Kaua‘i community college

Self Evaluation

Faculty academic freedom is protected by the policies outlined above, while ensuring that the faculty understands its commitment and responsibility to present unbiased information to students. The expectations and consequences of academic dishonesty are clearly delineated in all information formats provided to students on campus. In the Fall 2005 Kaua‘i Community College Self Study Survey, 65.3 percent of the faculty who responded to the survey agreed and 24 percent were neutral that the college supports academic freedom. 82 percent of faculty agreed and 8.7 percent were neutral that faculty are fair and objective in the presentation of their courses. Eighty-nine percent of the faculty believe that they are familiar with college policies on plagiarism and academic honesty. There have been no cases concerning academic freedom raised during this accreditation period.

Planning Agenda

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  The Faculty Senate should develop a statement on academic freedom to be included in the KCC Catalog.
  

II.A.7.a. Faculty distinguishes between personal conviction and professionally accepted views in a discipline. They present data and information fairly and objectively.

Descriptive Summary

Article IX of the 2003-2009 UHPA and UH BOR Agreement protects the academic freedom of faculty. Under Academic Freedom it states,”Faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing subjects of expertise, in the conduct of research in their field of special competence, and in the publication of the results of their research.”

Article IV, Faculty Professional Responsibilities and Workload, however, defines high professional standards required when giving instructions on controversial matters. It states, “In giving instruction upon controversial matters, Faculty Members are expected to set forth justly and without suppression the differing opinions of other investigators, and in their conclusions provide factual or other scholarly sources for such conclusions. Faculty Members should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matters that have no relation to their subject.” As noted above, faculty self-perception is that they are aware of the need for fairness and objectivity in their classroom presentations and adhere to that responsibility.
There is a Student Academic Grievance Procedure that outlines the steps students can take for alleged violations of the above responsibilities. The procedure begins when a student files a Complaint of Alleged Academic Impropriety with the dean or dean’s designee. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved by the dean/designee, then the student files an Academic Grievance with the chairperson of the Academic Grievance Committee for formal review.

Self Evaluation

In the past five years, no formal student grievances have been raised about the distinction between personal conviction and professionally accepted views in the classroom. There have been some student complaints, which were resolved at informal levels between the student and faculty member or the student and Division Chair. Administrators may also field calls and hear about complaints. However, as no student survey on this issue was done, it is difficult to know if this accurately reflects students’ perceptions.

Planning Agenda

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  During new faculty and lecturer orientation the policies regarding distinguishing between personal convictions and professionally accepted views in a discipline should be reviewed.
  

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  Information on professional standards required when giving instructions on controversial matters should be posted in the KCC Catalog and on the website.
  

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  The KCC Catalog, the new student orientation, and the Student Handbook should include the Student Grievance Procedure.
  

II.A.7.b. The institution establishes and publishes clear expectations concerning student academic honesty and consequences for dishonesty.
Descriptive Summary
Academic dishonesty is clearly defined under Section G on Academic Dishonesty of the

Student Conduct Code. It specifically includes plagiarism and cheating and provides detailed examples of each. The consequences are also clearly delineated to range from redoing the assignment to receiving a failing grade for the course. The student may contest the instructor’s course of action at which time the case is referred to the dean.

Self Evaluation

Though academic dishonesty is clearly defined in both the Student Conduct Code and the KCC Catalog, the information needs to be given more visibility and be more widely distributed. The Student Conduct Code is available online and at the Office of the Dean of Student Services.

The KCC Catalog, though accessible to everyone online, does not encourage perusal because of the PDF format. The section on Academic Dishonesty is buried among other information. The tendency is to use the index to research specific information rather than to flip through to see what is there.
Planning Agenda

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  The Student Conduct Code should be part of the new student orientation, as well as the new faculty orientation, and be made available on the web page as a clearly designated and accessible topic.
  

II.A.7.c. Institutions that require conformity to specific codes of conduct of staff, faculty, administrators, or students, or that seek to instill specific beliefs or worldviews, give clear prior notice of such policies, including statements in the catalog and/or appropriate faculty or student handbooks.

Descriptive Summary

Kaua‘i Community College, as part of the University of Hawai‘i System expects professional and ethical conduct on the part of its faculty and students. Faculty expectations in this area are addressed in the contract between the UH and the University of Hawai‘i Professional Assembly (UHPA), the faculty union (2003-2009 UHPA and UH BOR Agreement ). Sections of the faculty contract which address relevant issues are Article IV, Faculty Professional Responsibilities and Workload, and Article IX, Academic Freedom.