Cheating at your school

APBT mom, LPN, RN · Oct 22, 2007

I would look up the school policy on cheating. It's in our handbook and we're required to read it. It says if we are caught or allowing someone to cheat we will be kicked out of the program. The instructors have us cover our scantrons and we are only allowed one person per desk. There was a class that was cheating by texting the answers to each other so now we are not even allowed to have our cell phones in our pockets. If caught we will receive disciplinary actions aainst us.

I would read the schools policy on icheating and then bring up why it took a week to make that assumption that she was cheating off your paper. Same right or worng answers is not proof and if the professor watched this person cheat then s/he wasn't doing their job.

southernbelle08 · Oct 23, 2007

I'd fight back in any way possible. At our school we are placed two seats away from one another and we have to use a cover sheet. However, I often find myself so caught up in my test that I don't always use my sheet and have to catch myself and cover up my paper. It wasn't your fault that someone else was doing wrong and like I said - I'd fight it with all I had. You've come to far to pay for someone else's mistake. GL!

stuffbubby541 · Oct 23, 2007

HI FUTURE NURSE...

Just was reading your post. First of all, whenever I have an exam, our instructors position us so that we will not have an opportunity to cheat. The instructors walk up and down the isles! We literally move the desks so that we are not accused of cheating and/or look as if our classmate neighbor is looking at our exams.

Our instructors do not give us our exams back to keep. They are collected. Everyone gets the same test, but in different order.

FIGHT LIKE HELL. :angryfire Even call the newspapers if you have to. This is terrible. But it just indicates that people are so damn desparate, they cheat!!! It seems like my school, it's a common problem. This is the instructors fault and you are paying for it.

Good luck and please keep up posted!

FutureNurse2005 · Oct 24, 2007

met with the dean this morning...she has ruled against me. Legal Aid and Student Association poured over the college policies to find a way out of this mess, but there is nothing. The other student claims that I was involved (and I was not!!). I have no way to prove this.

We have filed for another appeal. It is my last chance. I am beyond devastated. I have been busting my butt for over 3 years...and now some stupid girl has ruined it.

Please keep me in your thoughts....

forgot to add: normally we are spaced out and there are different versions of the tests. Unfortunately, there is no policy that they HAVE to do this. We are a group of about 200 students in a small classroom. We had to sit side by side. I thought my paper was covered enough...but then again I was focused on my test, and not on the other students. We have contacted a lawyer...but not sure what good it will do. The college policies are plain as day. The college has the right to suspend or expel a student at any time if they feel the code of conduct has been violated. I'm hoping for a miracle.

student-with-no-life · Oct 24, 2007

I am so sorry to hear you are going thru this. this is so wrong!!!! do you think you can bring personal charges against this student? possible a defamation of charector suit?

I REALLY hope this works out for you. I really do.

it is so sad somebody like yourself gets punished for the shortcomings of another person. it is so wrong.

we have a student at my school who literally took a disc out of the laptop (which I witnessed) that had the entire quarters tests on it--then proceeded to make copies and pass them out to students. Now I will say MOST of the students turned down the copies. And Yes I reported what I saw and yes the student was confronted and yes they admitted to taking the disc. guess what? student got NO, yes NO type of punishment!!!!!!!!! so they stoled and cheated and nothing happened. But people found out I was the one that reported him and guess who nobody talks to??? they rather hang out with a cheat than somebody who is honest. makes you wonder what kind of nurses they will be. and yes to answer question going thru your head the state was contacted, not by me, but by another student. still Nothing happend.

Please fight with everything you have--don't give up.

APBT mom, LPN, RN · Oct 24, 2007

That's horrible I hope it all works out for you in the long run. Do you and this girl get along? Did the instructor state how she found out that she was cheating from you?

Kathyz · Oct 25, 2007

I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. Don't give up.

Good luck!

pkohm · Oct 25, 2007

wow yeah that's horrible. I never really pay attention to anything but my test.

Once during a test the person next to me was cheating (no idea who they were) i didn't notice, but the prof. came up and said "Look over at his paper again and your out" And then the guy was dumb enough to look over again, and the prof. went up to him and kicked him out of the class on the spot and never said anything to me or gave me a look or anything... There's no reason for you to get in trouble for someone else there's enough to stress about on a test to have to worry about covering up everything your doing.

SarasotaRN2b · Oct 25, 2007

So sorry to hear about your troubles. I think that it is horrible that cheating has gotten so out of hand that the innocent have to prove themselves so, while the guilty have to be proven guilty. If this is a situation where there are too many students within a small classroom taking an exam (where they can't be spread out), the tests should then be different. There is already so much energy used on taking the exam, the paranoia that instructors spark by having everyone cover their papers at all times, only adds to the stress.

Praying that this works out for you!

Kris

LMRN10 · Oct 25, 2007

OMG...I want to cry for you!!! How absolutely unfair is that??? Man...I couldn't imagine having to deal with that...now if this happens, is that it for you? You can't try for Nursing anymore?

Oh, how can someone ruin your future like that? I am saying huge HUGE prayers for you right now praying that it turns around in your favor. Please keep us posted. Makes me ill that someone can do this to someone who has worked so hard.

justme1972 · Oct 25, 2007

Unfortunately alot of teachers hold this opinion, ours at least tell us on day 1 and remind us throughout, keep you papers covered, if anyone is caught cheating, them and the person from whom they cheated are both held accountable.

That's well and good...IF you know someone is looking.

I totally disagree with schools that have that policy, that puts all of the responsibility on the students and NONE of it on PAID faculty.

justme1972 · Oct 25, 2007

met with the dean this morning...she has ruled against me. Legal Aid and Student Association poured over the college policies to find a way out of this mess, but there is nothing. The other student claims that I was involved (and I was not!!). I have no way to prove this.
We have filed for another appeal. It is my last chance. I am beyond devastated. I have been busting my butt for over 3 years...and now some stupid girl has ruined it.
Please keep me in your thoughts....
forgot to add: normally we are spaced out and there are different versions of the tests. Unfortunately, there is no policy that they HAVE to do this. We are a group of about 200 students in a small classroom. We had to sit side by side. I thought my paper was covered enough...but then again I was focused on my test, and not on the other students. We have contacted a lawyer...but not sure what good it will do. The college policies are plain as day. The college has the right to suspend or expel a student at any time if they feel the code of conduct has been violated. I'm hoping for a miracle.

Sorry for the double post, but just because the college has a policy doesn't mean it's legal.

Keep in mind the college has TO PROVE that you KNEW the other girl was looking at your paper, and they obviously haven't provided a classroom sufficient enough in order for you to cover your paper properly.

An attorney can help you more than you know, and like physicans, if one doesn't sound like they are going to help you, find another one.

Remember one thing: You DO NOT have to prove yourself innocent, they have to PROVE YOU GUILTY. You didn't benefit at all, the other girl did...so what was your incentive to cheat in one direction? There wasn't any....other than getting in trouble. That is your defense.

Student Gov't Associations can't help you...they have no enforcement ability. It's just a "rah rah" thing for the student body to make them feel like they are in control.

I would also consider contacting the media with your story.

The girl had a reason to lie, you didn't. She just can't claim you were involved and the school can just believe her...they caught HER, they didn't catch you doing anything like leaning your paper over or anything else. You were guilty (according to them) for no other reason than because you sat beside of her.

At my school, I would be in the same boat. We have no choice but to sit side by side and we are NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A COVER SHEET, nor are we given one by the faculty.