The University of Toledo

Honor Code Meeting Minutes Saturday 9/29/07

 

Those present at meeting:

Joel Davidson             Michael Cheung         

Anna Balog                 Aaron Shmookler

Ryan Slater                 Anthony DeAngelis

Ben Yarger                  Casey Darrah

Habib Srour                 Ben Adebayo

Jamie Bucher               Della Croci

Tiffani Milless- on conference call

 

I.   Introductions/team experiences

II.  Assignment of positions

4th yr positions:

Honor Committee Chair – Joel Davidson

Vice Chair for Investigations – Anna Balog

Medical Student Honor Committee Secretary – Tiffani Milless

3rd yr positions:

Deputy Vice Chair for Investigations – Ben Yarger

Deputy Secretary – Eric Morgan

Deputy for Special Projects – Ryan Slater

III.  Hearing proceedings discussed at length.

 

Incident

                              |

Email sent to honor

            code member (who should cc chair)

                                    |

Send standard reply email 

                                    |

Approach for clarification

                                    |

Satisfactory____________________Unsatisfactory                        

            |                                                           |

Noaction                                     Accuser report via standard form

within 72 hrs of approach, during which time accused                                                                           may choose to admit to violation

                       |

    Notify accused by email within 24 hrs

   (after previous 72 hr period)

            |

    Investigations

            |

    Hearing – Did violation occur?  Intent?

Recommendations for consequences of violation if found.

 

 

IV. Other issues discussed:

 

1.         Standard reply email – Needs to be drafted. Should include reference to                                          section 402 of the honor code, “Approach for Clarification,” pg. 20.

2.            Public hearings vs. private (closed).

A public hearing is open to medical student body.

Medical Student Honor Advisory Board not open to student body.

 

Self-reported case -> private hearing

Admitted case -> medical student honor advisory board vs. full hearing

Contested case -> full hearing

 

Indetermining need for full hearing, should we consider the following:

Isthere sufficient evidence?

Should we be concerned about tarnishing the character of those not found guilty of violation?

 

3.            Frivolous accusations = violation of honor code?

4.         Student Promotions Committee – Honor code committee will only notify when accused found in violation of code.

5.            Records – These are NOT available to faculty.

Kept private except if accused found in violation, in which case records sent to Students Promotion Committee.

6.        Investigations – Purpose is only to gather information, not make any                                                            determinations.                                                                                                                  

7.         Honor code website – Thanks Habib for volunteering to work on website!

     V. Topics to discuss at future meetings.

1.        Assignment of specific tasks

2.        Honor Education

3.        Honor mentorship program

 

 

Next honor code meeting to be held:

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 at 7:30 pm

Location TBA

 

 

Prepared by Anna Balog, Vice Chair.

 

Honor Code Meeting Minutes Tuesday 10/23/07 

Those present at meeting:

Joel Davidson  Michael Cheung 

Anna Balog  Aaron Shmookler

Ryan Slater  Anthony DeAngelis

Ben Yarger  Casey Darrah

Habib Srour  Ben Adebayo

Jamie Bucher  Della Croci

Eric Morgan

William Hart

Not in attendance:

Tiffani Milless  - On away rotation in New York 
 

I.   Lecture given by Chair on how to take minutes 

II.  Brainstorming session on what HCC should be doing:

• Mr. Shmookler suggests that the policy be revised to incorporate appeals and allow for student body input.
• Mr. Adebayo points out that the HCC is perceived as a “tattle tale” committee- especially by first year students.  Perhaps we need to initiate an “educational objective”

III. How can we educate students as to the meaning/purpose/function of the HCC?

• Mrs. Bucher suggests that there be an incorporation of a spoken pledge or signing of a declaration at the White Coat ceremony and/or incorporation of similar gestures into 1^st year orientation
• Mrs. Croci suggests a “skit” be performed to demonstrate how students should proceed when an infraction is observed or a “mock hearing”
• Mr. Adebayo suggests education be incorporated into FCP.
• Mr. Shmookler suggests that it be made clear as to why HCC members can not serve as officers in clubs or on other committees.
• Mrs. Croci suggests a media/marketing campaign utilizing student news/film/posters
• Mr. Yarger points out that part of the resistance of the students is based on its “newness”.  But we (as future physicians) must learn how to “police ourselves”,
• Mr. Darrah suggests publishing a “Cliff’s Notes” version of the policy/ protocol for the “public”
• Mr. Cheung points out that many students are unclear of what constitutes a violation
• Mr. Davidson points out that we need to instill a sense of “self honor” in students and create an environment in which we “hold each other accountable”
• Mr. Davidson suggests that we inform students of “history” of the Code

 

 

IV.  Media for education

• Televised/recorded skits
• Web page

• 1. Message board
  1. FAQ
  2. “email the expert”

• Mr. Darrah suggests that email may not be an ideal media, due to “lost emails”

• Mr. Davidson suggests a “Roundtable” or some other monthly open forum for students. 
  1. Favored heavily by committee
  2. Favored by Mrs. Croci
• Mr. Davidson suggests an Honor Code Library where references are immediately available to students
  1. Mrs. Croci suggests that there may be space for said library/ HCC “room”  

 

V.  Mrs. Croci reviewed why we have an Honor Code and how it was developed…

• • Dr. Gold views it as important; a teaching tool.
  • LCME influence?
  • Initial email to develop code resulted in ~40 responses
  • Of the 40 responses, ~5 respondents including Jim Nicholson developed the code

 

VI.  Mr. Srour suggests that “The function of the committee is to serve as a mechanism to  

       apply the honor code.” 

VII.  Mrs. Croci suggests that “Honor is who you are” 

VIII. Mr. Srour suggests that students see the HCC document as a list of “Do Not Do’s” 

IX.  How will HCC members be “trained” to transition from one job to the next?

1. Mr. Davidson suggests that Notebooks/logs be required

 

X.  Mr. Heart suggests that we have a mock hearing to practice the inter-workings of the  committee  

XI.  Find out who is legal council?

• 1. Ask him/her to attend our mock hearing session?

 

XII.  Determine the relationship between HCC and Student Promotions Committee;

• 1. Need to determine which SPC members would be willing to serve as liaison
  2. Are there potential COI with any of the SPC members?
  3. Should the liaison be MD vs PhD

 

XIII.  Do we need an “Advisor”? 

XIV.  Casey Darrah leaves for family emergency @ 9:11 

XV. Identifcation potential “Mentors”

• 1. Dr. Kathryn Maco
  2. Dr. Skeel

 

XVI.  Break from 9:15- 9:25 

XVII.  Clearly define what happens if members fall out of “ good academic standing”

• 1. Need to determine the definition of “good academic standing?”
  2. What happens when members take LOA?
  3. What happens if member is MD/PhD student?

 

XVIII. Mr. Davidson suggests that we need team building experiences 

XIX. Mr. Davidson suggests that we need a historian/ scrapbooker 

XX.  Mr. Davidson suggests we need a group picture 

XXI. Mr. Davidson suggests we have “markers of success”/ “measurable outcomes” 

XXII. Mr. Davidson needs from Mrs. Croci:

• 1. A room for meeting 
  2. Name tags
  3. Letterhead
  4. Plaques of the code to hang in 1^st and 2^nd year rooms
  5. “Forms”

 

XXIII. Mrs. Croci excused by Chair @ 9:36pm 

XXIV. Education campaign job/ subcommittee appointment:

• 1. Chair: Ryan Slater
  2. Michael Cheung
  3. Jamie Bucher
  4. Habib Srour (website only)
  5. William Hart
  6. Ben Adebayo

 

XXV. Mock hearing subcommittee appointed:

• 1. Ben Yarger
  2. Anna Balog

• • • Will present ideas for mock hearing at “the meeting after next”  
      

XXVI.  Subcommittee for faculty relationships and mentoring appointed:

• 1. Joel Davidson
  2. Tony DeAngelis
  3. Eric Morgan

 

XXVII.  Document Revision Subcommittee appointed:

• 1. Habib Srour
  2. Aaron Shmookler
  3. Casey Darrah (chair)

 

XXVIII.  Subcommittees meet 10:10-10:20 

XXIX.  Major goals of subcommittees for next meeting:

• 1. Education subcommittee; discuss ways to:

• • • Inspire students to embrace the Honor Code
    • correct misconceptions currently held by students
    • define violations

• • 2. Mock hearing subcommittee:

• • • develop potential cases for mock hearing
    • outline a time frame for hearing procedures?
    • develop flow chart for procedures

• • 3. Subcommittee for faculty relationships and mentoring:

• • • Meet with Dr Trempe to discuss how to approach identifying a SPC liaison
    • Define the workings of the Mentorship program
    • Meet with Dr. Marco to discuss heading up mentorship program

• • 4. Document Revision Subcommittee

• • • Develop 2 page “summary”/”pamphlet” for students outlining Honor Code
    • Begin to develop FAQ list
    • Develop “what ifs” situations that may necessitate HC document revison
    • Charged with running the next meeting

 

• 1. Next Meeting: Saturday, November 3^rd at 9:00 am. In room 103/105

 
 Minutes compiled by Eric Morgan Deputy Secretary. 

 

Honor Code Committee Minutes

February 20, 2008 

Members Present:

Joel Davidson

Tiffani Milless

Eric Morgan

Ryan Slater

Michael Cheung

Jaime Bucher

Habib Srour

Will Hart

Ronnie Shmookler

Ben Adebayo 

Welcome 

Distribution of binders to those not in attendance at previous meeting.

Explanation of binders as a way to keep track of each position’s role and record of activities of each person to be passed on to the upcoming position-holder. 

Distribution of Action List.  Explanation of Action List as a means to document the activities of each member and to help define their role and contribution to the upcoming position-holder.  To be kept in binders.  A Master Action List will be kept by Joel to keep track of every individuals’ activities. 

Call for everyone to work on the organization of their binders. 

Announcement that Joel is currently participating in a 2-wk “Honor Code Elective” for the upcoming 2 weeks and will have additional time to devote to any matters. 

Each member asked to sign up for a 15-min time slot to meet with Joel individually to update him on progress being made on their activities. 

Update from Education Committee:

Amy was emailed last week, but was out of the office, therefore a reply is expected sometime this week. 

Update about the Marketing Campaign Survey:

Survey was sent to 10 third year males and 10 third year females and 8 replies have been received so far which have been helpful in preparing the presentation, rough draft of which may be ready next week?  Call to distribute the survey questions to everyone on the HCC and to distribute them to select students in other classes for their input.  Discussion about merits of sending it to the entire class list versus selecting friends more likely to respond.

Decision to do quantifiable survey at the beginning and end of each year therefore no formal quantifiable survey will be conducted now. 

Announcement that the new HCC Mailbox is now in service in the lockers of HEB for our use in communicating with the student body. 

Announcement of the new email for our use:

medicalstudenthonorcode@utoledo.edu

Joel and Ryan currently have privileges, as well as John Cavin in IT.  Everyone in agreement to allow John to have access for our own convenience so that he can edit our listserv and handle any IT issues we may have.  He has agreed not to read content or to violate confidentiality.  Joel will ask him to add all other members as read-only access and Joel will check the email regularly and forward any correspondence to the necessary person. 

Della reports that food will be provided for the “unveiling events” and agrees that it will not be Marcos pizza or subs.  Also makes the point that some options are messy and others are too expensive for the number of students expected to attend. 

Update that Kathy agreed to an HCC bulletin board in HEB but will need to be reminded so that we can get started. 

Updates about the document:

Sent to Legal Dept, who said that it can’t be approved, particularly because they don’t have the staff to attend each hearing, however, Della reports that Dean Gold questioned why legal was every sent the document and the decision was made that their involvement was unnecessary.  We should all familiarize ourselves on the College of Medicine Policies including Conducts and Ethics and Professionalism, available online, to be aware of policies already in existence and the HCC’s relationship to these.

Discussion regarding changing the word “recommendation” to “decision” in the document to lend more authority to our proceedings.

Della reports that Dean Gold is in agreement that HCC should be student-run and student-driven and will set a standard for the student body and any proceedings or organizations on the part of the faculty are separate therefore we are not redundant or ancillary.

Discussion about whether we should have a faculty liason or a faculty member present for proceedings.  Point made that all proceedings will be recorded and our final recommendations (not our deliberation discussions) will be forwarded to other committees.

Della reports that so far no proceedings are taking place on other committees therefore our activities will not be redundant or another means to funnel students into a system of punishment.

Joel expresses that as hearing procedures begin the document will be revised to accommodate.

Habib seeks clarification so he can finish finalizing document on the following points:

Legal involved?  no

SCPC Liason?  maybe

Can faculty report violations to the Honor Code?  No

Faculty liason? No

Overlap with the “dishonestly plug” read before exams by proctors and need for proctors at all.

What will happen if student refuses to participate in hearing? 

Joel wonders about plagiarism from US Military Academy and agrees to consult with librarian regarding this risk. 

Push back rollout goal to April instead of late March (Match Week) to improve participation by Della and 4^th year class with caveat that 2^nd years will be focused on Step 2 and attendance might be difficult. 

Date of next meeting:  TBA