The first student either feigned ignorance or was truly ignorant of academic dishonesty policy, both of definition and of policy. It is clear he knew that he was producing a sub-par papaer, but since he did not seem to know what constitutes plagiarism and what does not, he likely thought it simply to be a poor paper and lured by the siren song of the Bahamian beauties, he likely did not give enough time or thought to his second-rate work to realize that he had done any wrong.
That said, whether or not his program included a formal section on academic integrity such as SBSF-8005/AMDS-8008, ignorance of policy is no excuse. If it is found that this student is a relatively new student, having been away from the academic world for a period of time–even so, Walden University is an autonomous university and there is no “universal code of academic integrity,” thus Walden can only make the assumption that he has informed himself through the appropriate course calendar. I admit, even as I try to keep up with all the school policies, I miss some–and forget others. If this is indeed his first offence, and he has spoken truthfully, he should be required to complete the Academic Interity course with the minimum ‘B’ grade as well a to complete the assignment and accept a failing grade on that project (Walden University, 2009).

The second student obviously had extenuating circumstances; however, there are mechanisms for dealing with this without resorting to academic dishonesty. In most cases, simply communication with the professor and negotiating an acceptable deferred due date or some other mutually-acceptable arrangement is the ideal action. This illustrates that she was not aware of university policy and acted in contravention of this academic integrity protocol this awareness notwithstanding. She should also be compelled to take the Academic Integrity course and earn a minimum ‘B’ grade as well as to re-submit her own, original work, at a reduced grade (Walden University, 2009).

The third student, though brought up in a different culture, illustrates the practical need for TOEFL requirements in North American schools. While language training courses are hardly standardized and may not cover more or less of American or Canadian culture–as the case may be (I live in a house that rents short-term to a pair of English as a Second Language foreign students, who rotate bimonthly) and Walden University cannot make expectations of a non-standardized course, it is clear that this student was not aware of the Academic Integrity and plagiarism definitions. This student should be required to complete the Academic Integrity course earning a minimum “B” grade and resubmit the assignment for full grade (Walden University, 2009).

Others of you may be less tolerant of the first example and recommend immediate expulsion. I submit, however, that one bad decision resulting from poor judgement and peer pressure should not ruin the entire future of a potentially bright individual. Harsh treatment, yes, but I believe suspension should be reserved for repeat offenders, and expulsion for repeat offenders of particularly serious academic integrity transgressions.

Walden University. (2009). Code of Conduct. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from http://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=2&navoid=211
Date Modified: 29 Sep 09    8:29 PM MST

With the first student, he bought the paper from the internet. Are you saying that he should just be punished because it was a poor paper? (or am I reading it wrong?)

I do agree with you on the second student, she should have talked to the professor instead of trying to complete the assignments under pressure. However, do you feel that she should have a lower grade because she waited until after before she told the professor what was going on in her life? With the third student, don’t foreign students have to take an english test (written) before they are accepted into school? Why should he get full credit, but the second student gets a reduced grade?

No, you’re not reading it wrong. Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough in my intent. The intent is that to complete the course requirements, the material must be completed, whether for credit or not. I would not have any issue with the instructor giving a zero grade on the paper–but the paper must still be completed in my mind if the student is to continue. That is all I meant.

When I read your discussion for the first student, I wondered if I had misread the description of the events because I hardly recognized the situation the way you described it. I see it quite a bit differently.

In my opinion, it does not matter how long someone has been away from the academic world, and it does not matter whether the school policy has been read, and it does not matter whether his program included a formal section on academic integrity, and it does not matter whether he finally spoke truthfully. I’ve been away from the academic world for over twenty years and I can’t even spell plagiarism (used a spell checker). The knucklehead bought a paper from the internet and submitted it as his own, for crying out loud.

Also, I don’t subscribe to the notion that I am less tolerant. With a good sincere effort I would bend over backwards to help, but this guy is a blatant cheat. The characterization of “immediate expulsion” I reject as well. I actually chuckled when I read “one bad decision resulting from poor judgement and peer pressure should not ruin the entire future of a potentially bright individual”. Peer pressure? He was peer pressured into chasing babes in the Bahamas? Funny. I’m not interested in ruining his entire future, (although I’m not sure how bright he is) just kicking him out of Walden University. He can pursue his degree somewhere else, just not here.

By the way, I chuckled because from reading the stuff you have already posted in other discussions I had guessed that you were going to recommend giving the first student a break. You’re probably a pushover, not that being a pushover is a bad thing though. Who knows, maybe I’m just an ass, I’ll give that some thought. I’d still kick the bum out though.
Date Modified: 30 Sep 09    3:01 PM MST

What I mean is that I am looking at this not from the student’s point of view so much as society’s and what society stands to gain from the student. If Student 1 can make it through the remainder of the program on merit without again resorting to plagiarism, then society misses out on a rare gift if the behaviour could have been corrected. I’ve seen how often exceptional students in segregated gifted programs in grade and high school, ostracized and persecuted by the rest of the student population, have adopted alternative–almost rebellious at times–attitudes. It does, at times, take a wake-up call–or perhaps even a seemingly miraculous second chance–to help these students express their gift within societal norms.

When I mentioned peer pressure, I had assumed the fact that the assignment stated “with a friend” was significant in some way.

That said, as I clarified in the previous post, in order to continue, I would be agreeable with the instructor giving a zero grade on the paper; however, to continue, the course requirements–including the paper–must still be completed. I don’t see that as being a complete pushover–merely that in order to continue, the student must still complete the course requirements and is punished the first time with the academic penalty. Subsequent offences, doubtless, I would without pause be on your side about expelling the student.

By the way, Barry, the skies are an uncharacteristic blue today–a fair departure from its normal pink. I would put a smiley here, but I learned from an earringed man on a DVD that it might reflect poorly on me (Burkholder, 2008).

Burkholder, G. (2008). Tips for effective online composition and communication. In Laureate Education, inc. (2008). Walden University: Foundations [DVD]. Boston, MD: Laureate Education, Inc.
Date Modified: 30 Sep 09    7:59 PM MST

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Funny. You made me laugh again, pink skies, you bleeding hearts!

This could be one of those endless back and forth conversations almost like talking politics, best over a cup of coffee, but since you’re one of THOSE who doesn’t drink coffee… (kidding) anyway, I’m not sure of the appropriate punishment for Student 2 and 3. It was hard to determine their intent from the descriptions. I would follow past protocols, whatever those may be, for similar violations, which might be nothing more than redoing the work.

However, Student 1 is in a different category. As I said, and likely we all agree, he is a blatant cheat. Maybe where we differ is this, society, at least the Walden society, shouldn’t care what there is to gain from him, and shouldn’t be concerned whether he has any rare gifts. In my opinion, there should be no second chances for him. I’m sorry that he succumbed to peer pressure, but this is not grade school or high school, and when you cross the line that far you take your chances. Who was it that said, “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime”? I should probably cite that but I have no idea where it came from. Hopefully this will be a wake-up call for Student 1, and if he does have something to contribute, he can make those contributions at another university, and then go on to live a wonderful life.

I bet he would be fun to hang around with in the Bahamas though.

I’m glad I didn’t have you as an Instructor in College. You’d be one of the tough’n'scary ones

(joking)

So I guess this means that you think beating Student 1 with a rubber hose is too harsh?

By the way, in a former life I was a US Navy instructor pilot, taught air combat maneuvering. Student scores were a VERY BIG deal because it meant what aircraft you would be assigned to fly, everybody wanted F/A-18s. The average scores of instructors were posted for all to see. I’ll have you know that I consistently had the highest averages and was considered a pussycat to fly with. Some of the other instructors even gave me a hard time because they thought I was grading too easy. However, if we had caught a cheat like Student 1, we would have kicked him out, but only after we had dragged him down to the woodshed. Dragging him to the woodshed is an American term, maybe similar to your term “sent down” only I would guess a little bit harsher. Although I did see that movie about the Australian guy with the big knife. That guy was tough, I’m sure you just love that stereotype.

While I haven’t quite as rigorous training as you have in any way, I was a training officer for a division of the Canadian St. John Ambulance Brigade as well as instructor for other courses (one of which was Kaplan’s GMAT test prep). I always maintained high standards and generally had no problems failing people whom I believed were not meeting the standards. I especially do not waiver on lowering standards in cases where the student either clearly lacks the foundations and background for material or the ability.

I probably inherited this approach from my father, as a result of whom I travelled regularly each week to my local high school for calculus lessons during grade seven (sorry, seventh grade for the Americans) since the math teachers in my school couldn’t remember any calculus. As Provincial Medical Officer in St. John Ambulance he was known to have passed fewer than 60% of his students (he’s now a part-time lecturer for the University of Ottawa Medical School for the past 14 years and I hear he’s quite tough there, too, though he is expected not to fail that many).

I do believe that an appropriate course and evaluation is one that is normally distributed; that is, similarly to how the College of Familly Physicians passes licence exam-takers, everyone within one standard deviation of the mean grade. If the too many students pass, then the material or exam was too easy; if too many students fail, then it was too hard.

Perhaps it is then clear that I’m not that much of a push-over, and would not make much exception in cases where a student’s aptitudes and abilities are incongruent with the chosen program; but where the student has obvious tremendous potential but the problem lies in difficulties expressing this potential in a way society can benefit, I will do everything I can to bring the two worlds together.