Since economics professor Mark Funk, announced mid-February that he had suspicions of 34 students cheating on an exam, the School of Business and Administration has begun but not finished an investigation.
“Six cases of possible academic dishonesty were referred to the school’s Committee on Academic Ethical Responsibilities for a hearing, and it is possible that several additional cases will be referred,” said Neil Seitz, dean of the School of Business and Administration. “Findings of the committee have not been completed at this time.”
The majority of the suspected cheating cases most likely occurred when students who took the exam on Feb.10 held on to extra copies of the test and passed them to students in another section who were to take the test on Feb. 11.
Professor Pat Welch, also teaches the Principles of Economics course.
“The biggest thing I do is distribute different tests to different sections of the course and, above all, keep my eyes open,” said Welch. “Students sometimes don’t realize that all their professors went to college once too, and we know what can go on.”
According to Seitz, no definitive changes in test administration policy in the business school have been made. “I will ask the Committee on Academic Ethical Responsibilities for its recommendations (for policy change) once the hearings are completed. Their recommendations will be brought to our Executive Committee and Faculty Assembly.”