As I hope most of you know, part of my role as Director of ELI is that I serve as the Dean of Students for ELI students/classes. On Monday and Tuesday, I attended the annual retreat of the Deans Working Group, the committee of all the College's Deans of Students (plus some related College Staff). An issue came up that I thought was interesting, and I'd love for you to weigh in with your thoughts and experiences.
Some of the Deans of Students were frustrated by the fact that faculty often send students to them expecting the Dean to resolve the situation based on the student handbook (for example, a faculty member might say, "So-and-so plagiarized this paper, so please punish her according to the Student Handbook"). Often, what the faculty member is asking for is not actually in, or at least not supported by, the Student Handbook. Faculty are also often not aware of the grade grievance and other processes outlined in the Handbook.
I suggested that I don't think that most faculty really have much knowledge of the Student Handbook or of what the Dean of Students does, nor what the Dean of Students can/can't do in particular cases. What do you think? As a faculty member, have you ever read the Student Handbook? Do you feel that you have a good understanding of the student disciplinary process and the role of the Dean of Students? What do you need to know more about, and what would be a good way to convey that information to you and your colleagues? This all applies to ELI but also to your campus, for those of you who teach on campus.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and sharing them with the other Deans of Students!
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I have read the student handbook, and use the section about academic integrity in my syllabi.
I would just like to add this thought. As a faculty member it is useless to follow up in any formal manner with a student who one has discovered cheating without administrative support--thus off I go to the ADC or dean. Students go over our heads as their first step. However, my experience is that administrate support really varies.
Long ago and far away I had an obvious, documentable, and outrageous cheating incident in one of my courses, and received no administrative support. So my hands were tied.
I would of course love to have 'training' on this. For me a discussion board or blog with some case studies presented might be the best way, but I'm flexible. I'd love a deeper understanding, and I'd love to be able to expect consistency across the school in terms of administrative support. (I teach for at least two different ADCs, and sometimes I'm on the medical campus, so that's another layer).
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