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academic dishonesty....in a teacher :(
I am almost positive that one of my professors is changing our answers on tests so that we get better grades. Let me start from the beginning....
After the class took the midterm exam, I was looking over my answers and I noticed that some of the writing was kind of funny. I thought, geez I must have been really tired when I took this test, and I let it go. Then, some of the other people in the class started whispering about it. Apparently someone had changed some of our answers to the correct answers before the tests had been graded! We all assumed that a student aid or graduate student had done it.
What's the problem then you might ask. I got a better grade so I shouldn't complain, right? Well, I try my best to be a good person and the fact that that had happened made me feel sooo guilty. It stressed me out to no end. I don't need to get a great grade in the class. With the corrections my score had been boosed from about a 70 to a 90. I didn't need the extra points. All I have to do is pass the course.
I didn't want to be the tattle tale and ruin everyone's day by possibly making the entire class take the midterm over again, but I couldn't deal with the dishonesty I was feeling. Later in that day I went to talk to the professor about what had happened. I liked her and I thought that telling her was the right thing to do. She seemed very understanding and told me to just keep working hard and that she would take care of it. I felt so good after I did it and knew that it had been the right choice. Well, nothing was done about it and I began to wonder.
We took another test and when I was handed my test back I got a "Great job!". When I noticed that the same thing had happened I almost cried. Nobody else in the class seems to mind, but it is tearing me apart. Now everyone is almost positive that it is the professor that is doing it. It's almost the end of the semester and I worry now that we'll all have to take the whole course over again. I can't afford to do that! I have just enough time to fit all the classes in that I need to graduate.
I think I know the reason why she does it (if she does). She isn't allowed to make her own tests or assignments for us. It has to be the same for everyone that is taking the class. The head of her department makes everything and she is often confused on what to teach us and what to tell us to study. I think that this is terrible and that a professor should be able to teach the way they want. Boosting our grades like she does (or allowing it to happen) is her way of giving us a curve.
It makes sense and it seems like a good thing, but if it's supposed to be the same for everyone taking the class, then my class is getting a very unfair advantage! Yeah, there needs to be some change, but it should be done in an honest way! There are so many better ways to have handled that. I believe that the professor is retiring after this semester so I don't think it would affect much in her life if she was found out.
Should I tell? I think I probably will anyway. I don't want to have to live with this for the rest of my life. If I do, who should I go through? The head of the department or someone higher in the college? She doesn't let us keep the tests and I have a feeling that if she were being investigaed for this that they would mysteriously go missing. With no proof, can anything really be done?
I give a lot of advice, but now I need some myself. I have no idea how I would answer this question if it were asked by someone else. Am I doing the right thing? I doubt anyone has gone through something similar to this and can offer an experience based answer. I shouldn't have to deal with this, I'm a student! I should be the one that's cheating if anybody! HELP!!
~sizzlinmandolin, (20/f)
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Dear sizzlinmandolin,
May I give you congrats on your honesty, it's very refreshing. I'll be straight hun, I don't quite know how to respond to this but I'll try and help as much as possible. Morality issues within a college environment need to be elevated up the hierarchy to the appropriate personnel, and this is a very touchy subject because it deals with real people's (the students) futures. I'm 27, graduated college and been in the real world, and I've seen people's careers and lives been destroyed by situations such as this. If it were me, I would keep quiet and let the woman retire in peace. However because it's affecting you emotionally, I think you should confront your professor once more, but be more stern and pro-active. Don't elevate this up the chain just yet; force an answer out of her, albeit very professionally and politely, and maybe warn her that you're willing to take this up the heirarchy if necessary. Best of luck to you.
Flannl_bxrs
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You are going to have greater hardships in life, and there will be times when you try to do the right thing, but no one is going to care enough to fix it. That's life. Most people cheat to get good grades, suck up to get promotions, etc. That's just the way the world is. I think you should just let it go. Don't get in the habit expecting everyone to be good, or you will have a lot of disappointments in your life.
UPDATE: It's nice to hear that you have such good values. I hope everything works out for you! :)
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This might be specifically uncommon, but the situation in 'higher education' that likely prompted her actions is not. I wouldn't tell, and let me tell you why:
With state/community colleges (I'm assuming thats what you are in) there is a money/business component. This has been happening all over for some time; schools don't want to raise the bar too high, otherwise the fear is that students will go somewhere easier, somewhere they can just take their classes and get their degree. Instructors are discouraged from failing too many people across the board; in fact, if an instructor were to have an incredibly bad grade average for their students, they might be shown the door. Tough grading and high expectations becomes "bad", and instructors are forced to back off of their own expectations of what their students should aspire to. I had several instructors that told us that straight out, it wasn't even a secret lol. It was more or less "If I had my way, I'd fail half of you, you obviously didn't study. Consider yourselves lucky I value my job".
She might resent being in the position she is in. Picture yourself in her shoes - you cannot choose material, your syllabi is not your own, if you fail too many students using someone elses material you might be fired. Unfortunately, in many schools, there is an invisible line to toe. Fail too many or grade too hard, and the front office gives you your walking papers.
If she is retiring, maybe talk to her about it? Mention to her "Hey, theres this odd thing I noticed about the tests...". Maybe she'll volunteer some info, I dont know.
In the end though, what you learn is largely determined by you, and grades do not always reflect that. I would just study as hard as you can and try to not let this bother you. Also, if you report it, nothing might happen, other than if word gets out and other instructors decide to be more careful around you. Sadly, it is often in a schools best interest to NOT go after teachers that teach the material, and go out of their way to give 'good' grades. This way, more people shell out cash for classes and the school makes money.
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I can't believe a teacher would do that! Well if you are almost certain that it was her who did it, i would confront her and ask her and tell her you dont want to take the course over again. If it still happens then you should tell whoever is in charge. I would also feel guilty about that so i know how you feel. Do the right thing.
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I'm a student at a military academy. We have an honor code, which states "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." This idea of honor is a pretty big deal with everyone here, and I'd like to think it helps in issues like these.
Cheating is defined as anything that gives you an unfair advantage over anyone else. I think you've already established that you're getting better grades than you should, which gives you an advantage over people taking the same course with other professors. You have to take action to stop it.
I would not advise going to your University leadership first. You always try to solve issues like this at their lowest level. In this case, you have to talk to the teacher. You should encourage her to fix the grades to better reflect what students in your course deserved without aid.
If she doesn't change anything, then you might want to consider going to someone higher up.
If you're still on the fence about doing anything, consider this. It's obvious you have a sense of integrity, or you wouldn't feel so guilty about this. By taking action, you would strengthen that integrity, which would make it easier to make the right choice next time. However, if you don't do anything, there's a chance you'll let the next occurrence of cheating slide. By doing this, you surrender your integrity, and you allow your professor to surrender her own integrity.
Trust me, your and your professor's integrity is far more important than any pension.
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Oh wow, what a problem.
I know how you're feeling. I can't even use cheat codes on video games. I want to know how I did with my own brain!
I think I would call someone higher up at your college and ask their advise on how to proceed with it. I would be telling someone.
Just tell it like you did here. Let them know you went to your professor first, but you really don't know where in the department the problem lies. You may not even have to give your name. If he/she should want to meet with you then you can give it to them.
When it comes right down to it, the reason they are doing it doesn't matter. It is still cheating.
If the heads of the departments aren't letting their teachers know what to cover then they should be. Maybe this will get some communication going between them if nothing else.
Good luck with it. :)
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I think you have a responsibility to tell someone. Academic dishonesty is simply wrong, in all its forms. If your professor has some sort of issue with the way tests are being administered, then that should be addressed. She shouldn’t be changing your answers. It’s not just dishonest, it’s illegal.
This is precisely the kind of thing you should approach your Ombudsperson about. All universities have an ombudsperson (or ombudsman, if you are less politically correct) and most colleges do as well. I have no idea what school you attend so here’s a link to the Ombudsperson’s website for my school since it outlines rather nicely what they exist for: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
You shouldn’t have any trouble keeping your complaint confidential and I would be shocked if any examination of her marking ‘style’ resulted in the students in her class being penalized. But if there is serious issue at play here over the way people are being tested in these classes, you will be doing everyone involved a favour by bringing this to light so it can be addressed in an appropriate way.
Good luck! I know in your place I would be terrified as well, but I’m sure you can do it.
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I don't really know what to tell you, I think it is very good of you to feel bad about getting a free pass, but if you tell on the professor, she might lose her pension. If I were you I wouldn't tell just because I couldn't hurt someone by taking away their pension. Hope for the best!
~*Brianna*~
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wow thats a toughie. try to get your mind off it. think its not my problem you have too much other stress to stress about that. and i wuldnt say anything. ppl will be really mad if you do and youll prob hav to take the course ALL OVER agin. and they mit even fire the professor!
hope i helped :)
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you do not want to say anything then you might have to retake the tests or course if they find evidence, because imagine how many other things she boosted your grade on? and youll have a very bad rep. Just let it be an next semester you wont even have to worry about it, just forget it even happened.
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Wow!
That is some crazy stuff. If I hadn't dropped out if school, I would have been thrilled at this opportunity. I was a very bad student. But I thoink that you are very noble for being concerned about it. I think that you should write an anonymous letter to somebody expalining your concerns. If it doens't work, heck, at least you tried.
I hope this helps. This is a crazy thing.
Love from
GRANDMA BETTY LOUIS xoxoxoxo
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