Hi, so one of my final exams this past year was open textbook. I was an idiot and did not check the textbook before going to the test, and turns out I had an old homework folded inside. My teacher saw the sheet, and I explained to him it was an accident. I thought I dodged a major bullet, especially when I received my grade in the class. My account was put on hold two weeks later though and I was told it was because of an academic misconduct allegation. The person deciding my guilt does not like me because I ‘asked too many questions’ whenI was panicking about what to do (my email was super polite, even my parents proofread it). He told me that I could be found completely innocent, or plead guilty, get an F and have to reveal this info on grad school apps. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? I definitely did something wrong and deserve some kind of punishment, but having to answer yes to misconduct questions on grad school apps seems horrifying. Should I fight the charge, even though I worry this might make this worse? Or just hope grad schools understand? Is there any rules about notifications or timeliness I can use since I wasn’t notified about the allegation until I asked and I was told weeks later (there is no rule in our code of contact)? Thanks in advance.
I don’t have any advice, but did the professor say no notes allowed? It seems kinda weird to get in trouble for bringing a homework assignment in an open textbook exam.
Here’s my question-- I’m not sure it’s of any help.
If you had no idea that there was an old test in your textbook, does that mean that you chose to do absolutely no studying ahead of time? If you had, then surely you would have noticed the old test, right? So you walked into a final exam with absolutely no preparation? It’s not like you prepped by going over old tests, because then you would have noticed the missing test-- and found it inside the textbook, right?
Sorry, I think this is going to be a hard sell.
Faculty often specify what you may bring to an open book exam and what must be excluded. If something like class notes or exams are not specifically permitted, then they must be left elsewhere. It is a student’s responsibility to purge anything that is not specifically allowed. Access to additional resources deliberately or accidentally is cheating. The only tangible piece of evidence in this situation is old homework. How do your protestations counter the evidence?
Actually, I think studying before the test makes it more like that this could happen - the student could have easily been studying using both the textbook and old homework assignments, then folded up an old homework and stuck it into the book for easy reference later, forgot it was there and then bam! it’s in the book on test day. In an especially thick textbook that would be easy to do. I’ve found old sheafs of paper stuck inside textbooks I had been using actively for weeks.
I, too, am curious about a professor who gives an open book exam but then accuses a student of cheating for having an old homework assignment open in front of them. I mean, even if you weren’t supposed to have anything besides the book…you’ve got the book. I am even curiouser about a professor who says nothing to the student in the moment and leaves the student to find out only two weeks later after their account is on hold.
I mean, I think what you can do is just be honest. If this is truly what happened, explain it. It seems like the end result is the same regardless of whether you capitulate and plead guilty or whether you are later found guilty after arguing for yourself, so why not try to defend yourself first?
And grad school applicants do ask you about academic misconduct, but they also ask you to explain it. I can’t say how most professors/admission committees would react but if I saw this story from someone written in the right way, especially if it happened in their freshman or sophomore year of college, I’d just roll my eyes (at the professor/college) and ignore it.
Tell your story calmly and truthfully. Also if you had a good grade perhaps offer up a compromise of dropping it a grade. It was open book. Good lord
so what happened?
It doesn’t sound like pleading guilty has any benefits. If you fight it and lose, what’s the punishment? Having to report it on grad school applications? Well, that’s the same as pleading guilty in the first place.
After receiving no response from the university for about a month (we were supposed to have a hearing and when I asked about a date no one answered), I emailed the dean and was informed that the professor who accused me is away for the semester so I can plead guilty now or wait until december for a hearing.
Just to add some information as I didn’t want my initial post to be too long. @soontobecolleger We were allowed to bring one note page on the test with anything written on it. My note sheet was half empty (it’s an open book test what kind of notes do I need) so if I wanted the homework on the test, all I had to do was copy it over. Unfortunately my teacher collected the note sheets and threw them out so there is no way for me to prove that I likely had copied the homework onto the notesheet. My only defense is that homework answers are in the textbook and that if I wanted the detailed homework answer I could have copied it on to the note sheet, which was permitted. @juillet just curious would you recommend including the full story (open textbook, extra note sheet) in grad school apps or will that sound like I am making excuses?
This whole thing sounds absurd. It does sound like that teacher didn’t think much of it at the time - but then when you brought it up, he felt like s/he had to cover their a## by reporting it as a possible breach. Lesson learned - don’t sweat the small stuff and let your anxiety get the best of you (he/she probably got a bit suspicious when you kept asking about it). When the professor finally returns - I would predict that the thing will be dropped. (or at least I hope so for your sake). Hang in there…
Check the student handbook to see if you are entitled to a hearing within a certain time frame. Ask for an advocate to help you through the process.
In this discussion, it seems that open book tests are considered easy. Be wary!! Students don’t have additional test time to prowl through the book. Students who really know the information use the book for fine points of comfort. Studying as if the test is not open book is the best strategy…you are expected to know the information and not find and copy.
This seems like an honest mistake that has gotten way overblown. I think the important think is that any notation on your record not appear as a mark against your integrity. You should defend your integrity and honor with everything you have. Take a lower grade if you must, and even that is ridiculous since what benefit could you have gotten from the homework in an open book test, but no record of a blemish on your integrity is warranted here.
I’d suggest you wait for the hearing. I think you stand a real shot of having this hearing and coming out of it without having this end up on your record.
Take notes now - write it down. What happened. When. What you did. How the professor didn’t mention it at first. Etc.
See if your university has an “Ombudsman” or similar, who can explain how all this works.
@wwsshptosvu - Yes, I would. If you just say you got accused of cheating, that’s a huge red flag; with the details, the story is less alarming.
I just wonder how old homework folded inside the book was noticed by the teacher. And how the school can make you wait so long (though I know schools can do what they wish.)
Between the two options you stated- plead and be found innocent or plead guilty- is pleading innocent and still being found guilty. Have your ducks lined up well.
I would talk to the teacher – then if not plead innocent. There’s no reason for this to be blown out of proportion and you were not intending to cheat on the test. Check the official proceedings – but there seems to be no penalty or reason to to plead guilty in this case.