Long story short; a student missed class for many days and asked to see my homework because he did not understand the assignments. I explained them to him and then showed him my homework as an example. I did not think much of it, to my surprise weeks later my professor emails me. I find that the student copied my assignments and turned them in. I told my professor that I was only trying to assist the student and that I did not expect him to do what he did. I received a letter basically saying that I have a ding on my record for Academic Dishonesty. It states, “While you did not cheat on the assignment by giving your work to someone else you allowed for a unfair academic advantage leading to academic dishonesty.”
Is it possible for me to appeal this? I work hard and I don’t deserve to be penalized for someone else’s actions. My integrity is extremely important to me. I feel terrible, I just tried to help someone and I did not think they would copy. After reading the Student Conduct Code I can see that my offense would fall under “(20) Encouraging, permitting, or assisting another to do any act that could subject him or her to discipline.”
Wow, that’s harsh. Sorry that happened to you. I’d appeal somehow. Talk to your academic advisor and ask what the procedure is. Explain what happened. I hope the other student was disciplined.
How did he copy multiple assignments if you only showed them to him? Did you let him keep them? Explaining how to do something is different than giving them your work.
You can explain that you were trying to tutor him and didn’t expect him to cheat, but they aren’t accusing you of cheating or knowingly helping him to cheat so that might not help. Talk to your academic advisor and see what they suggest.
I was trying to help him through text so he did have access to them. I feel so stupid for trusting him and for sending him pictures of the assignments.
Lesson learned
I suspect the integrity violation is sharing OP’s own work and problem sets. He shared more than the questions, did more than just talk this through with the other kid.
Don’t sue the college. For what? They can say he abetted academic dishonesty. If OPhad not let the kid see the answers, there’d be no copying.
That said, OP, this is harsh, but does follow some rela life common law. I’d tell my kid to keep her nose clean for the rest of college and learn from this. Not lose sleep. You were not cited as cheating and I doubt this will follow you.
You got caught. Not sure what there is to appeal. An appeal might cause you more problems if untruthful about what happened.
Identical homework is identical homework. And the source has been identified as you. Unless the other student stole or accessed your work without permission, there doesn’t seem to be any reasonable grounds for appeal, in my opinion.
Can you make a statement that would also go in your file? You could state, as you have here, that you did not intend for him to copy your work. You were trying to aid a fellow student who had missed several classes. Admit that what you did showed some poor judgement ( it did!) but the intent was not to be dishonest.
“While you did not cheat on the assignment by giving your work to someone else you allowed for a unfair academic advantage leading to academic dishonesty.” This seems entirely reasonable to me. I think you should learn your lesson and move on.
Lesson learned. You didn’t just show him the assignments, you gave him the assignments. You thought he’d be a smarter thief but he wasn’t. You could suggest to the student that he contact the prof himself but the prof doesn’t really have to cut you any slack for helping someone cheat.
