CHEATING

The District’s Board of Trustees issues policies governing academic integrity. Board Regulation 6080, Section III. C. 1 and 2 approved on January 25, 2005 states:

"For instances of academic dishonesty a faculty member may take any one of the following actions:

The faculty member may reduce the score on tests or assignment(s), reduce the grade in the course, fail the student in the course or recommend to the appropriate administrative officer that the student be suspended from the course. If course suspension is recommended, the administrative officer will review the information regarding the instance of academic dishonesty, notify the student, and will prescribe appropriate due process procedures.

The administrative officer will make note of the offense in the student’s educational records. A second instance of academic dishonesty may result in expulsion proceedings. Any tuition and applicable fees will not be refunded as a result of disciplinary action for academic misconduct.”

A Note about Academic Integrity Issues: While faculty have the legal right to give grades, please recognize that in a litigious society one must be ready to explain any action impacting a student’s property rights (education has been deemed by the courts to be a property right and students have related due process rights). If you wish to reduce a student’s grade in response to cheating or plagiarism, how much of a reduction might be considered reasonable?

Reasonable persons can disagree about what reduction in grade that is appropriate. Some emphasize the notion of proportional response, while others point out that a clearly defined policy that punishes plagiarism severely, such as those common in the English discipline, allow for due process and are appropriate to the offense. It is important that you have thought out your policy in advance and clearly articulated it in writing and in class. You should be prepared to defend grade actions and have evidence to support your claim that the student cheated, should the student file a grievance challenging the grade.

In many cases proportional response may be appropriate. Just what is proportional response? Reasonable faculty members can disagree about the exact application of any particular grade to any particular action, but as a general rule the following could be considered proportional responses:

• A student has a cheat sheet for a 10 point quiz in a class with 1000 points. Failing the student on the quiz is a proportional response.
• A student threatens another student if he does not allow him to see his responses to a 10 point quiz. Failing the student on the quiz is just the beginning. The student has threatened another student and if this information is disclosed to you, you have an obligation to report this threat to the Dean of Students. This is a behavioral problem that may justify suspension from the course.
• A student has a cheat sheet for the 100 point final in a course with 200 total points. Failing them on the final will result in their failure in the course. You fail her on the single offense, not the course, but the math has the result of failing the student. This is a proportional response.
• You believe that at least one of two students cheated because both the right and wrong answers on their test sheets match exactly. The students sat next to each other during the exam, but you did not actually see the students looking at each other’s papers. It is possible that the two students studied together and that one did not copy from the other. In addition, you can’t prove which one copied from the other, if that did occur. Asking each student to remain after class or come to your office hours, and asking each for their explanation might uncover the facts, but if the students have no explanation you do not have sufficient evidence to take away points. Do tell them they may not sit near each other on subsequent exams. Keep a written record for yourself of this first incident in case there is a second. Tell the students they have been warned and if you can prove cheating in the future you will submit their names to the Dean.
• A student plagiarized one paragraph in a five page paper worth 100 points. When questioned, he immediately admits that he got the paragraph from a website and apologizes for forgetting the footnote. You believe he did not intend to plagiarize, but you may still wish to deduct five points (for example) for the failure to include the reference. If you believe the student intended to deceive you and he denies that he committed any offense, stronger action may be needed to ensure he learns and remembers his infraction. You may wish to double the penalty for omitting a footnote.
• In your English class you explicitly discuss plagiarism and clearly define that plagiarism will carry with it harsh penalties including failing the course if the plagiarism occurs on the term paper. You spend 30 minutes explaining the topic, you explain to students that you submit all papers to turnitin.com, include the penalty in your syllabus and repeat the warning on the written assignment you distribute. The term paper you receive is 80% plagiarized. You inform student on that he will fail the course as a result of his behavior. In such a case, keep all related documents and give a copy of them to your Dean. The student may challenge the F in the course if his/her remaining grades would have earned them a D in the course. The student has a right to due process. You also have a right to uphold clearly defined policy that is well known by all your students.
• A student buys and downloads a paper from the Internet and submits it as his/her own. Your written policy points out that this is a clear case of plagiarism. You fail the student on the assignment and the course.

It is always wise to keep written notes of any interaction with a student that may ultimately result in an F, a suspension or a student grievance. Whenever you have concerns about a student that you do not feel comfortable resolving on your own consult your department chair or Dean. If you believe the student may have a continuing problem with cheating inform your Dean so that they are aware. The student may have problems in other classes too and your information may help the Dean decide how to deal with the student. Do not fear that a student’s cheating reflects negatively on your teaching.

View Board Policy.