The University of Houston's online publication, The Cougar, recently ran an article linking remote learning to an alarming new trend.

Cases of academic misconduct have more than doubled over the course of the pandemic. Legions of students nationwide now depend on internet-based course instruction. They are also experiencing heightened pressure to succeed even amid the hardships of today's unique learning environment.

Today's college students need, more than ever, to have excellent self-motivation and time management skills. They also need to have a particularly strong will when it comes to the ease and attractiveness of academic dishonesty.

The Theories Underlying Academic Misconduct

“Cheating often occurs when students are overconfident in their abilities and underestimate the time needed to prepare for an exam.”

This quote and theory come from a book recently written out of Assumption College in Massachusetts. The book, entitled Cheating Lessons, delves into the theories behind cheating.

Firstly: Why do students cheat? In Cheating Lessons, we learn that there are four basic conditions that might promote cheating behaviors. These include:

1. Conditions that contribute to an emphasis on performance, rather than (necessarily) comprehension;
2. Heightened stakes depending on a student's performance;
3. External motivation fueling those heightened stakes; and
4. Somewhat paradoxically, an overall low expectation of individual, sustained student success.

The response to these conditions? Students and teachers need to return to the idea that the learning process is often more important than the outcome. By teaching students that the outside world values test-driven credentials over authentic understanding, our society has helped students believe that a preferable end (such as a perfect score) might justify the means (e.g., academic dishonesty).

Of course, the conditions that Cheating Lessons links to academic misconduct might sound familiar.

Now, in a time where students are learning mainly on their own, with (in many cases) only test scores to speak to their progress, it's become easy to cheat. To many struggling students without options for support, it may even feel necessary—or like the lesser of several bad alternatives.

The pandemic, resultant remote learning, and other conditions that today's students did not choose shouldn't cost a generation their chance at a solid, successful future. Now, more than ever, students who face cheating charges need to have a way to clear their name and fight for their reputation.

Trust an Experienced Student Defense Attorney to Help You Protect Your Education

If you believe that an allegation of academic misconduct might be in your future, you need to realize that you're in a precarious situation. While Cheating Lessons may propose that there is a lot we can learn from academic dishonesty, your future employers, universities, and scholarship boards likely will not appreciate any misconduct on your record.

It's important to work now to protect your reputation and clear your name of all allegations. Joseph D. Lento can guide you through your school's complex disciplinary process and assist you in working towards the best possible outcome.

Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 to learn more about how we can help you.