| Report of the Office of Student Conduct |
|
May 11, 2010,
Volume 56, No. 33
|
To the University Community:
The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) periodically prepares reports to inform the University community about the character and extent of the work of the Disciplinary System, including the nature of violations of University rules and regulations and the sanctions imposed. These reports are made, in part, to provide an accurate and informative picture of the kinds of misconduct which are brought to the attention of our office and the variety of ways in which these matters are resolved. At the same time, we are mindful of our obligation under the Charter of the Student Disciplinary System to protect the confidentiality of individual students.
With the exception of 2007-2008, you will note a general decrease in the number of mediated cases. We find that even in situations where mediation would be appropriate and use of this alternative is encouraged, most students are unwilling to participate in it and prefer that a situation be handled through the more formal disciplinary process. When students have been willing to mediate, rather than it being conducted face-to-face, students prefer “shuttle mediation” where the mediator takes the comments of one to the other. Anecdotally, other schools are experiencing the same disinterest in mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution.
A word about sanctions: there is no standard result for a particular type of case. OSC takes into account how a case compares to precedent, the year of the student, the egregious and/or repeated nature of the conduct, the level of honesty and responsibility taken by the student, and other factors as appropriate. The categories are broad; circumstances vary; and every student is treated as an individual.
We are discussing different ways of reporting information about the cases we handle and their resulting resolutions to give a more complete picture of what the Office of Student Conduct does. In this regard, I welcome any suggestions for future reports as well as any comments or questions about this report or on any other aspect of the University’s disciplinary process. I can be reached at (215) 898-5651 or by e-mail at herrons@upenn.edu.
—Susan W. Herron, Director of Office of Student Conduct
|
2004-2005 |
2005-2006 |
2006-2007 |
2007-2008 |
2008-2009 |
Respondents (Academic Integrity) |
69 |
60 |
165* |
63 |
59 |
Undergraduate |
57 |
51 |
131 |
51 |
45 |
Graduate |
12 |
9 |
34 |
12 |
14 |
Respondents (Conduct) |
179 |
125 |
232 |
253 |
264 |
Undergraduate |
171 |
118 |
221 |
243 |
239 |
Graduate |
8 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
25 |
Respondents (Both Academic Integrity & Conduct) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
Undergraduate |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Graduate |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Total Respondents** |
248 |
185 |
397 |
318 |
327 |
|
Academic Integrity Charges** |
Alter Exam/Paper for Regrade |
6 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Cheating |
12 |
7 |
17 |
12 |
23 |
Fabrication |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty |
2 |
6 |
17 |
1 |
4 |
Falsification of Grades or Transcript |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Misconduct During Exam |
0 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
13 |
Misrepresentation of Academic Records |
3 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Plagiarism |
30 |
31 |
33 |
25 |
26 |
Provided Information to Another Student |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Submission of False Data |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Submission of Work Used Previously |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Unauthorized Collaboration or Other Use of Another Person’s Work |
15 |
3 |
91 |
19 |
8 |
Unfair Advantage Over Fellow Students |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Other Academic Violation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Conduct Charges** |
Alcohol Violation (1st Offense)*** |
47 |
45 |
20 |
76 |
50 |
Alcohol Violation (2nd or Subsequent Offense) |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
Assault |
16 |
6 |
7 |
19 |
10 |
Attempted Theft |
6 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Burglary |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
Carrying Weapons in an Educational Institution |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Computer Violation/Violation of Ethical Behavior with Respect to the
Electronic Information Environment Policy**** |
10 |
25 |
153 |
85 |
103 |
Criminal Conspiracy |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Criminal Mischief |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Disorderly Conduct |
56 |
22 |
18 |
69 |
62 |
Disturbance/Investigation of Person |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
Drug Violation |
15 |
7 |
8 |
12 |
13 |
E-Mail Violation |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Failure to Pay Rent |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
False Identity |
2 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Fire Code Violation |
12 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Forgery |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
Fraud |
2 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
Harassment |
6 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
Hazing |
3 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
Indecent/Sexual Assault |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Indecent Exposure |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Malicious Mischief |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Misappropriation of Funds |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Miscellaneous Security Violations |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
Misrepresentation of Status to the University |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Noise Violation |
4 |
2 |
6 |
15 |
17 |
Possessing Instruments of Crime |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Possession of Stolen Property |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Propulsion of Object |
9 |
12 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
Receiving Stolen Property |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Reckless Driving |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Reckless Endangering Another Person |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Retail Theft/Shoplifting |
23 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
Sexual Harassment |
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Terroristic Threats |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
Theft |
12 |
8 |
11 |
6 |
10 |
Threats |
8 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Threats with Dangerous Article |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Trespassing |
9 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
Use or Possession of Air Guns/Firearms/Dangerous Articles |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Use or Possession of Fake ID Card |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
Vandalism |
42 |
25 |
18 |
8 |
13 |
Other Conduct Violation (e.g., Failure to Cooperate, HIPPA Violation) |
3 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
12 |
|
Resolution of Academic Integrity Cases |
Signed Agreement |
52 |
46 |
111 |
46 |
39 |
Hearing, Case Founded |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
Dismissed After Hearing |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
No Formal Disciplinary Action (Unfounded Complaint or Informational Resolution) |
11 |
9 |
41 |
10 |
13 |
Unresolved***** |
4 |
2 |
10 |
7 |
3 |
|
Resolution of Conduct Cases |
Signed Agreement |
109 |
79 |
183 |
177 |
174 |
Hearing, Case Founded |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
Dismissed After Hearing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
No Formal Disciplinary Action (Unfounded Complaint or Informational Resolution) |
39 |
25 |
19 |
26 |
50 |
Mediation |
3 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
Unresolved***** |
30 |
19 |
30 |
45 |
23 |
|
Resolution of Cases Involving Both Academic Integrity & Conduct Incidents |
|
|
|
|
|
Signed Agreement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Academic Integrity Sanctions |
Formal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Warning |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Reprimand |
6 |
3 |
7 |
4 |
8 |
Probation |
15 |
17 |
70 |
20 |
9 |
Suspension (Not Imposed) |
13 |
21 |
29 |
10 |
10 |
Suspension (Imposed) |
10 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
Delayed Diploma |
5 |
3 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
Notation on Transcript |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Withdrawal |
6 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Expulsion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Informal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Avoid Complainant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Community Service |
5 |
12 |
71 |
19 |
1 |
Counseling |
6 |
10 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
Essay |
7 |
9 |
58 |
20 |
6 |
Letter of Apology |
12 |
12 |
36 |
17 |
1 |
Meet with Academic Support Professional |
8 |
5 |
11 |
3 |
4 |
Meet with Appropriate Person Relating to Charge |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
Present Program Relating to Charge |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Read Material on Plagiarism |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Redo Assignment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Other Miscellaneous Sanctions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
|
Conduct Sanctions |
Formal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Warning |
11 |
17 |
7 |
24 |
22 |
Reprimand |
50 |
41 |
108 |
113 |
105 |
Probation |
33 |
21 |
23 |
32 |
43 |
Suspension (Not Imposed) |
3 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
Suspension (Imposed) |
0 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Delayed Diploma |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Notation on Transcript |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Withdrawal |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Expulsion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Informal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Avoid Complainant |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
Barred from Living in University Residence System |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Community Service |
70 |
44 |
23 |
69 |
59 |
Counseling |
13 |
13 |
7 |
22 |
11 |
Drug and Alcohol Education |
34 |
19 |
15 |
35 |
43 |
Essay |
25 |
8 |
4 |
21 |
18 |
Fine |
18 |
21 |
129 |
53 |
67 |
Letter of Apology |
25 |
16 |
10 |
19 |
11 |
Meet with Appropriate Person Relating to Charge |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
PPD First Offender Program |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Restitution |
16 |
10 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
Substance Abuse Evaluation |
10 |
8 |
0 |
10 |
7 |
Other Miscellaneous Sanctions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
|
Sanctions for Cases Involving Both Academic Integrity and Conduct Incidents |
Formal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Suspension (Not Imposed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Suspension (Imposed and Not Imposed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Suspension (Imposed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Delayed Diploma |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Notation on Transcript |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Expulsion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Informal Sanctions |
|
|
|
|
|
Counseling |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Essay |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Letter of Apology |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Miscellaneous |
Fraternity and Sorority Cases |
6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
14 |
*The increase in Academic Integrity cases in 06-07 reflects an incident in a single class involving a significant number of students.
**The total number of respondents does not equal the total number of charges as some respondents are charged with more than one type of misconduct.
***The number of alcohol cases varies from year to year depending on how many and the type of Spring Fling incidents referred to the OSC.
****The majority of computer violations involve illegal peer-to-peer file sharing of copyrighted material.
*****Cases remain unresolved at the end of the academic year for a variety of reasons: some students withdraw from the University without resolving their disciplinary cases; the investigation in some cases is complex and may go into the following year; students may ask for a delay in their disciplinary case because of a pending court case; etc.
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