in current university policy. Students would feel more
comfortable discussing academic violations and more knowledgeable as to what constitutes a
university violation. The addition of the honor code and a reference to Student Judicial Services
would increase transparency in academic expectations. As such, this policy supports the idea that
students of the University of Texas at Austin should abide by the core values of the university.
Discussion
Alternative to Current Policy
Addressing the absence of a policy regarding academic integrity and course syllabi, we
consider a change in the GIC rules concerning course syllabi to mandate that all course syllabi carry
a statement of the honor code and university academic integrity guidelines.
2
http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/academic-policies-and-procedures/class-syllabi/
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Several comparison schools have existing policies regarding the inclusion of academic
integrity statements on syllabi. Texas A&M University’s Curricular Services3 states the “Aggie Honor
Code” and mandates that a link to the “Aggie Honor System Office” must appear on syllabi.4
Similarly, the University of California-Berkeley requires every syllabus to include a section on
“Permissible and Impermissible collaboration” and another on “Standards for academic honesty and
penalties for infractions.”5 The University of Virginia also requires a section covering its honor
system6. Additionally, some comparison universities strive to include more comprehensive
statements that cover policies on academic dishonesty. The University of Colorado - Boulder
recommends that all professors provide the following statement on their syllabi:
“All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the
academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism,
aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of
academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-7252273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both
academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to
university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found
at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html
and
at
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/.”7
Louisiana State University features a support system in regards to academic integrity. It
includes the honor statement, potential consequences of academic misconduct, provides useful
resources to questions of academic integrity, and stresses its “commitment to community.”8 Within
the UT System, UT Pan-American mandates that each syllabus include a link to the Dean of
Students, though it lacks a syllabus statement and Honor Code.
As such, comparison institutions generally hold progressive views in communicating
academic integrity to students and faculty. Holistically, UT Austin should adopt a syllabus statement
inclusive of the established Honor Code and which makes references to various offices of student
misconduct. Furthermore, by writing academic integrity into syllabi UT-Austin would place its core
values - learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility - at the
forefront of students’ academic experience. This raises awareness of proper scholastic conduct and
allows UT to become proactive in mitigating issues relating to academic integrity by directly
communicating its policies to students.
http://curricularservices.tamu.edu/minimum-syllabus-requirements/
http://curricularservices.tamu.edu/minimum-syllabus-requirements/
5 http://teaching.berkeley.edu/components-syllabus
6 http://www.scps.virginia.edu/uploads/SCPS-Syllabus-Template.docx
7 http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html
3
4
8
http://www.utb.edu/vpaa/coe/Documents/Syllabi%202011-2012/Summer%20I%20Grad/EDLR%206370.pdf
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Pros and Cons
This policy option encourages discussion among students and professors about academic
integrity in the classroom. It projects the values of the University Honor Code to all students and
increases awareness of the importance of Student Judicial Services. Based off of the comparison
school data, we find that numerous institutions have already implemented mandatory syllabi
statements, which showcase their integrity policies. The UT Honor Code serves to unite students
and promote student responsibility; this policy initiative intends to further that mission. Additionally,
the schools listed above provide students with valuable information regarding their options if alleged
of scholastic misconduct.
This policy option does not, however, standardize what constitutes academic misconduct
within any given course at UT. Hopefully, with the implementation of this syllabus statement,
student and faculty would be motivated to consider the confines within which a student may work
without violating academic integrity. As the syllabus statement would be included on all university
syllabi, it would provide an opportunity from which professors could define cheating for their
specific discipline of coursework.
Recommendation
Currently, UT Austin offers no mention of academic integrity within its established
guidelines for syllabi formation. Through a standardized syllabus statement, the university can
effectively communicate its core values to students and professors, alike. Furthermore, a concise
statement allows for visibility as well as memorability amongst student populations.
Implementation
Cost
If S.R. 1402 is passed, the Faculty Council and Educational Policy Committee will vote to
amend the requirements for syllabi for the coming semesters to include the honor code, campus
resources, and contact information for Student Judicial Services. The authors will work with Senate’s
Legislation Implementation Coordinator to arrange meetings with administrators and follow
through with the Provost’s office to create the statement itself.
Timeline
Both of the aforementioned university committees would discuss S.R. 1402 during the Fall
Semester allowing for implementation as soon as Fall 2016. Senate representatives to the committees
would advocate for its passage, and assure that original message behind the piece be either improved
or unchanged. Acceptance by both committees would provide faculty concurrence to the inclusion
of an academic integrity statement on course syllabi. For this to be passed, and for a statement to be
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generated by the Provost’s office, alteration to current syllabus requirements may be acquired by the
Fall 2015 semester.
Appendix A
The following link provides students with a flowchart explaining academic integrity policy
and the procedure by which students follow up with integrity claims:
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/downloads/discproc_academic.pdf
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