In a faculty executive committee meeting Monday, Assistant Dean of Students Melinda Manning described a proposed system of handling cheating incidents that would put more power in the hands of professors.
This system is problematic because it erodes the purpose of a student-enforced Honor Code. A plan that includes a smaller proceeding with Honor Court mediation between the professor and the student as the intermediary option should be considered instead.
The idea originally proposed would allow instructors to handle instances of cheating outside of the Honor Court system, with either party still given the option to go to the Honor Court.
Strong student body control over the Honor Code is a key part of UNC tradition. Such a tradition needs to be maintained, but we also understand the need for a system that gives faculty a larger role, especially given the fact there are cases that fall into gray areas which deserve the professor’s discretion, rather than a full proceeding.
However, incentive structures between students and professors would keep students from feeling as though they could actually use the Honor Court as a recourse should they be given an unfair or incorrect punishment.
Honor Court mediation would moderate those effects. A policy that puts the onus solely on professors would defeat the purpose of the Honor Code and could lead to outcomes distorted by individual perception.
