The consequences of undermining success
Read the rest of the stories from Cheating the system
UCLA assistant professor Rick Grannis' research suggests cheating, plagiarism is an epidemic
Freelance worker keeps clear conscience while writing students' essays and homework for pay
By Shoshee Jau
April 20, 2011 1:57 a.m.
Chemistry senior lecturer Steven Hardinger proctors his own exams each quarter, examining students’ behavior and checking for notes written on palms and desks.
In his years of teaching, Hardinger said he has witnessed numerous forms of misconduct, discovering students listening to lectures, studying note cards and accessing course material on bathroom breaks during exams.
On average, Hardinger said he reports a student for academic misconduct once every two quarters, despite his warnings on the first day of each course.
“I teach organic chemistry, and many students are aspiring physicians,” he said. “They know that every aspect of their performance matters for their medical school applications; consequently, there is a great deal of pressure to do well and
greater temptation to do what they’re not supposed to be doing.”
Debra Geller, executive director of community standards, said the Office of the Dean of Students sees approximately 300 academic misconduct cases a year. The cases fall in two main categories: cheating and plagiarism.
Geller said more students are generally accused of plagiarism than cheating, and much of the time, students who plagiarize have simply failed to properly cite their information.
For a while, a larger number of international students and transfer students plagiarized because they were not accustomed to the expectations set by UCLA, Geller said. As a result, the Office of the Dean of Students initiated workshops to educate students about responsible scholarship.
Some cases are not just matters of what Geller calls “sloppy scholarship.”
When cheating or plagiarism occurs, professors and teaching assistants send reports and evidence to the deans for examination, said Jasmine Rush, assistant dean of students.
“We look at evidence such as Turnitin, and we review documents and talk to professors to gain a better understanding of the their view,” Rush said. “We speak to the accused students and other individuals we need to talk to shed more light on (the situation).”
Depending on the cases, the Office of the Dean of Students gathers evidence and obtains the perspective of accused students. Most students take responsibility for misconduct; those who do not are referred to the Student Conduct Committee, a board of professors, students and administrative officials, for further interrogation and investigation. Each year, approximately 15 of the 300 reported cases go to a hearing, Geller said.
“It’s important that we provide due process so students can respond to charges and defend themselves,” she said. “No matter what case comes to our office, students always have the opportunity to present their version of what happened ““ there are always at least two versions of (the story).”
Most students receive one warning before they are dismissed for academic misconduct, Geller said. However, depending on the degree of the violation, some may face suspension or dismissal. Graduated students found responsible for severe misconduct may lose their UCLA degrees, though such situations are extremely rare, Geller said. Such cases of misconduct would involve actions equivalent to those meriting dismissal for currently enrolled students.
The goal of the Office of the Dean of Students is not to punish but to provide students with resources to learn proper scholarship, Geller said. From ethics and citation workshops to academic counseling, the office equips them with knowledge of where to seek help on campus to avoid misconduct, she said.
“We focus on the developmental opportunities here, resources we can provide so when students come back, they can succeed academically,” she said.
