The rules have changed on college campuses. It started with the advent of AI. For an enterprising student who wants to cut corners, AI programs like Deep L Translate offer plenty of dishonest ways to pass a course or earn a degree. And OK, so you shouldn't cheat. But for their part, schools haven't responded to the advent of AI particularly well either. Faculty and administrators have become nothing short of paranoid. They're quick to point the finger at students, can be biased when it comes to investigations and hearings, and have gotten downright draconian when it comes to penalties.
So, what do you do if you've been accused?
You contact the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. It doesn't really matter what happened—an honest mistake or plain misunderstanding—we're always on your side and ready to help. More importantly, we know exactly how to help. We've represented hundreds of students, defending them from all types of misconduct allegations. We also know how your school's disciplinary system works. We're ready to use every resource at our disposal to ensure you get the best possible resolution to your situation.
What can we do for you? Find out by calling 888-535-3686, or take time right now to tell us about your case.
Just What Is DeepL Translate?
DeepL Translate was designed to translate text from one language to another. Pretty straightforward, nothing fancy, but remarkably useful, especially for scholars. Anyone doing serious research, including upper-level college students, knows that sooner or later, you're going to run across books and articles written in other languages. In some disciplines—the study of French literature, for example—international scholarship is essentially an occupational hazard.
DeepL Translate has the power to make research faster and simpler, and when research is more efficient, scholars can do more. Beyond helping individual researchers, though, AI like this has the capacity to bring scholars together across boundaries by making it easier to share work, whatever language in which it might appear.
Using and Misusing DeepL Translate
Generally speaking, DeepL Translate isn't designed for cheating. Unlike ChatGPT or ChatPDF, it doesn't produce new text in response to a prompt. It simply translates existing text from one language into another.
Generally speaking.
The thing is, the ethics of any technology are always in its usage. DeepL wasn't designed for cheating, but it can certainly be put to that use if you're in the right circumstances. The program can make short work of your French translation homework, for example, and if you can get yourself positioned just right in the classroom, you might even be able to use it to get answers during an exam.
The trick, then, is not to use DeepL dishonestly. How do you do that?
- Make sure you're clear on exactly what constitutes "academic misconduct." In simple terms, anything you might do that gains you an unfair advantage in completing your coursework qualifies as an offense.
- Unfortunately, it's not always easy to distinguish when a technology "gains you an advantage." If you're trying to prove you can do addition, a calculator is definitely an advantage. If you're solving differential equations, on the other hand, your instructor probably couldn't care less about your adding skills. In a similar way, if you're learning to translate, DeepL is certainly an unfair advantage. If you're simply translating an article you want to use in a research paper, though, it's no more than a tool. So, you may have to think through the purpose of the assignment in very specific terms.
- Finally, though, it never hurts to ask your instructor's opinion. When you have a concrete answer to work with, you can avoid making mistakes. And at a minimum, asking will let your instructor know that you take academic integrity seriously.
Facing Allegations
Let's talk about the other side of the equation, though. What happens if, despite your best efforts, you wind up accused of academic misconduct anyway?
That's not as unlikely as you might think. In response to AI programs like DeepL Translate, the industry has turned to producing AI-detectors, AI programs designed to catch the use of AI. GPTZero, Turnitin, and Copyleaks promise university campuses they can stamp out cheating and plagiarism altogether. Software like this isn't foolproof, though, and it can sometimes flag perfectly original work as AI-generated. When instructors invest too fully in AI-detection reports, innocent students can wind up accused.
Students found responsible for (guilty of) academic misconduct offenses face a variety of sanctions. These might be in-class penalties like grade deductions or lower course grades. Increasingly, though, schools are taking a hard-line stance against digital cheating, and students have found themselves suspended and even dismissed for using programs like DeepL Translate.
The good news is that your school can't simply accuse you and impose a sanction. You have due process rights, including the right to a presumption of innocence (“not responsible”). Your school must have evidence to prove your responsibility, and it must give you the opportunity to respond to that evidence. You should expect an investigation, a hearing, and, if necessary, a chance to appeal.
Of course, it's not always easy to navigate a school's disciplinary system. Processes and procedures can be complex, and you're always better off if you have someone on your side who can help you make sense of it all.
The Lento Law Firm Is on Your Side
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can help you with every aspect of your case, from working with you to identify evidence of your innocence to coaching you in how to respond to investigators. We know how campus hearings operate, and we can draft a presentation on your behalf. We can suggest questions for witnesses and give you practice in making your points. Most importantly of all, it's our job to monitor everything that happens and ensure you're treated fairly.
Whatever your situation, you deserve fair treatment. We'll make sure you get it. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out what we can do, or take time right now to fill out our online form.
