Hello all,
I am writing to you all in my capacity as Co-Head of the Honor Board this year. Per section II. A. 2. C. vi. of the Honor Code the Head of the Honor Board at the end of the semester is to inform the student body of the cases that took place that semester. I admit that this is a practice that has fallen off the radar in recent years (and considering I am only sending out the Spring ‘25 recap in December, I am clearly not immune as well), so if it seems unfamiliar or new that is why. However, I think sharing the number of cases and abstracts is incredibly important, both as a measure for students to hold the Honor Board accountable, and to inform us all of what life looks like under the Honor Code at any given time. Please note, I have organized these cases by type, and have anonymized cases to the best of my ability.
Spring 2025:
Total cases (Academic and social that were referred and addressed/adjudicated through typical Honor Board processes between 1/1/25 and 5/16/25): 11 cases
- Academic: 10 cases
- Alternative resolutions meetings (when confronted and confronting parties share an interpretation of events and the confronted party has taken accountability): 8 cases
- The majority of cases resulted from students using AI when against course policies. The typical outcome from these is often dependent on what the professor has written in the syllabus (such as if using AI results in an automatic zero, etc), but was usually a zero on an assignment, or at times a chance to redo the assignment, etc.
- Honor board hearings (when the confronted and confronting party do not share the same interpretation of events, and the Honor Board has additional questions): 2 cases
- Both cases resulted from students using extensive AI on a final paper/capstone project which was against course policy. Resolution was inline with course syllabi of a zero on the final paper/capstone, (note, however, that a zero on a final paper may have additional ramifications resulting from it, such as a student receiving a below merit grade or not completing a program).
- Alternative resolutions meetings (when confronted and confronting parties share an interpretation of events and the confronted party has taken accountability): 8 cases
- Social cases adjudicated through honor board processes: 0
- Social cases referred to Dean’s Panel process (in typical Honor Board processes): 1
- The head of the Honor Board served on zero Dean’s Panels in Spring 2025
Finally, I have attached (and copied below) case abstracts. These cases have been anonymized, and occurred no less than two and no more than six semesters ago. Please note, one of these abstracts would now likely be resolved through an alternative resolution (Philosophy B 2XX), as the confronted party took full accountability and shared the confronting party’s interpretation of events. However, at this point in time the Alternative Resolution Process had not been officially added to the Honor Code (as it is now!)
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.