<p>It may also be that some software tool flagged the submissions as being similar, but if 80% of the class was flagged clearly the criteria is wrong. I don’t think you need to involve yourself, but yes, prod your son to prod the dean! This much delay is ridiculous.</p>
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<p>I don’t see that. In some classes, 80% of the students are cheating. Also, it may be that he eliminated the other 20% because they submitted nothing or almost nothing, so by definition they didn’t cheat, and then he is examining the 80% who submitted functioning programs.</p>
<p>I would rather see an instructor in a case like this take enough time to detect the guilty and exculpate the innocent. That could take a while. </p>
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<p>I’m not sure what you mean by documentation and notes. Documentation for a program is the directions on how to make the program work. Usually that sort of thing would be handed in with the program. Notes… I don’t know, most people who program don’t make notes that would be comprehensible to anyone. If the instructor has the programs, and the programs are similar… well, it would be like two people submitting the same paper. If I were a professor and two people submitted the same paper, I would know that at least one of them cheated. Unless your son thinks that he submitted his own work and someone else copied it without his knowledge, notes would be of no use.</p>
<p>This is the UMD College Park policy on Academic Integrity:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/docs/III-100A.pdf[/url]”>http://www.president.umd.edu/policies/docs/III-100A.pdf</a></p>
<p>If your son ends up being accused of academic dishonesty, and he believes he is innocent, he can appear before an Honor Board and give his side of the case. He’d be able to show his notes and documentation at that time.</p>
<p>But that’s all quite previous now. Nobody so far has been accused of academic dishonesty.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your insights. We read the link from Maryland regarding integrity when this first came up. The faculty handbook, however, states that final grades are to be submitted within 48 hours of the final exam. The exam was on the 19th, so grades should have been posted by Dec. 21st. At this point, the professor still hasn’t accused anyone of anything. He has however withheld grades for nearly a month past the deadline. At some point the teacher needs to make a decision. This is a senior level class where none of the students (that we are aware of) have ever been even remotely accused of cheating. One student already missed the deadline for MITgrad school. Another has now missed the deadline for the law school he hoped to attend. Again, if they truly are guilty of cheating, then they deserve to be punished. I’m afraid however a lot of innocent students’ futures are now being affected when the teacher has not abided by the rules set forth by the university. If there is no limit on how long an investigation of this type should last, then we would get into retroactively revoking degrees of those in the workforce and graduate school.</p>
<p>What does the Dean say about this investigation?</p>
<p>Obviously the instructor should not drag his feet on this. I’d be surprised if higher-ups are not involved at this point.</p>
<p>I doubt that the grad school and law school application deadlines are a factor right now. Those colleges realize that other colleges are not always prompt in getting their reports in. I’m skeptical that MIT would hold it against an applicant if his transcript was delayed by factors beyond his control. If I were the applicant, I would let MIT know that the professor was investigating cheating, that I was not a cheater, and that my transcript would be delayed. Eventually, the transcript would arrive, and since I wasn’t a cheater, my grade would be fine.</p>
<p>I’m baffled by the emphasis on speed here. Either your son cheated, or he didn’t. If he cheated, he’ll be caught. If he didn’t cheat, he’ll probably be exonerated by the professor. If he is accused of cheating but he didn’t cheat, he’ll appear before the Honor Board and exonerate himself. What’s the hurry? </p>
<p>Those who did cheat should own up to the cheating right now, take the XF, and get on the waiting list to retake the class. I must admit I don’t have much sympathy for cheaters and their desire to move up on a waiting list.</p>
<p>I’m sure you will find this hard to believe, Cardinal Fang, but the higher ups said they knew nothing about it and were surprised that no grade had yet been given. They thanked my son for bringing the matter to their attention and said they will get back to him. So we wait some more.</p>
<p>As for the grad school/law school - I can’t say for certain as I am not involved in admissions at either of these types of school. Are you? If so, then I’m sure you are right. If not, I guess we are both just speculating. I’d be concerned for my son to say, “I am being investigated for cheating, but will you look at my application and admit me anyway.I have no idea how long it will take to clear my name.” As we are all aware, these schools are highly competitive. I just hope you are correct and that the other schools will not hold it against them if in fact they are innocent.</p>
<p>Apparently the university sees the need to make timely decisions or they wouldn’t have deadlines in the faculty handbook. Many of these kids either “graduated” in December or will graduate next semester and have already accepted jobs. One student has already said that he can’t start his job until he gets this grade and officially graduates.The semester starts in 9 days. This was to be the last semester for many students in the class. Most have already accepted positions. Like you, I don’t like cheating. Even more though, I don’t like seeing innocent people punished for things they didn’t do. As we also both noted, they have not been accused of anything, even after 1 month of investigating. While we don’t know of the 80% of the class’s innocence, we also don’t know of their guilt - especially if no accusations have yet to be made. It seems to me that innocent people are being punished. Either way, I find it strange that the professor carried on this investigation and withheld grades for a month after the deadline and has not informed any of the higher ups.</p>
<p>I’m certainly surprised that the Dean knew nothing of it! Good thing your son let them know.</p>
<p>Is this an adjunct instructor?</p>
<p>No, my son said he’s a full tenured professor.</p>
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<p>The professor sounds like an outlaw.</p>
<p>The more I hear about the professor, the less I can defend him. He should AT LEAST have involved higher-ups. The chairman of his department and the relevant dean should have known about this.</p>
<p>VeryHappy, thanks for making me laugh! I needed that!</p>
<p>CardinalFang and everyone else, thanks for the advice. I guess at this point we just have to wait.</p>
<p>Just wanted to post an update. Son received e-mail Friday (assistant chair of department but not positive) stating he spoke with professor and that if our son hadn’t heard from prof. yet, he would sometime on Friday. Well, … we are still waiting!</p>
<p>Hmmm, perhaps WHICH Friday wasn’t made clear to this prof. Sorry for all the stress–must be maddening!!</p>
<p>BUT, the assistant chair (and therefore the chair) is now involved. So something is happening.</p>
<p>You are absolutely right, VeryHappy!! Our son was pleased that he has heard from both the chair and the assistant chair in a prompt manner. Personally, I’m shocked that the professor disobeyed his boss. I would guess that our son probably won’t hear anything now until at least Tuesday since it’s a long weekend - but I realize I’m just speculating. Again though, as you said, at least the chair and assistant are aware and my son is continuing to keep them up-to-date.</p>