University Council minutes of 20 October 2004 meeting

MEMBERS PRESENT:

ADMINISTRATION: JCanepa, JDobai, JFitzpatrick (meeting chair)

FACULTY: PCaster, SHarding, JKlug, NLopez

STUDENTS: GCook' 05, KCota'07, KChomick' 06, MD'Angelillio' 06

Agenda: The agenda for the meeting was ordered as follows:

1. Plagiarism and cheating (Old Business)
2. Report on Student Senate business
3. Alcohol Education for upper class students

1^ST AGENDA ITEM… Plagiarism & Cheating

Professor Caster requested that the UCouncil continue its discussion on efforts to inform students of the negative effects on the whole university community when Plagiarism and Cheating occur. It was also discussed that the whole definition of plagiarism must be made more definitive with that definition provided to all students and faculty. The discussion centered on each item as an individual topic. Professor Klug informed the UCouncil that many positive faculty initiatives were under way on both issues.

After conclusion of the discussion of the two topics, the UCouncil approved the following recommendations:

The University Council requests that the sub committee on Academic Life convene, discuss and attempt to list all efforts that are dealing with Plagiarism & Cheating on campus. Recommendation approved 11-0-0.

The University Council requests that the sub committee on Community Life convene, discuss and report on the status of the campus Honor Code. In addition, ways in which students are made aware of the Honor Code should be listed. Recommendation approved 11-0-0.

2^ND AGENDA ITEM…REPORT FROM THE STUDENT SENATE

Members of the student sector gave the UCouncil an update on the following topics

Peer advising fair will be held on Wednesday Nov. 3, 2004

FUSA has contracted with an outside firm, FUSEviews.com to coordinate faculty evaluations

This topic generated many questions from the faculty.

Who was involved in the decision? Vice President Grossman signed off on the concept and the Faculty Development & Evaluation Committee was made aware of the status of this process.

What safeguards are in place to deal with issues of "critical mass" in terms of adequate number of student participating so as to have an accurate sample as well as what time restrictions are in place so an evaluation has to be completed on a particular course by a set date. Students felt that no set number and no date had been set.

After long discussion on this topic, the UCouncil passed the following motion for consideration by the Academic Vice President and the Vice President for Student Services:

"The University Council recommends that the Academic Vice President and the Vice President of Student Services support and encourage the FUSA Student Senate and the Faculty Development & Evaluation Committee to collaborate and discuss the current status of the faculty evaluation process which is made available to students on line by the Student Senate. It is suggested that the key issues of critical mass in terms of number of students participating and the window of opportunity available for students to participate in any evaluation be reviewed and discussed."

The motion passed 11-0-0 and was sent to Dr Grossman and Mr. Schimpf

3^rd AGENDA ITEM…PLAGIARISM VS. CHEATING ON CAMPUS

• Professor Caster requested a discussion of academic honesty as a follow up to the UCC Subcommittee report dated December 2003. In particular, he asked for student input on the report's suggestions from other students regarding plagiarism and use of the honor code on exams. Student members of the council suggested that the concept of plagiarism needed to be clearly defined.

• The discussion then proceeded to touch upon the concept of improving the honor code at Fairfield. After an exchange of ideas and concepts, it was agreed by a unanimous vote of members present at the time, 9-0-0, to send the following issues to the Academic Life sub committee of the university council for review and recommendations

1. Plagiarism at Fairfield...ways to define and instruct as to what it is

2. The Honor Code at Fairfield University...how to improve

A motion to conclude the meeting was made, seconded and approved @ 1135 am

Respectfully submitted,

James D. Fitzpatrick

Recording Secretary