79 academic violations reported to provost last semester
MU had two more documented violations than last semester but 57 fewer than Fall Semester 2004.
Published Feb. 21, 2006
The Office of the Provost received reports of 79 violations of MU's academic integrity policy in Fall Semester 2005, which is 57 fewer cases than in Fall Semester 2004 but two more than last spring semester.
Violations include plagiarism, cheating on tests and copying work from other students.
"Total, we normally hear about 75 to 80 violations per semester," said law professor James Devine. Devine is the only faculty member on a board of six students that judges the cases presented to the provost's office.
The six members are all members of the Missouri Students Association judicial branch. Three of the students are selected to hear a case along with Devine.
Devine said cases are classified according to whether a student and professor agreed on the facts of a case. If a student and professor agree on the facts of a violation, they can agree on a sanction. Devine said that most first-offense violations are punished by a letter of warning to the student. The violation is then reported to the provost. This is known as "Option A."
If a student and professor disagree on the facts, their dispute goes before Devine and the student board. This is known as "Option B."
"We talk about the evidence, and the board will make a recommendation," Devine said. "I almost always accept their recommendation."
Devine said he will then offer the student a punishment or the option of taking his decision to the campus student conduct committee.
Forty-nine violations were classified as "Option A" last semester, 30 were classified as "Option B."
Students found to have cheated, under any option, are also responsible for a $75 fine to pay the costs of the judicial proceedings.
Chelsea Campbell, the chairwoman of the board that hears the cases, said there is normally an increase in situations during periods when many grades are given.
"We get a lot more cases after the first sets of papers," Campbell said. "We also hear a lot of cases after finals."
Campbell said that since the Option A/Option B program started at the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year, the number of cases has increased.
Todd Smith, chief justice of the Student Court, said the board does not meet according to a regular schedule.
"They meet whenever a case comes from the provost's office," Smith said.
Smith said the members of the board were nominated by the MSA president and, like all members of the Student Court, were confirmed by the MSA Senate.
Donell Young, the judicial coordinator for the Department of Student Life, said he trains the students, who change every year, before they join the committee.
Young said that after coaching the new nominees, he has little input in the process.
"I don't make any further recommendation," Young said. "Sometimes, I sit in with them at hearings and offer comment."
Young said Devine had the final say on each of the board's recommendations.