Academic misconduct reports: 215 Resolved by Faculty: 193

Numbers we would expect based on national research:
Research suggests that between 50 and 75% of students report having engaged in at least one act of academic misconduct in the preceding 12 months (67% here at NC State, Zelna, 2002). Assuming that NC State was at the lowest end of the spectrum, excluding graduate students, and assuming that the incidents occurred once and only once in a student's career, and finally, that the incidents were randomly distributed over 10 semesters. That means it would be reasonable to assume that there are at least 1000 incidents of academic misconduct occurring per semester here at NC State. The current number of 215 is the largest number reported for a year. The research suggests a number of about 2000 incidents a year. So we are confronting a little less than 10% of what is likely happening.

So this type of misconduct is seriously unreported, and probably for a wide variety of reasons. There is wide disagreement about the level of responsibility for faculty in this area. Academic misconduct is being confronted most effectively in academic areas that have both the will to do this, as well as the tools to do the diagnostic work. The best current example is the CSC department and specifically the faculty teaching CSC 116, and CSC 216.

The web page for the Office of Student Conduct offers information that will be helpful for faculty who are creating statements of expectation for the syllabus, as well as for those who want to know how to engage in dialogue with a student that they believe has cheated in some fashion. Staff in the OSC and students in the student judicial branch of student government are prepared to offer prevention programs in classrooms, or to consult with faculty on specific issues or cases.