Over 1,000 students at the University of Windsor may be forced to rewrite a midterm after allegations of cheating arose.
A preliminary investigation by the University’s Academic Integrity Office revealed some students failed lecture questions but scored almost perfect on textbook questions, according to a report by the Windsor Star.
Clayton Smith, vice-provost of students and registrar at U of W, said only one third of the exam was ruled valid.
The University did not confirm the specifics regarding the course for which the alleged cheating took place.
However, according to the Star, it was a first-year course called ‘Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science,’ taught by Kenneth Cramer. A course outline posted on the University’s website indicated the midterm was written on Feb. 26.
Smith explained students were given two options to consider within a two-week period. They could either go to class and write a replacement exam in two week’s time, or they could pass the weight of the midterm to the end of the year, making their final exam worth 60 per cent instead of 40 per cent.
As of now, the AIO is investigating who committed the act of misconduct in this issue.
“As soon as we have found the transgressors, the [appropriate procedures] will be enforced,” Smith promised.
According to the University’s policy on honesty and plagiarism, a confirmed incident of plagiarism could result in a sanction ranging from a verbal warning, to a loss of credit in the course, to expulsion from the University.
Similar practices are in place at Western: “Western puts a high premium on academic integrity […] We want a level playing-field for students,” Fred Longstaffe, Western’s vice-president academic, said in regards to plagiarism. “For that reason, a lot of professors at Western use Turnitin, for instance. There is no unfair advantage for those who want to abuse the system.”