| FTBL A bit of a mess brewing down at FSU...

[TerryP]

...with several of their players admitting to cheating on a final exam (online) with the help from their tutor. It's rumored that the ones who confess with be facing a 4 game suspension and others losing their scholarship. Bowl game suspensions are almost a given right now.

The crazy thing is their University Pres. says that if the investigation turns up some of these players played in games this season when they were academically ineligible due to the cheating they very well may end up forfeiting games as well.

Here's one link and here's another one from Nolessports.com.

While I haven't really looked into it I've seen talk of a lot of Ole Miss players being ineligible as well.

 

[laurajmoss]

I hope they don't punish other players for the sins of a few, but the guilty parties deserve a harsh wake-up call.

I am currently appointed to a term on the university Judicial Borad at my college and last semester I served on a panel for academic misconduct. To prepare for the hearing I did background research on the subject and it's appalling not only how widespread the problem of academic dishonest is, but how ambivelent many students are. There's a prevailing attitude that it's ok and "just don't get caught."

To illustrate how serious the offense can be within academia, I found policies posted for quite a few universities that have a strict no-tolerance rule: automatic expulsion.

 

[TerryP]

I don't understand where they are getting the 4 game suspension number from. I'm curious, which schools did you come across that had a zero tolerance rule in place?

 

[Rolltide24]

... Bowl game suspensions are almost a given right now.

Never underestimate the power of Bowden. Until they sit out the whole game, I won't believe this (unless of course they are 3rd stringers).

 

[Guest]

... Bowl game suspensions are almost a given right now.

Never underestimate the power of Bowden. Until they sit out the whole game, I won't believe this (unless of course they are 3rd stringers).

Well, if they are talking about taking games away that they've played in, he has no choice but to sit them.

 

[TerryP]

... Bowl game suspensions are almost a given right now.

Never underestimate the power of Bowden. Until they sit out the whole game, I won't believe this (unless of course they are 3rd stringers).

While I understand what you are thinking re: Bobby Bowden what I think you are missing here is the point of them being academically ineligible to play. FSU knows this, the NCAA does as well and if they did get on the playing field it would make FSU forfeit the game. The would be digging a much larger hole than they find themselves in right now.

 

[Outlaw]

As terrible as what I'm about to say sounds, this happens way too much with online classes. :?

 

[TerryP]

As terrible as what I'm about to say sounds, this happens way too much with online classes. :?

Online tests and classes are basically an in-home version of an open book test. So I don't see cheating as a big time problem with these classes. NOW, a tutor giving the answers is a whole different picture in my opinion..

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Good point about Bobby Bowden and suspensions. Here's a guy who basically has lost players to off-field indiscretions time and time again, only to "magically" have them serve very little if any time.

The only reason they kicked that QB Adrian McPherson off the team a few years ago was because his legal troubles just got too loud and too well publicized. Otherwise, the guy probably had an NFL career ahead of him.

 

[laurajmoss]

I'm curious, which schools did you come across that had a zero tolerance rule in place?

It's been several months since I did that research, and now I can't locate pinpoint the location where I saw it discussed.

I can say, however, that it was the extreme end of the spectrum and most schools I read about fell somewhere in between. By way of comparison, Stanford's baseline sanctions: 1-term suspension and 40 hrs community service. Interesting to note is that "lack of intent does not mitigate it as an Honor Code violation."

 

[TerryP]

I'm curious, which schools did you come across that had a zero tolerance rule in place?

It's been several months since I did that research, and now I can't locate pinpoint the location where I saw it discussed.

I can say, however, that it was the extreme end of the spectrum and most schools I read about fell somewhere in between. By way of comparison, Stanford's baseline sanctions: 1-term suspension and 40 hrs community service. Interesting to note is that "lack of intent does not mitigate it as an Honor Code violation."

;scr

How can you have lack of intent when it comes to cheating?

 

[bear facts]

As terrible as what I'm about to say sounds, this happens way too much with online classes. :?

Online tests and classes are basically an in-home version of an open book test. So I don't see cheating as a big time problem with these classes. NOW, a tutor giving the answers is a whole different picture in my opinion..

Not always. You're generalizing here, and may be off your mark more than you think.

Btw, how many online course have you taken and taught to come to this conclusion?

 

[TerryP]

As terrible as what I'm about to say sounds, this happens way too much with online classes. :?

Online tests and classes are basically an in-home version of an open book test. So I don't see cheating as a big time problem with these classes. NOW, a tutor giving the answers is a whole different picture in my opinion..

Not always. You're generalizing here, and may be off your mark more than you think.

Btw, how many online course have you taken and taught to come to this conclusion?

Several, and dated someone at Alabama working on her Phd. All were this way.

 

[Outlaw]

Every online class I've taken minus the one this semester I could easily have the book open beside me and looking answers up. Or, I could have someone that had already taken the test help me out. Or, I could get the answers from somebody that took the test.

This past one, the only reason I couldn't is because the professor made it where you didn't have the time to look up the answers. She gave like 60 questions and 30-40 minutes. But, doing that hinders someone who is a terrible test taker and who takes his or her time taking tests (ala me).

 

[laurajmoss]

I'm curious, which schools did you come across that had a zero tolerance rule in place?

It's been several months since I did that research, and now I can't locate pinpoint the location where I saw it discussed.

I can say, however, that it was the extreme end of the spectrum and most schools I read about fell somewhere in between. By way of comparison, Stanford's baseline sanctions: 1-term suspension and 40 hrs community service. Interesting to note is that "lack of intent does not mitigate it as an Honor Code violation."

;scr

How can you have lack of intent when it comes to cheating?

If you use another student's paper and just put your name on it, there's no way you can argue lack of intent. Same thing with wholesale quotations. And obviously in the case of the FSU students, if it's proved that their tutor supplied answers for them, then that shows intent. But when it comes to paraphrasing ideas or concepts from something you read the waters can be murky for some students. The line is not as clear cut, and they may properly cite the majority of their sources throughout a paper yet fail to do so in a single instance which gets them in hot water if their instructor recognizes the material that's been paraphrased.

 

[TerryP]

OK, that makes sense...