The Honor Committee is in the process of creating a reporter feedback survey in an effort to improve the Committee’s relationship with students who choose to report Honor violations. Senior advisors Andy Bean and John Nelson presented the first draft of the survey to the Committee at last night’s meeting.
The survey asks reporters how they felt about their level of communication with the advisor, the timeliness of the investigation process and whether the reporter felt comfortable in his or her understanding of the trial.
Committee Chair Jessica Huang said it is important for the Committee to understand reporters’ needs so the Committee can handle their cases with as much professionalism as possible.
“It’s very important for us to maintain good relationships with our reporters,” Huang said. “Reporting is obviously one of the most important parts of the honor process.”
An accused and investigated student has more opportunities to express their concerns and give feedback through the appeals process, Advisor Nadia Islam said.
“With the reporter, there really isn’t any mechanism in place other than [speaking] directly to their advisor,” she said.
Islam said she believes one of the most important questions the survey asks is whether the student would be willing to report a case to the Committee again.
“We need to raise that question and find out the answer,” Islam said.
Islam added that one of the Committee’s biggest challenges is getting students to report cases. Of the 35 cases reported last year, 20 were reported by faculty members and 15 by non-faculty members such as students, teaching assistants and members of the community, according to Justin Watkins, special assistant to the Committee.
Nelson and Bean received feedback from the Committee during the meeting. Vice Chair for Trials Sophie Staples suggested the survey ask for the reporter’s feedback about the whole system in addition to how the reporter felt about the advisor. Huang, meanwhile, recommended collecting demographic data to see from which schools and departments the reporters come.
The Committee is not sure when the survey will be finalized and first administered to reporters, according to Huang.
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