HELP! Professor Wrongly Accused Me of Cheating!

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hello,

I’m currently doing my last quarter of college in a school in California. Just yesterday, I received an email from the Policy on Integrity of Scholarship Department notifying me that I am suspected Failing of Academic Integrity for one of my courses. The charges are that the Professor at TAs suspect me of cheating because I had turned in one of my midterms for a regrade and they believe I changed my answers.

From my point of view, I completed the open note midterm in pen a few weeks ago. Next, the midterm was returned to me and I checked the answer keys because I noticed I received a few 0s and found out that my answers were within the realms of those that were listed on the answer key. So I meet up with my professor in office hours to discuss my midterm. After a couple of minutes, my Professor decides to take my midterm and do a regrade after reading over my answers and agreeing with me that I deserve more points.

I haven’t heard anything from the Professor or TAs since that week. Now, I’m suppose to meet with my Dean about this matter and I’m extremely upset and shocked that this happened! I’m not sure what to do as I still have to take my finals before I meet with my Dean next week.

What should I do to prove my innocence?

Any help with be greatly appreciated as this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with such an issue!

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Meet with the Dean and be polite, honest and concerned. Answer questions truthfully and completely, but not loud and angry because that does not help your cause, speculative what might have happened because that is only a guess and irrelevant if can’t say for sure, threatening such attorney or parents because deans are familiar with talking to lawyers and don’t like attempts at intimidation. If you have never been accused of academic dishonestly and have good grades say so politely. If your grade in the class, while it may be lower than you prefer, is passing at the time of the midterm, indicating no incentive to cheat. You want to leave this behind you cleanly with out leaving a bad taste…Think beforehand how you are willing to settle the problem, but not agree to fault or offer too early. Deans I have known are polite and pleasant and have talked to students about a million things. There is no reason to expect that they will be mean, unfair, or threatening. Finally, you, the TA and professor all want this resolved. Great luck. He prepared and keep your cool.