As a freshman at the University of Arkansas, Tyler Hohenstein walked into his first geology exam. A classmate had his phone out. The professor calmly walked over, took his test and ID, and then the student left. Nothing was ever said. To prevent cheating situations like this, students are required to sign an Academic Integrity Policy upon registering for classes.
“I support the integrity policy because as a student, who does put in the time and effort into studying, it makes me feel as if the time was worthwhile in the classroom,” Hohenstein, a 2012 Har-Ber graduate, said.
Students at Har-Ber sign the last page of the student handbook, which includes the policy on cheating and plagiarism. However, when students were surveyed, the definition of cheating seems to be much more gray than black and white. Students at both the college level and high school level learn quickly the consequences of cheating.
“College is way more strict to the point where the first day of class every teacher tells us about what will happen if we plagiarize, which we already have drilled in our head,” said 2012 Har-Ber graduate and UofA freshman Claire Watson. “In high school, I don’t even remember or know what happens to someone if they cheat.”
Cheating in college is clear. There are rules and students follow them or face the consequences. Some students find that determining what’s cheating and what’s not challenging.
In a hurry to finish her ACT, senior Hannah Ash fills in a row of bubbles after the proctor calls time on that section. Ash is notified two sections later that since she violated the time limit her test would not be scored. Even though she didn’t mean to, Ash cheated on her first ACT.
“I was completely shocked and inhumanly angry,” said Ash. “I don’t think I cheated because I didn’t copy off of someone else or look back at the questions, I just filled in bubbles.”
Whether it is going back to finish a test after the time is called or using technology during an exam, the expectations are clear. According to the student handbook, plagiarism, or cheating, is defined as “quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing someone else’s words or ideas without giving credit to that person or source. Copying another student’s assignment is considered cheating and therefore, will be treated as a form of plagiarism.”
“I don’t think the policy in high school is that strict,” said senior Chris Clouatre. “If you get caught, yes, you should be punished. I think the policy is fair.”
This definition considers copying another student’s homework, copying someone’s test or quiz, or “sharing” answers with a friend cheating.
“Depending on the severity of the cheating, it’s possible that you would go in front of the academic board and could be expelled from the university,” said 2008 Har-Ber graduate and UofA senior Kara McKinley. “Homework and lab grades are not as strict, but definitely on tests, projects, tests, etc.”
Some students would disagree with this definition. In a survey conducted with 100 students, 35 percent of students do not consider copying someone’s homework cheating.
“I see homework as an okay situation to cheat in,” said senior Jordan Pleggenkuhle. “I don’t see that as cheating because sometimes it’s hard to figure problems out; it’s helping.”
Eighty-five percent of students surveyed admitted to cheating. Tools used when cheating vary, and technology adds another dimension. Texting answers to friends and using websites that complete assignments are tempting to students in these modern times.
“I think cheating’s bad because it gives kids a false sense of their grades,” said Pleggenkule. “It gives them something they didn’t earn.”
According to the school handbook, the consequences of cheating depend on the assignment. “If a student copies another student’s work, both students will be given a zero and may be referred to his/her assistant principal. If a student is caught cheating on an in-depth assignment such as research papers, semester projects, etc. the punishment can range from a zero on the assignment to an ‘F’ for the class and be removed from the class with loss of credit.”
“There’s a fine line between collaboration, which is encouraged, and taking someone else’s work that’s not yours. That’s the part that’s not good,” said assistant principal Dr. Michael Shepherd.
The expectation of doing your own work continues even into college, where students are required to follow an integrity policy.
According to the University of Arkansas website, cheating is divided into varying levels as written in the University’s Academic Integrity Policy. The U of A uses a system called “Safe Assign” to catch plagiarism in student work. The system runs any paper through its program and catches anything that has been copied.
“You can lose your scholarships and ruin your academic career in a matter of seconds,” said 2012 graduate Blake Brachter, “so don’t do it!”
“I’ve signed 100 academic honesty statements since I’ve been in college. It’s pretty serious because it’s been such a huge problem,” McKinley said.
