Academic Integrity and Conduct
Taken from the UNC Online Proctor Licensing Agreement.
UNC Online proctors provide a vital service to the students of the UNC System. As such, proctors are expected to follow the below list of responsibilities.
Academic Integrity and Conduct. Proctors are responsible for holding UNC Online students accountable to the same academic integrity and conduct standards as those students taking face-to-face campus courses.
If a proctor suspects a student of cheating then the following steps should be taken:
- Academic integrity issues are time sensitive. If an issue of academic integrity is suspected, proctors are required to notify the instructor by creating an irregularity report in the UNC Online system immediately after the exam appointment.
- To avoid conflict when an issue of academic integrity is suspected, proctors should let the student complete the exam and only address the issue with the instructor.
- If possible, the proctor should ask a co-worker to observe the suspected cheating incident and let the instructor know that more than one individual observed the issue.
- If there are materials (e.g., footage of the appointment, scratch paper, computer history, etc.) that will help the instructor make an informed decision about the incident, the proctor should email the materials to the instructor immediately after the exam appointment.
Regarding issues of conduct/behavior, students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, civil manner. Proctors should never have to feel unsafe as they interact with students, nor should the student’s actions/reactions be disruptive in any way.
If a proctor feels unsafe for any reason or feels the student is being disruptive the following steps should be taken:
- Ask the student/person to leave premises; and, if possible, have a witness with you.
- Alert the authorities, if warranted, using your best judgement.
- Cancel the appointment/proposed appointment in UNC Online.
- Contact the instructor and UNC Online immediately using the following protocol:
- If there was an appointment/proposed appointment in UNC Online then complete an irregularity report via UNC Online.
- If no appointment exists in UNC Online then contact UNC Online via the ticketing system (http://online.northcarolina.edu). This course of action should be taken in situations where the student calls the proctor or is at the proctoring location and speaks to them unprofessionally or otherwise acts in an unprofessional manner.
Confidentiality. Proctors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality regarding information about students, exam appointments, exam materials, and any completed exams. Throughout the exam proctoring process, the proctor should only speak to the student, instructor, or UNC Online staff regarding any of this information. Conversations with any other person regarding the student should be avoided (i.e., Avoid conversations with a parent/friend/spouse/partner regarding the student or the student’s exam information.).
Please Be Aware: The academic integrity and conduct policies follow the home institution of the student. UNC Online (UNCO) does not have separate academic integrity and conduct policies. However, under the authority of the MoU, signed by all the UNC System Provosts, UNCO may limit or suspend access to UNCO proctoring services to any student who causes a substantial disruption, or who poses a threat to the safety of others in the proctoring community while participating in UNCO proctoring. UNCO shall report any such limitation or suspension to the student’s home institution.