Faculty Resources - What Happens When You Don't Recognize Your Own Name
 

Imagine finding a copy of the advisor’s Add/Drop form for one of your advisees and you don’t recognize your own signature. What should you do?  
 

a. Call the student and find out who signed her/his form.

b. Forget about it. You would have approved the classes that student chose anyway.

c. Send a copy of the forged form to the Office of Citizenship and Community Standards/University Conduct Officer and a note requesting University conduct action (with your real signature). 

d. Both “a” and “c.”

The correct answer is “d.” 
 

Some of our students forge an advisor’s signature on their forms. They may not understand that one’s signature is essentially one’s property and by using it without permission they are committing a form of theft. They are also shortchanging their education at Truman and missing out on having a strong advising relationship.

Speaking with the student directly will allow you to express your thoughts openly. Ask the student what happened and discuss how this will affect your advising relationship. Since trust is central to the advising relationship, you may suggest to the student a change in advisors. Speak with your Division Head about these concerns. 
 

It is a violation of the Student Conduct Code (8.050.1.02) to provide “false and misleading information and/or falsification of University records” and (8.050.1.02.2) to engage in “(a) forgery, (b) alteration, or (c) misuse of any document, record, material, file, or instrument of identification.”  The University conduct process will assist the student in understanding that this behavior is inappropriate and educational sanctions may result. Please send a copy of the forged form to the Office of Citizenship and Community Standards/University Conduct Officer and a note requesting University conduct action (with your real signature). 

 

Adapted from Academic Integrity Newsletter September/October 2001, conduct.truman.edu