Apparently, the Covid-19 pandemic hasn't had a particularly positive effect on our morals as a society. News stories abound, for example, about rises in identity theft and reckless driving. It probably shouldn't surprise any of us, then, that bad behavior has spilled over onto college campuses as well.

Duke University says that reports of academic misconduct almost tripled on their campus between 2019 and 2020, from 89 reports to 243. Those numbers are in line with national trends. Ohio State’s cheating numbers, for example, doubled over the same period, and a recent study published in the International Journal for Educational Integrity found that online requests for “contract cheating” at the online site Chegg had increased almost 200 percent.

Possible Explanations for the Rise in Cases

Generally, college professors and administrators lay the blame for the rise in misconduct on one of two factors.

First, as it has for all of us, the Covid-19 pandemic has put stress on college students. Stress can arise because of lock-down restrictions and health concerns, to say nothing of educational changes the pandemic has wrought. Online coursework demands a level of self-motivation some college students simply aren't ready to accept. And in the absence of face-to-face instruction, many students report feeling neglected by their instructors and their schools. Ultimately, more stress leads to poor decision-making.

The second explanation relates more directly to the nature of online classes. When the pandemic hit, for instance, many professors were asked to take on larger course loads. With more students to grade, many felt they had no choice but to use simpler assignments as well as standardized, multiple-choice exam formats. These make cheating a greater temptation, as does the fact that professors aren't around to proctor exams.

What are colleges doing in response to the increase in academic misconduct?

With two potential explanations for the rise in cases, schools are trying a wide variety of possible solutions to the problem, including:

• Lighter course loads for students
• Lighter course loads for instructors
• An increase in campus support services such as tutoring
• Easier assignments with less rigorous formats
• Exams that test knowledge usage and acquisition rather than memorization
• Fewer exams and more written work

In addition, many schools have instituted “regret clauses” in their academic conduct policies. These clauses give students a set amount of time, seventy-two hours, for example, to withdraw their assignments after they've turned them in. Usually, students who do so must accept a zero for their work, but they avoid facing misconduct charges.

Joseph D. Lento Specializes in Academic Misconduct Cases

Now, more than ever, it's important to know what to do if you're facing a charge of academic misconduct. First things first. Take a deep breath, and try not to stress over it. Then call Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm. Joseph Lento is an expert when it comes to cases of academic misconduct. He's literally handled countless cases over his career. He understands what you're going through, and he knows how to fight the academic system and make sure you get all the rights you deserve.

For more information, contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.