Academia moves at a glacial pace. Seriously, deciding on whether to add a new course can be a years-long project in some departments. So it's no surprise that college and university faculties can sometimes be resistant to the pace of technological change.
Take Grammarly, for example. There's nothing especially exotic about this AI program. It improves your grammar--something instructors should welcome. Unfortunately, some view it with suspicion. It doesn't help that because Grammarly is technically AI, so it triggers some AI detection software out there.
All of which means that you can wind up accused of academic misconduct even when you've done nothing wrong.
Whether you're entirely innocent or you actually did make some kind of mistake, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is always on your side. We've dealt with all types of academic misconduct allegations, and we're familiar with how campus disciplinary systems operate. We can make sure you're treated fairly and that you get the best possible resolution to your case.
First, though, you have to contact us. Call 888-535-3686 to find out how we can help, or take time right now to tell us about your case.
Clearing Up the Grammarly Confusion
Let's be clear about just what Grammarly can and can't do. The program was originally designed to help writers spot grammar and spelling errors in their writing. It has evolved to offer stylistic help as well. For instance, it can let you know if you're relying too heavily on passive voice in your work or if your tone seems too confrontational. In essence, it is a super-charged version of the spellcheck feature included in Microsoft Word and other word processing programs.
Unlike AI programs such as ChatGPT and QuillBot, it cannot simply create a paper in response to a prompt. It may offer wording suggestions, but it does not generate content.
However, not all faculty members understand Grammarly. The problem is that AI programs seem to pop up every day, and it's difficult to stay up-to-date on the latest technology. With cheating on the rise on campuses across the country, there's an atmosphere of paranoia that leads some instructors to bar any technology with even the hint of a potential for misuse.
The advent of so-called “AI detectors” like GPTZero and Turnitin AI hasn't helped matters. These programs are designed to detect AI usage and can sometimes flag Grammarly's stylistic suggestions as suspicious. While Grammarly's suggestions aren't the same as asking an AI to write a paper for you, once a passage in your paper is flagged, it may be impossible to convince an instructor that the AI detector is simply being overly cautious.
Unfortunately, there have been instances in recent years of students charged with—and found responsible for (guilty of)- academic misconduct over their use of Grammarly. The fact that you're using a perfectly legitimate technology to improve your work--and not trying to game the system in any way--may not be enough to save you.
Grammarly Sticklers
To be fair, it is possible to "misuse" Grammarly.
Grammarly is not designed to write papers for you. It's strictly a tool for helping you write better, more correct sentences. In certain instances, though, that can be a kind of cheating.
Writing faculty sometimes expect students to learn grammar for themselves. In particular, if you're taking English as a second language (ESL), your instructor may want you to demonstrate that you know the difference between a noun and a pronoun and that you can conjugate verbs correctly. If you're assigned an essay in a class like this, Grammarly would give you an unfair advantage, and any time you're gaining an unfair advantage in completing your coursework, you should assume it's cheating.
Similarly, your freshman comp teacher may regard using Grammarly as part of your writing process as akin to using a calculator during a basic math exam. If the goal is to learn how to do the basics for yourself, these kinds of tools undermine your ability to master the course material.
Just know that there are circumstances in which Grammarly legitimately is a form of academic misconduct. The key is to remain aware of exactly why you're using the program and whether or not that use violates the function of an assignment.
Responding to a Charge
Here's the bottom line: You don't want to be charged with academic misconduct just for using Grammarly. So, how do you avoid one?
- Know your instructor's rules: It's always a good idea to know what your university does and doesn't allow. You can find that information in your school's Student Code of Conduct. In addition, you should pay close attention to the syllabus instructions in each course. If it's in the syllabus, your instructor can technically hold you responsible for it.
- Let your instructor know what you're up to: Just to clear up any confusion, ask your instructor before you employ AI tools, including Grammarly. It never hurts to have explicit permission before you use a particular piece of software, and you'll impress your instructor with your upfront honesty.
If you should wind up accused of academic misconduct, there are things you can do to minimize the damage an accusation might do.
First and foremost, don't panic. If you overreact, you're more likely to create additional problems. You can be certain that your school has due process protections in place to ensure you're treated fairly. You'll have the right to a presumption of innocence and to defend yourself at a formal hearing.
At the same time, you want to take the situation seriously. Academic misconduct allegations can result in sanctions ranging from lower grades to outright dismissal from the university. Given those risks, you need a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side to help protect your rights and look out for your best interests.
Trust the Lento Law Firm
There are thousands of lawyers out there, but if your college or university has accused you of some form of misconduct, a local attorney just isn't going to know enough about your situation to adequately protect you. You need someone who is familiar with school judicial procedures, someone who has represented student clients, someone who understands exactly how tech issues are playing out on campus.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team understands what you're up against and just what the stakes are in an academic misconduct case. We know how your school operates, and we can make sure you're prepared for whatever you have to face.
To find out more about how we can help, call 888-535-3686 today, or take time right now to fill out our online form.
