I am new to this forum, but I would like to throw something out there and have some input. I am a first-year, non-traditional nursing student. I am considerably older than my colleagues, at least the majority of them. I am in my second year of school, did one year of gen eds while waiting to get into the program. In the process of waiting, came to be friends with some students also awaiting acceptance into the program. In particular, one girl and I became very close. She and I were in the same classes as well as clinicals. She was great in clinicals, but extremely weak in foundation and was actually failing the one class. Another student, (older male) offered her "questions and answers" to a test that we were about to take, knowing that she was failing and needed to pull a 100 on the next few tests in order to keep her place in the program.
She told me of the situation, to which I told her I did not agree. She stated she did not either, but had them already and was not giving them back. I was not about to loose my position and that of my roommates by allowing her to come study at our house. It caused alot of problems, but the bottom line was this....It put the integrity of the test, as well as our program on the line. I felt it was necessary to speak up, which I did, and our test was not given on the scheduled day. While the rest of the students had no idea who was involved, they were all very angry that the tests that they studied for were not going to be given on that day....they did not understand the situation, or, better yet...did not care about the integrity of the program.
I have been chastised and ignored in this program since. The student that gave the information is still in the program. The student that received the information is no longer in the program, but only because she did not pass the class. Nothing was done by the faculty, other than changing some policies regarding remediation of testing in their offices. Several students have made very derogatory statements to me about the situation, not knowing all the information but just hearing one side. A few students with some bit of maturity have applauded the action. It has been an eye-opening experience, to say the least.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone else that may have had a similiar situation and what they did. Or...it would just be nice to hear words of understanding and support!