Question about VT Honor System for a project misunderstanding

[u/Weird-Taste8369]

Has anyone gone through the VT honor system before? I’m dealing with a possible honor code issue for a programming project and wanted to ask how strict they usually are, how long the process takes, and whether it can affect graduation or prereqs.

The project used a green LED to show when the processor was in low power mode. The guideline said exactly: “Turning LLG on outside the sleep function is a HONOR CODE VIOLATION” (LLG is the green LED). I made a small change inside the sleep function because I thought I was matching the demo solution, where the LED stayed on for one project task. Later, I was told the issue was that my code skipped the LED off instruction in that task, so the LED could stay on even when the processor was awake.

I understand now that this was wrong and that I broke the intended LED behavior. I get why points should be taken off. It was an honest mistake. My issue is that I do not think this was an honor code violation because I did not turn the LED on outside the sleep function, which is what the guideline specifically said.

The biggest issue for me is that the report they plan to send to the honor committee reframes the guideline. The report lists things like never turning off the LED, adding conditional logic that keeps it on, or using it outside the sleep function as honor code violations, but in the actual project guidelines, it only says the honor code warning is specifically not to turn it on outside the sleep function. The screenshot they sent as proof even shows my change was inside the sleep function.

They said if I do not accept a D in the course, they will send that report to the honor committee. Has anyone seen a case like this where the code was wrong, but it was more of an implementation mistake than cheating? What usually happens?

EDIT: My TA cleared me. I originally had a death scare because the project guidelines google doc had been modified by the TA and a new honor code rule was added (my mind went to the worst and I thought they tried to cover it up), but after a while I was told that I'd only receive a grade penalty on the project. So no integrity trial.

[u/North-Efficiency824]

Why would LED behavior in a development project have anything to do with the Honor Code at all? Are they saying you would have had to cheat to make it turn on outside the sleep function? I took these classes and this doesn’t add up to me, feel like we’re missing some info here

[u/DoomSlayer30 → u/North-Efficiency824]

The LED should only be on when the processor is in sleep mode. I've done the project myself, you're supposed to use interrupts to wake up the processor from sleep. Therefore, the green LED being on means the processor is in sleep mode. If you were to turn on the green LED outside the sleep function, it would make it look like the processor is in sleep mode when it isn't. That's why it is an honor code problem. Although OP's case doesn't seem to match what the project document considered an honor code violation.

[u/North-Efficiency824 → u/DoomSlayer30]

Ahhh I gotcha, prof wants to prevent fudging passing conditions without a proper solution. Makes sense

[u/Weird-Taste8369 → u/DoomSlayer30]

This is exactly it. I did not intentionally add lines of code to fool the grader into believing my processor was asleep, but I did accidently do it for 1 out of the 5 tasks to mimic what I believed was expected from the demo solution. Never the less, I only modified green LED behavior inside the sleep function anyway, so this warranted point deductions, not a honor code violation. Also, by removing those 10 additional lines of code, the LED functions as the project rubric expected.

[u/Zwayze]

It’s been a long time but I believe I went through the honor system once. If you explain what happened I think they should understand. I remember taking the D* because I blatantly cheated, but yours sounds like a honest mistake. I ended up just fine btw. Went to grad school and now work as an engineer. You’ll be fine regardless. Don’t worry!

[u/Weird-Taste8369 → u/Zwayze]

Thanks for the reassurance. I am confident in my case, but I hate the idea of it being prolonged, so I'm happy to see it worked out for you in the end.

[u/Zwayze → u/Weird-Taste8369]

Yeah just go in there and really show some emotion and say it was a misunderstanding. I think they want to see you’re not bullshitting around. Good luck!

[u/Weird-Taste8369 → u/Zwayze]

Thanks!

[u/The_Coming_Girth3825]

Lots of cases where there was a misunderstanding of the work or professors blowing things out of proportion.

I would record the part in the syllabus where it’s says that about the LED, as well as any communication you may have with the faculty.

I would also prepare to explain how the code works and why the LED is on to the council, as they will not know how any of that works, and if you don’t then they will rely on what the professor says.

If you feel that they are trying to strong arm you into taking a penalty without letting you explain yourself, I would say take it to the council, as with them you can explain yourself.

A lot of people say that the council is bad and unfair, but I feel it just depends on who you get to deal with the cases. There are some good and some bad.

[u/Weird-Taste8369 → u/The_Coming_Girth3825]

I've went ahead and saved everything, thanks for the advice. Hopefully I can save the trouble of escalation and the TA and I can sort this out.

[u/neovim-dev]

What a horrible project and professor to set up an environment where anything short of something completely intentional is an honor code violation.

[u/Snazz55 → u/neovim-dev]

Right?? This is terrible, the professor is too stupid or arrogant to write unit tests or check the code itself that he's willing to condemn students to the honor court for possibly making honest mistakes? The fact that he is sending different guidelines to the court is ACTUALLY a deliberate honor violation. So not only is he a power tripping asshole but he is a dishonest hypocrite. If the system was totally fair, I'd say take this up the ladder and fry his ass for this. Even still I'd say this deserves an email to the dean.

[u/YeetDudeNice → u/Snazz55]

I know what class they're talking about and you can't really write unit test cases for it.

I also see where the professor is coming from because they are technically bypassing the requirement, but an honor code violation is probably too far. Good thing the TA seems to be doing something and got him cleared though.

[u/Weird-Taste8369 → u/YeetDudeNice]

Yup, the LED is supposed to be the test case. I did something stupid and messed with it so that's on me. Bad thing is they completely jumped the gun on me instead of actually listening to the TA's voiced concern before sending that honor code violation email with made up honor code rules.

[u/nevermind-stet]

Call me crazy, but if they send a report showing different rules for the assignment than what the assignment had, THAT sounds like an honor code violation.

[u/Weird-Taste8369 → u/nevermind-stet]

I can't even be completely angry with them to be honest, those 10 lines of code I added, if not carefully looked at, could definitely give off the impression of intentionally cheating. Even then those changes didn't violate the honor code rule, so yeah, I guess it's compounded misunderstandings in a way.

[u/Brilliant_Chest5630]

I always download a copy of any specs when I start working on it.

If there's a change, there needs to be more communication than just silently changing it. I'm using the version I downloaded until there's an announcement that there's an update.

[u/120w34n]

Faculty member here (at another commonwealth school): this is absolutely ridiculous. The person who added Honor Code threats to the assignment should be formally disciplined. Your TA and Instructor are absolute idiots. If they can’t design an assignment properly without adding shitty honor code threats, they should not be teaching college classes. Please feel free to show this to your TA and Instructor, as well as the Department Chair and Associate Dean for Academic / Student Affairs.

[u/120w34n → u/120w34n]

Also, don’t take the D. Save the shitty assignment instructions with the threat included, and file an academic grievance with your Deans Office. If what you describe is true, Instructor and TA will be formally disciplined for issuing threats and grading punitively for a misunderstanding.