Hi everyone, and happy holidays. I just finished my exams, and a “possible honor code violation” has been reported about one. This happened because I misinterpreted the directions given to us before going into the exam, and I brought my textbook into the test room. We had been told that “answer-planning is open-book”, which I took to mean we could look at the book to plan our answers to the questions posed in the exam packet. I have since learned that my professor meant that we should plan general answers, guided by our study guide, beforehand while studying while using the book. I should have clarified this matter beforehand, but believed at the time I knew what I was supposed to do.
When I realized the discrepancy, after taking the exam, I immediately told my professor what I had done. He seems very understanding, as he realizes I did not intentionally do anything wrong. I appreciate his sympathy. However, I am still required to speak with my school’s authority on academic integrity. My professor has told me that, besides this conversation, there will probably not be any consequences, but of course I cannot say for sure what will happen.
I am nervous about talking to the honor council not because I feel that I’ve intentionally cheated (which I don’t and didn’t) but because I have made a serious mistake. I accept that it was my fault, but I do not want the misunderstanding to taint my academic record as it does not reflect my actual morality. I have never been in a situation like this before and am unsure of how to prepare for the meeting. Does anyone have insight as to what I could do to make my integrity clear to the relevant persons and to minimize permanent consequences?
I think if you clearly and calmly lay out the situation just as you have laid it out to us, you should be fine. The fact that you brought it to your professor’s attention (assuming he will attest to that) demonstrates your lack of malice aforethought. I think you could also make the argument that “answer-planning is open-book” is a very misleading instruction. The term “open book” by and large is used in a test-taking context. To use it in a description of studying for said test is really redundant and weird - isn’t all studying/test preparation “open book”?
I agree that the wording is strange…of course you can use your book when studying (answer planning).
Yeah. Words mean things. Prof should learn how to communicate. Good luck.
I think if you are honest and open as you were with the professor you will be fine. Bring any written documentation you have (ex. the instructions).