Admin. OKs test bank possession
Collecting old tests is not a violation of the honor code, said an administrator
who led last week’s investigation into academic dishonesty allegations
against 300 students.
Using, not possessing, tests is a violation, said Maggie Burkhart Evans, coordinator of the honor council.
Evans retracted a statement made Saturday in which she said, "maintaining
current test files is a violation of the honor code."
During a maintenance sweep in mid-July, test banks containing scores
of files dating from 1951 to 1995 were found in the Greek row houses of
the sororities Alpha Sigma Alpha and Zeta Tau Alpha. No members will face
honor code charges, a committee of the honor council decided Friday.
The honor code states, "obtaining prior knowledge of test materials"
is a violation – a charge that includes the possession of a test
bank, Evans said last week. In her most recent statement, she maintained
"obtaining prior knowledge of test materials by using a test file"
is a violation. There was no evidence to prove members used the tests
and the investigation was dropped.
Tests were disposed of before the decision not to press charges was made, said an adviser to Zeta.
Evans did not comment as to how the council ensured the tests, which
remained in possession of the sororities after their discovery, only dated
through 1995. She also did not comment as to how the council determined
if students used the files or obtained the tests in an unauthorized manner.
Evan’s statement comes as a reversal of the previously accepted
interpretation of the provision. Before the statement late Wednesday afternoon,
media relations director Fred Hilton said the university had a provision
forbidding the collection of tests.
"Isn’t it unusual?" he asked. "If I had a test given
back to me … It’s fair game. I didn’t think most universities
have these provisions."
Evans did not specify when the prior knowledge provision was added to the code, but Hilton said it was after the period the tests reportedly were collected.
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