When giving a reference you have a duty of care to both parties, so anything
other than telling the truth (by commission or omission) is a bad idea and
could rebound nastily on you.
That's why I think giving references should always be an open process:
explain to the student what you are doing and why, and give them a chance to
put their view. If you can't get them to see things your way, decline to
provide a reference (but don't explain why - especially not if you get a
phone call asking you to).
The exception would be when you have a low-level misdemeanour for which the
disciplinary action has a clear expiry date. If the date has passed and
there has been no further misbehaviour you could, in all honesty, tick the
'no' box, on the grounds that the student has learnt an important lesson and
now does have high standards of integrity.
Paul Ticher
0116 273 8191
www.paulticher.com
22 Stoughton Drive North, Leicester LE5 5UB
----- Original Message -----
From: "Trevor Pearce" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 11:32 AM
Subject: Reference Guidance
Dear all,
References are always tricky from a DP standpoint I think.
We have had a reference request for a student, which is in the form of a
tick box questionnaire. One of the questions is "To the best of your
knowledge, is there anything to suggest that the applicant does not have
high standards of integrity".
It transpires that the student in question was found to have committed
an assessment offence in that they plagiarised an essay - so difficult
to tick the "No" box in this case. So should the referee:
(1) Tick the "Yes" box but decline to give further details;
(2) Confirm the dates of study for the student but to decline to give
any further reference? The referee does not actually know the student
personally.
(3) Tick the "No" box and hope for the best
(4) Something else?
Thanks,
Trevor
--
From: Trevor Pearce
Deputy Academic Registrar (Academic Services)
Tel +44 (0)20 7380 3044
Fax +44 (0)20 7380 3092
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