<p>“In college, I think first offense should be an F on the transcript, not suspension or expulsion as it is at some schools.”</p>
<p>The sad truth is that this rarely happens, even with blatant cheaters. I was a TA for a class and the teacher would either just give the student a failing grade on the single problem(s) for which we could prove cheating occured (say 3 problems in a 15 problem exam) and/or make the student retake the test in his presence. </p>
<p>This sort of teacher attitude towards cheating was very prevalent at this school (well, in the department anyways and likely elsewhere). </p>
<p>I think it’s usually quite stressful for all involved. Often there are disciplinary hearings and at the end of the day, regardless from outcome, the teacher, student, parents, and school administrators are unhappy/stressed with the whole ordeal. </p>
<p>Simply put, there is not a strong incentive for teachers to try to catch & punish cheaters. Especially since cheaters often, but not always, have poor overall grades anyways. And even if they don’t, it’s easier to leave the work to someone else and/or figure that it’ll come back to bite them in the butt down the road. </p>
<p>For the most blatant of cheaters, I think expulsion would be a fitting punishment in COLLEGE. Or at the very least, a failing grade for the class and a note on the official transcript stating that the studet is guilty of academic dishonesty. </p>
<p>They’ve probably cheated multiple times before and either got sloppy or finally had a teacher who was on the look-out and willing to prosecute. So prosecute to the fullest I say.</p>