Get to Know the Office of Student Conduct

By Caleb White, DASA Marketing and Communications intern

In the Division of Academics and Student Affairs, the Office of Student Conduct’s primary goal is to educate students about the policies, rules and regulations that will impact their time here at NC State. They strive to help students gain greater insight into their decisions and behaviors in an effort to support a safe, respectful learning environment.

Student Conduct is responsible for educating the community, holding students and student groups accountable, providing an opportunity for students to develop leadership and critical thinking skills, and protecting the interests and rights of students and the Wolfpack community.

In recognition of Academic Integrity Week (Feb. 22-26), we spoke to Bradley Davis, associate director of Student Conduct, about the program and its impact on students:

Tell us about the Office of Student Conduct and its role at NC State?

Our primary goal is to educate students about the policies, rules and regulations that will impact their time here at NC State. We strive to help students gain greater insight into their decisions and behaviors in an effort to support a safe, respectful learning environment. The Office of Student Conduct is committed to the following:

• Educating the community by publishing, distributing and reviewing the Code of Student Conduct and by presenting information on the conduct system to members of this community.
• Holding students and student groups accountable and challenging them to accept responsibility for their inappropriate behavior through a developmentally based process of conduct review and resolution.
• Providing an opportunity for students to develop leadership and critical thinking skills in the context of a peer review process.
• ​Protecting the interests and rights of students and the NC State community by conducting all business in the conduct system in accordance with appropriate state and federal laws, as well as requirements for due process protections.

What is Academic Integrity Week and why is Student Conduct hosting it?

The purpose of this week is to have a central focus on academic integrity, and hopefully spark something within our students to get them thinking about the value of ethical decision-making in their academic and professional careers. Our goal is to spread awareness about academic integrity and promote the “Pack Pledge,” while engaging students in campus events throughout the week. Students will have the opportunity to sign the Pack Pledge banner as well as participate in a fun trivia night event. We are hoping students will participate in our Reels/TikTok challenge as a fun way to promote academic integrity to their peers and our campus community. See the full schedule and links to virtual events here.

There has been a significant increase in academic violations/cheating since classes went online due to COVID-19 last spring. Why do you think that is, and what are some of the most common violations you’ve seen?

Covid-19 has presented unprecedented challenges for our students, including higher levels of stress and anxiety, which can impact one’s academic work. Two common violations from the Code of Student Conduct are Cheating (c): Using materials, equipment, or assistance in connection with an assignment, examination, or other academic exercise which have not been authorized by the faculty member, including but not limited to, notes, calculator, or other technology; and Cheating (i): Failing to comply with a specific condition of academic integrity which has been clearly announced in a particular course. As courses moved online, safeguards for academic integrity in the classroom were not as easily maintained. This created the opportunities for students to engage in academic misconduct when the belief of the likelihood of being caught is much lower. With the transition to majority online courses, faculty and students had to adjust quickly with the shift and the possibility of changes in course expectations and academic integrity policies. While the shift to online learning has been challenging, I also believe the integrity of our academic work cannot be compromised.

How has COVID-19 affected your office’s daily operations as well as conduct hearings? 

The biggest impact on our daily operations has been moving our meetings and hearings to Zoom and Google Meet. While our staff has not been meeting with students face-to-face, our department has been fully functional including providing training sessions, holding disciplinary hearings, including holding hearings with our Conduct Board online, and conducting classroom presentations virtually.

What is something people might not know or realize about Student Conduct and its role at NC State? 

Our office supports student success and we are an additional resource for students as they navigate their academic careers. We understand students make mistakes. It is our fervent belief that our process provides an opportunity for growth and development for our students. Although a large part of our role and function is education through accountability, that is not our only function. If a student has a concern or needs help navigating a challenge they are experiencing, our office is also available to assist or connect the student to the appropriate resource.