The Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) has prepared an annual report for the 2010-2011 academic year in order to provide greater transparency into its processes and better tell its story to our colleagues and constituents.  Please find this document in two convenient formats below.

Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) Annual Report 2009-2010

Microsoft Word Format
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Adobe PDF Format

The Plan 2007-2008

Mission Statement: 

The Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) works with the University community to educate students about their rights and responsibilities as stated in the Western Carolina University Community Creed, the Student Handbook and the Code of Student Conduct.  DCSE works to help students and organizations that violate University living and learning expectations become more responsible members of the WCU community.  Through outreach and education to the University community, DCSE strives to make Western Carolina University a positive living and learning environment.

Program Outcomes

The Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) promotes student learning and development by encouraging:

• Realistic self-appraisal
• Development and clarification of values and ethical standards
• Positive interpersonal relations
• Social and personal responsibility
• Active learning
• Supportive and inclusive communities

In addition, the Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE) will:

• Develop, disseminate, interpret and enforce campus regulations.
• Protect the rights of students (as stated in the Student Bill of Rights and the Code of Student Conduct).
• Work with students in a fair and reasonable manner.
• Facilitate and encourage respect for the University community.
• Provide learning experiences for students found responsible for violations of the Code of Student Conduct.
• Develop, implement and encourage educational programs and activities that serve to prevent violations through active learning.
• Maintain student records in DSCE as required by FERPA.
• Respond to all matters and issues in a manner that upholds the ethical standards of the profession and all appropriate Federal and State laws.

Assessment

• Evaluate presentation effectiveness – Fall 2007.
• Academic Integrity Day – Fall 2007.
• Review and revise the DSCE mission statement as necessary – Spring 2008.
• Academic Honesty Policy – Spring 2008.

Assessment Methods

Presentation Effectiveness:

• Create and employ a Post Presentation Evaluation form (group leader).
• Create and employ a Presentation Feedback Form (audience).

Academic Integrity Day:

• Measure attendance and participation from WCU community.
• Use evaluation forms to measure effectiveness of the day. Forms will ask specific questions about learning outcomes.

Mission Statement:

• Review by DSCE staff and compare with other UNC System Judicial Affairs mission statements.
• Focus group discussions to include faculty, the Student Hearing Board, Residential Living staff, and DSCE.

Academic Honesty Policy:

• Complete comparison of WCU Academic Honesty policy with UNC system schools and other peer institutions.
• Work collaboratively with Academic Policy Review Committee (APRC) of the Faculty Senate to address revisions as needed, based on this comparison.
• Seek Faculty Senate approval for implementation in the fall of 2008.

Assessment Tools

• Presentation Effectiveness: Surveys
• Academic Integrity Day: Surveys
• Mission Statement: Focus group discussions and research
• Academic Honesty Policy:  Discussion with APRC, research, focus group discussion
   

Chronological Representation of Assessment Activities

July 2007:
* Create assessment tools (i.e. evaluation forms) for presentations and Academic Integrity Day (first 3 wks.).
* Submit evaluation forms to Dr. Bryant for review, feedback, and revision (last week).

August 2007:
* Pilot presentation evaluation forms with RA/RD trainings and improve as necessary; hold focus group discussion about the DSCE mission statement.   

September 2007:
* Use presentation forms with selected presentations such as USI, student athletes, and new faculty orientation.
* Mission statement focus group discussion with Student Hearing Board

October 2007:
* Hold focus group with faculty to discuss Academic Honesty policy and DSCE mission statement (coordinated by DSCE Faculty Fellow or AD DSCE).

November 2007:
* Hold and assess Academic Integrity Day.

December 2007:
* Complete Fall 2007 Assessment Summary for presentation effectiveness and Academic Integrity Day. 
* Compile and analyze data received from presentation evaluation forms.

January 2008:
* Begin mission statement review. 
* Compare WCU Academic Honesty policy with other UNC system schools and peer institutions.

February 2008:
* Hold focus group discussion about DSCE mission statement.
* Complete, review, make changes as necessary to the mission statement and communicate changes to WCU community for implementation August 1, 2008

March 2008:
* Follow up discussion with APRC and present to Faculty Senate based on their recommendation.

April 2008:
* Complete Spring 2008 Assessment Summary for mission statement and the Academic Honesty policy.

May 2008:
* Begin assessment process for 2008-2009.

Use of Assessment Data:

In areas where DSCE fails to achieve a positive response, modifications of program administration and services will be explored and developed.  Focus groups, surveys and other tools will be utilized to gain feedback and suggestions for modification.  DSCE will work to implement modifications in order to better serve students and thus achieve a higher positive response rate.  In areas that show a high rate of satisfaction, learning improvements and modifications will also be considered based on focus groups and meetings with campus constituencies (and other tools) in an effort to continually improve the services offered to the University community.

Survey:

Assessment Summary - Fall 2006:

Name of Person(s) Conducting Assessment Activity: Walter Turner, Holly Taylor

Other Partners Involved in Activity: Marcus McRae (Grad Assistant), Josh Welch (Intern), Dr. Kevin Lee (Faculty Fellow), Department of Residential Living

Objectives for Assessment Activity:
• Find areas of strengths as well as areas to improve upon.
• Discover new ways to educate the campus community (i.e. on Code of Student Conduct, Alcohol and Other Drug issues, Academic Honesty Policy, etc.).
• Determine the most efficient ways to streamline paperwork between the Department of Student Community Ethics and the Department of Residential Living.

Nature of Assessment Activity:
• Survey from Resident Assistant training, August 2006 (attached).
• Conversations with various employees of the Department of Residential Living to increase efficiency and better manage work load.
• Trial and Error.

Highlights of Significant Findings from Assessment and Comparison to Criteria for Success Established by Area:
• Survey from RA training shows that the new staff enjoyed the presenters but did not enjoy the overall session while returning RA’s (although finding the information useful) did not feel that the presentation itself was beneficial.
• Since July the DSCE (once just one room) has spread out to 4 rooms in Scott East making it more difficult to track cases and communicate between staff members; the result of this is many conversations about case efficiency and due process.

Program Improvements:
• We have put into place a new way of moving case files around the offices; filing them into one of five stages. This will help us streamline paperwork and better keep track of open cases, making sure we uphold the students’ right to procedural due process.
• We held our 1st bi-annual Academic Integrity Day, relizing that this is not atoic that gets discussed a lot.  After processing the day we have found several ways in which the program will be improved toconnect with more of the University community as well as provide more inomation to students and faculty.
•  Next semester we will begin talks withinthe department to dicuss ways to improve any Residential Living trainings that the DSCE is involved in to ensure that our information is accurate, as concie as possible and training specific (i.e to RA's. RD's, etc.).