Early in March 2021, a university professor shared his musings on the dramatic increase in cheating during the first two months of the COVID-19 lockdown. The perplexing question is – were these students just starting to cheat because of how easy it was, or did the proctoring software the schools employed just uncover a problem that has always existed?

Before lockdown, when schools were still in-person, almost all exams had some level of proctoring, and yet students continued to try and cheat. When the world moved online and schools followed suit, students discovered that cheating was all too easy. No matter the tool the school used to mitigate cheating – watching the students through their webcams or using technology to turn off their web browsers or block out access to the rest of their computer – students seemed to always figure out a loophole. Many discovered that the webcam recordings didn't show their phones or their notes. Some even began sharing answers via text or with tutors around the world.

Consequences of Cheating

The article posits that the reason students cheat, besides the fact that it is easier than ever to do so, is because of how competitive academia is nowadays. It is more cut-throat than ever to get into a good college or university, and every leg up helps. Just look at what happened in 2019 – pre-pandemic – the government accused thirty-three parents of paying over $25 million over a 7-year-period to a man who boosted their children's SAT and ACT scores and bribed college officials to get them admitted.

Most students don't seem to realize the long-lasting effects cheating can have on their life. Yes, it impacts your transcript and reputation if the school catches you, and this can lead to several different punishments, including detention, suspension, and even expulsion, depending on the school and the severity of the cheating. But it can also impact their lives outside of school. If a student finds it easy to cheat in school, what's to stop them from lying, cheating, and stealing from society? Additionally, cheating cheapens the student's depth of knowledge and understanding in certain subjects, making them ill-equipped to practice those subjects in a career.

How a Lawyer Can Help

If your child has been accused of cheating, a lawyer can act as a student advisor. A student advisor will work with the school on your behalf to determine the best course of action for your child. The attorney will review the facts, look for evidence on behalf of your student, and present it to the school administration in charge of the disciplinary action.

Attorney Joseph D. Lento is an experienced attorney who has worked with thousands of students nationwide in college, graduate and professional school, and high school, whose schools accused them of cheating. Whether your child cheated or not, they are entitled to a specific review process, and unfortunately, sometimes schools are too busy to fulfill that right. Attorney Lento works vigilantly to guarantee the school upholds your child's rights, ensuring a better outcome for their future. Call 888.535.3686 today to schedule a consultation.