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Honor Code Faculty Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases, instructors are allowed to do a private resolution with a student. This typically involves a conversation between student and instructor about the incident and the subsequent consequence for the violation. The private resolution form is available through the Office of the Dean of Students and should be returned to the office once complete. In certain cases, a student may not be eligible to do a private resolution due to their being prior violations of the honor code or other prior serious misconduct at the university. Be sure to report all violations to the Office of the Dean of Students, so that the student is afforded full due process.

To report a suspected violation, complete the Report A Violation Referral Form. A member of the Office of the Dean of Students staff will follow up with you shortly.

If a student is accused of a violation of the honor code and they deny any wrongdoing, then the instructor has the option of either dropping their complaint or pushing the case forward to be adjudicated through the Office of the Dean of Students. Cases in which an instructor and student can not come to a mutual understanding about an allegation typically go before the Student Academic Honor Board for a formal hearing.

ODOS highly encourages all instructors to have information on every course syllabus about the Student Academic Honor Code and to discuss the value and expectations associated with academic integrity with each class at the start of each semester. Additionally, it is recommended that instructors discuss the consequences should students fall below the instructor’s expectations for assignments, papers, and/or examinations, with a special emphasis and clarity on when shared work (i.e. group projects) is permissible or not. 

Including guidance on the use of AI in your class on the course syllabus is a proactive and transparent approach. It helps set clear expectations for students regarding AI-generated work, including if and how it might be allowed in the class.

Yes. UNCW provides faculty with a plagiarism detection tool, Turnitin, which now has an AI Detection feature available to use for all Canvas course writing assignments.  There are also a number of free AI detection tools available on the web.

Encourage discussions and assignments that require application and analysis, making cheating less tempting.

Assign topics or projects that require students to apply their own insights and creativity.

Use a mix of assessment formats such as essays, presentations, group discussions, and problem-solving tasks.

For complex assignments, ask students to submit their work in stages, such as drafts, outlines, and research notes. This demonstrates the development of their ideas over time.

Assign tasks that are specific to each student's personal experiences or opinions, making it harder for AI-generated content to align perfectly.

Include in-class assessments, quizzes, or exams where students' knowledge is tested in real-time and AI assistance is less feasible.

Assign topics related to current events or recent research findings that might not be readily available in AI-generated content databases.

Engage students in interactive activities that require active participation and cannot be easily automated.

Encourage group projects and collaborative activities where the focus is on teamwork and shared ideas.

A good first step would be to submit an incident report with the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS), so that office can determine if the student has any prior honor code violations. ODOS will typically respond to your inquiry within 24 hours.  AI-generated content detection is not foolproof, and it's possible for legitimate student work to be incorrectly flagged.  Approach the situation with an open mind. Start by reviewing the AI detection software's findings to understand why it flagged the content as AI generated. Look for specific patterns or characteristics that led to this conclusion. Evaluate whether the complexity and quality of the assignment are consistent with the student's previous work and their demonstrated abilities. If ODOS advises that the student has no prior violations, communicate directly with the student your concerns and ask for an explanation.  How did they approach the assignment, their research process, or any other relevant details that could help clarify whether the content is their original work. Review the student's response to your inquiries and assess whether their explanation is plausible and aligns with the characteristics of the assignment.

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