Fall Semester Update

Dear fellow students,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying a well-deserved break. I write today to reflect on the past semester, which has been transformative for our Community of Trust. You will find some highlights and updates from the Honor Committee, below.

Over the past 5 months, the multi-sanction Honor System has been implemented. This system, which replaced the historic single-sanction on July 1st, has incorporated restorative and proportional outcomes. The Committee and its support officers have worked hard to successfully implement this change and look forward to its continual improvement.

A notable illustration of the multi-sanction system at work is through the imposition of the XYZ Case Study. This new sanction serves as a teaching tool by sharing the details of an Honor case from the perspective of a sanctioned student, providing an unfiltered voice in the Honor process. I highly encourage you to review these reflections and revisit the webpage as more are published.

The foundational evolution in Honor – recognizing the power of accountability and growth – is a direct result of student advocacy and participation in self-governance. Importantly, this change reinforces a distinctive truth: the Honor System truly lies in its students’ hands. We, collectively, can improve and mold it to reflect of our shared values.

In addition to our case processing function, the Committee has organized various initiatives this semester like International Students Days, Finals Pushes, and co-sponsored events with student organizations. We continue to seek your engagement, through different mediums, too. As we prepare for Honor Week this February, we encourage you to complete this anonymous survey (which offers raffled gift cards). Additionally, we welcome you to participate in a unique art exhibition which aims to illuminate our invisible thread of honor.

Lastly, every semester, the Committee strives to ensure transparency and fair proceedings in our Honor System. Below, you will find a review of cases reported between May 12, 2023, and December 17, 2023.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] for any reason. I hope you have a safe and restful break.

With gratitude,

Hamza Aziz (he/him)
Chair of the Honor Committee

KNOW THE PROCESS

In summary, the Honor case process is initiated by a report and can result in sanctioning, if a student is found responsible. The Honor Committee does not file reports; rather, all reports are filed by community members, such as students and faculty. All parties involved in a case receive an Honor Advisor to guide and support them through the process.

After a report, a student may file an Informed Retraction (IR), through which they admit to the offense(s) alleged, make amends with the affected parties, and recommit themself to the Community of Trust. This contrasts with a Conscientious Retraction (CR), which must be filed before a report is received. A CR allows a student to admit to an Honor Offense before it comes under suspicion by anyone and serves as a fully exonerating defense if a report is subsequently filed. A student who is considering filing a CR should consult with an Honor Advisor.

If a student does not file an IR, an investigation and hearing process commences. At an Honor hearing, Committee representatives and randomly selected students serve on the Panel for Guilt. If found guilty, sanctions include, but are not limited to, amends, education, temporary removal, and permanent removal.

The Contributory Health Impairment (CHI) process is intended for students who believe they may have had a health impairment at the time of the reported conduct that contributed to their commission of an Honor Offense. If a student claims a CHI, their Honor case is placed on hold and their CHI determination process is conducted by the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.

CASE SUMMARY

Summary of Cases Reported Between May 12, 2023, and December 17, 2023. 

27 reports have been filed with the Honor Committee.

1. 11 are under investigation.
2. 2 are proceeding to a Hearing.
3. 6 students have submitted an Informed Retraction.
4. 3 cases have been dropped by the Committee.
5. 1 student has left admitting guilt.
6. 3 Hearings have been held. 2 students were found guilty. 2 students were found not guilty.

Regarding cases reported before May 12, 2023, one case is in the CHI process. Zero cases have been returned from the CHI process to the Honor process.

Conscientious Retractions and Informed Retractions

Two students have had the courage and integrity to come forward and file a CR. Nine students have filed an IR. Three resulted from a case reported before May 12, 2023, and six from a case reported after this date. These are the public summaries, written to maintain confidentiality.

CR 1: A student admitted to cheating on a problem set and filed a CR.

CR 2: A student admitted to cheating on an exam and filed a CR.

IR 1: A student in the College of Arts and Sciences was reported for Cheating by using unauthorized aid on an exam during the Spring 2023 semester. The student admitted to the offense and filed an IR. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student to write a letter of apology to affected parties and re-complete the Honor training module.

IR 2 & 3: Two students in the College of Arts and Sciences were reported for Cheating by using unauthorized aid on an exam during the Spring 2023 semester. The students admitted to the offense and filed IRs. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the students to write letters of apology to affected parties, host amends meetings, and complete the Honor restorative ethics seminar.

IR 4: A student in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences was reported for Cheating by engaging in unauthorized collaboration during the Spring 2023 semester. The student admitted to the offense and filed an IR. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student to write a letter of apology and receive a failing grade on applicable assignments

IR 5: A student in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences was reported for Cheating by engaging in unauthorized collaboration during the Spring 2023 semester. The student admitted to the offense and filed an IR. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student to write a letter of apology and receive a failing grade on applicable assignments.

IR 6: A student in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences was reported for Cheating by engaging in unauthorized collaboration during the Spring 2023 semester. The student admitted to the offense and filed an IR. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student to write a letter of apology and receive a failing grade on applicable assignments.  

IR 7: A student in the School of Medicine was reported for Lying by fabrication of a document during the Spring 2023 semester. The student admitted to the offense and filed an IR. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student to write letters of apology to affected parties and re-complete the Honor training module

IR 8 & 9: Two students in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies were reported for Cheating by using unauthorized aid on a group assignment during a Summer 2023 course. The students admitted to the offense and filed IRs. A panel of Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the students to write a letter of apology and complete a 7-week Honor restorative ethics seminar.

Honor Hearings

There have been three Honor hearings this semester. Zero resulted from a case reported before May 12, 2023, and three from cases reported after this date. These are the public summaries, written to maintain confidentiality.

Hearing 1:

A student was accused of Cheating by using unauthorized resources on an exam during the Spring 2023 semester.

The Community argued that while the Honor policy for the exam was changed during the examination period, it was always clear that textbooks and Chegg were unauthorized resources. The Accused Student argued that they never used Chegg and that a reasonable UVA student would not have known that the use of textbooks is not allowed during the completion of the exam due to a lack of clarity in communications regarding the Honor policy for the exam.

The Panel for Guilt found the student Guilty.

To uphold and promote the Community of Trust, a panel of randomly selected Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student with an amends meeting with their advisor and notification of the results of the Honor hearing to various parties.

Hearing 2:

Two students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences were accused of Cheating by collaborating on a final exam during the Spring 2023 semester.

The Community argued that one of the students directly copied the shared answers of the other student. The Accused Students claimed that their shared studying, collaborative homework assignments, and similar educational backgrounds explained the similarities in their test answers. Moreover, the Accused Students argued that the problem-solving approaches employed were to be expected from students with similar experience in the material and that their mistakes were consistent with those typically seen from other students.

A Panel for Guilt found both students Not Guilty on the basis of Act.

Hearing 3:

A student was accused of Cheating by using ChatGPT on a closed-book exam during the Summer 2023 term.

The Community argued that the format, structure, word count, and content of the Accused Student’s exam responses shared significant similarities with responses generated by ChatGPT. The Community also argued that the differences between the Accused Student’s midterm and final exam demonstrated the improbability that both were written by the same individual. The Accused Student argued that the similarities between their responses and those of ChatGPT could be attributed to using the same sources. The Accused Student also argued that the difference in quality between the midterm and final exam was due to differences in effort and preparation.

The Panel for Guilt found the student Guilty.

To uphold and promote the Community of Trust, a panel of randomly selected Honor Committee representatives sanctioned the student with amends meetings with the Reporter and applicable Department Chair, participation in an Honor restorative ethics seminar, temporary transcript notation, and expulsion in abeyance.”