CAS faculty honored with 2025–26 Academic Integrity Awards

By VICKY SANTOS

Two College of Arts and Sciences faculty members have been recognized for their exceptional commitment to upholding and advancing academic integrity across campus. Sam Bell, professor of political science, and Lara Hutson, teaching professor of biological sciences, are two of this year’s recipients of the Distinction in Academic Integrity award and were celebrated with a reception in the Buffalo Room (10 Capen Hall) on April 27.

In recognition of academic integrity as a foundational principle of teaching, learning, and research, the university honors individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to upholding and advancing this core value.

Sam Bell was nominated by his political science colleagues (Conor Dowling, Jacob Kathman, and Jonathan Glavy) for his steadfast dedication to addressing academic misconduct, particularly in the evolving landscape of AI use in education. Over the past year, Bell has been credited with handling a significant number of integrity violations in an online course, resulting in devoting substantial time to meeting with students, reviewing cases and managing appeals with a focus on fairness and care.

Bell took a proactive approach and developed new methods to detect AI misuse by redesigning course assessments, and clarifying expectations for students. He also took on a leadership role within his department by chairing a committee that developed AI-related academic integrity policies for both undergraduate and graduate programs, which were ultimately adopted unanimously.

Colleagues also highlighted Bell’s role as a resource for others navigating academic integrity concerns. He has become a point person for other instructors in the department dealing with dishonesty concerns.

Lara Hutson, nominated by her biological sciences colleagues (Derek Daniels, Jessica Poulin, Shaunna Phipps, and Ryan Wynne), was recognized for her wide-reaching impact on academic integrity within the Department of Biological Sciences. She developed a comprehensive, scalable approach to administering secure exams using LockDown Browser in large-enrollment courses.

Described by one nominator as a “playbook” for exam security, Hutson’s step-by-step protocol has been widely adopted across courses and formats, which strengthens integrity practices throughout the curriculum. Her approach also prioritizes student experience, incorporating practice opportunities to familiarize students with exam systems and reduce test-day stress

In addition to teaching, Hutson is known as a trusted mentor and collaborator. She has also been invited to speak at an international webinar on proctoring practices. Faculty frequently seek out her guidance on integrity policies and practices, and she consistently shares her expertise to help others improve their approaches. Her work has increased faculty confidence in assessment integrity and reduced uncertainty around high-stakes testing in large classes.

Nominators state that together, Bell and Hutson exemplify the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of honesty, accountability and ethical scholarship.