After more than a century, UNC-Chapel Hill will end its student-run honor court system – forcing a major change in the way student misconduct, in and out of the classroom, is handled at the university.
Dean Chris Clemens and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Amy Johnson announced the change in a message to campus on Wednesday, saying the university will replace the student-led system with the use of a “conduct board,” or hearing board model, administered by university staff. This contrasts with the current model, in which students review alleged violations of the university honor code by their peers and impose applicable disciplinary actions.
The honor code, which all students are expected to adhere to, prohibits academic dishonesty – generally meaning actions such as cheating or plagiarism – as well as non-academic crimes such as hazing, illegal drug use, gun possession, and a host of other violations.
The honor code and the student-run system that implements it have historically been a source of pride at the university, with new students pledging at their convocation ceremonies not to lie, cheat, or steal, and to encourage those around them to defend the “Carolina tradition”. .” The university model for the system is also rare, with only a handful of universities nationwide – including the University of Virginia It is Washington and Lee University – boasting student-run courts.
“We are extremely proud of that history and tradition,” Johnson told The News & Observer in an interview Thursday.
But Johnson noted that issues in the “student conduct universe” have evolved significantly over the past century, with cases becoming more complicated and taking longer to resolve. Many cases now intersect with civil or criminal court proceedings and involve outside lawyers, Johnson said. Academic cases take approximately 100 days to resolve, while non-academic cases can take nearly 140 days, she said.
“This is an extraordinary amount for a student-led process to try to navigate and manage,” Johnson said. “And for that reason, we are moving to a hearing board model that will be guided by professionals but will still involve the active participation of students, faculty and staff across campus.”
Five student leaders within the honor system — two attorneys general, two honor court presidents and the honor court outreach coordinator — addressed the university’s decision in a statement released Friday. Leaders said they would like to collaborate with administrators in the coming weeks as changes are implemented — something, they said, that hadn’t happened before Johnson and Clemens’ announcement.
“We are deeply saddened by the University’s decision, but we remain committed to our mission of advancing student voices,” the statement read.
‘Concerns’ about student-led system
In their message to campus, Johnson and Clemens cited “concerns and conversations” about the existing system as the reason for moving to a new model. Asked by The N&O who expressed such concerns, Johnson said they generally came from students accused of student conduct violations, as well as faculty and staff who participate in the system, especially in academic cases.
“If it takes 100 days, it could interfere with students’ academic progress,” Johnson said. “And teachers are not only frustrated about having to participate in such a long process, but also about participating in a process that could potentially impede students’ academic progress and their ability to continue taking courses or meet prerequisites and so on. onwards.”
Johnson said the changes are not related to recent protests or other issues on campus, adding that the change has been in the works for more than a year. (Regarding the pro-Palestine protests in April, 10 UNC students were issued citations for trespassing and three additional students were arrested.)
In their statement, honor system student leaders said they were informed of the proposed changes to the model less than 24 hours before Johnson and Clemens’ email to campus.
“The university administration did not consult us – or any member of student government that we know of – about its decision to end a nearly 150-year tradition of student self-governance,” the statement read. “If the administration had communicated its intention to change the student conduct process, we would have begun a good faith dialogue to discuss possible changes to the Honor System.”
The honor code and the “long history and tradition of student integrity and honor at Carolina” will remain under the new model honor system, Johnson said. But instead of students governing their peers, university officials will now oversee hearings and procedures regarding alleged violations.
The new model is the “most common” in student affairs and is a best practice, Johnson said.
The hope, Johnson said, is that having a professional team overseeing the proceedings will speed up the process, as they can dedicate full workdays to the task without the extra responsibilities — like attending classes — that student leaders have. The University The Office of Student Conduct website currently lists three full-time employees, and Johnson said he anticipates hiring up to two additional employees for honor system issues.
“Because this will be these people’s full-time job, as opposed to a whole team of students who are trying to work, there will be some efficiencies of scale,” Johnson said.
Honor system leaders acknowledged in their statement that “no system, including ours, is perfect.” But they said their duties were “never a burden” despite the time commitment.
“As branch leaders of the Honor System, we willingly volunteered our time and effort to the Honor System because we knew we were making a positive impact on students and the university community as a whole,” they said.
How the new model will work
Johnson did not provide an estimate of how long it will take for cases to be resolved under the new hearing process conducted by the team. But she said she expects there to be a “significant” reduction.
Along with ending the student-run honor system, Johnson said the university also plans to streamline a variety of policies outside of the honor code into a new student conduct policy and “put them all under one roof.” By doing so, Johnson hopes students will be better able to navigate the disciplinary process.
“In addition to the honor code, we have our alcohol and drug policy, we have our community standards policies,” Johnson said. “It’s become a really networked environment for students to manage here at Carolina.”
Johnson also said the university would likely implement an “informal resolution” option for cases, in which the parties would reach an agreement on how to resolve the case without going through a formal hearing process. Johnson said the option would likely be better for “minor” violations of the policy.
Students who participate in a hearing with the new employee-run conduct board will still be afforded due process, with the option to appeal any board decision, Johnson said. Students, faculty and staff will also remain involved in the process, at least in some capacity, through a new advisory committee that will provide feedback on the new model, Johnson said. Students may also “volunteer to participate as a member of a hearing board or to serve as a professional counselor/peer to a student involved in a case,” according to an FAQ page about the proposed changes.
Honor system leaders indicated that the reduced level of student involvement in the system would be a detriment to students with cases in the system.
“Given the stigma surrounding academic dishonesty or conduct violations, many accused students feel uncomfortable sharing their narratives with administrators or teachers. Instead, they preferred a colleague who provided honest guidance and understanding,” they said. “That’s the value of a student-led Honor System.”
The university plans to transition away from the student-led system at the start of the next academic year, which begins in mid-August, Johnson said. Existing cases that go through the student-led system will continue under the current model, she said, but new cases will go through the new hearing process.
The university’s division of student affairs will accept feedback on the team’s proposed process over the next month. Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts holds the authority to end the student-run model and implement the new system.
Student leaders concluded their statement by expressing their interest in providing feedback to administrators on proposed changes based on their “knowledge of the campus community’s preferences regarding student conduct.”
“Defending Carolina’s deeply rooted tradition of student self-government has been the privilege of a lifetime,” they said. “We will do our best to continue to advocate for the student body in all our capacities.”
