Academic Dishonesty - Day 4: Dishonest students face variety of consequences
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/19/2009
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Cheating can carry a heavy price for Purdue students, especially if they intend to continue their education after graduation.
According to the Office of the Dean of Students, in the 2008 to 2009 school year there were 180 cases of academic dishonesty. Previously, yearly numbers of cases ranged from 133 to 261.
When students are accused of academic dishonesty and a simple solution cannot be achieved, they are referred to the Office of the Dean of Students, said Trae Mitten, assistant dean of students. Next, a hearing is arranged in which the evidence against the student is presented. The student is notified of the hearing via a letter. Not responding to letters can occasionally bring a heavier punishment. At the hearing, the student has the opportunity to respond to the case presented.
Finally, “a hearing officer determines if a violation of the University Regulations has occurred, and if so, a sanction is imposed,” Mitten said.
Steve Akers, executive associate dean of students, said the process of finding students guilty of cheating involves case-specific considerations. Factors such as a history of academic dishonesty and the weight of the assignment are looked at in determining outcomes.
Sanctions or punishments dealt out by the hearing vary and can range in severity from simple oral warnings to expulsion. The purpose is not to simply rid the University of academically dishonest students, Akers said.
Low numbers of students are expelled for cheating from year to year. Last year, only three of the 180 cases resulted in expulsion. Other years have been similar, with no expulsions in the 2007 to 2008 school year and three in the 2006 to 2007 school year.
“It is not our goal to expel students but to help them learn from their mistakes ... Our ultimate goal is to help set students up for success after they leave Purdue,” Akers said.
These other punishments include suspensions, warnings and notes in students’ files. Consistently, over the years, a large number of students are put onto disciplinary probation. Reductions to grades typically accompany formal decisions.
If a student does not agree with the decision, it can be taken to the Campus Appeals Board. According to University regulations, the board consists of several undergraduates, graduates, faculty and administrators. This board can reverse an early decision and acquit the student, support the original decision and penalize the student or support the original decision while altering the penalty.
Another group, the University Grade Appeals Committee, deals with students that protest alterations to their grades because of academic dishonesty, said George Bodner, Purdue professor and chair of the committee.
“Grade appeals are sometimes just a simple negotiation ... but when it involves academic dishonesty, the situation becomes complex,” Bodner said.
Typical cases seen by the committee, according to Bodner, involve a student appealing a failing course grade due to academic dishonesty.
Being found guilty of academic dishonesty and receiving disciplinary action does not place a large label on the student, Mitten said.
“All disciplinary actions, from warnings to expulsions, are confidential. Only the hearing officers know the contents of student files,” Mitten said.
In order for employers or graduate schools to see any disciplinary actions, students must waive their right to confidentiality, Mitten said. Otherwise, no disciplinary actions are noted on transcripts.
On the Purdue Graduate School application, students must answer a question about any past disciplinary action related to academic dishonesty or research misconduct, said Tom Atkinson, associate dean of the Graduate School. For responses that raise more questions, the applicant could be asked to provide more information. Overall, each case is evaluated by the applicable department, the Graduate School, and, if necessary, the University Personal Conduct Review Committee.
Atkinson said, “Academic or research misconduct could potentially impact admission to graduate school.”