Talking to a Student Suspected of Cheating

Despite your efforts to promote integrity and prevent cheating, you will likely still have to respond to the occasional integrity violations. Although you do not have to speak with students before reporting them to the AI Office, if you feel like you want or need to, here are some recommended guidelines for doing so.

 

Don't hesitate

Act on these situations despite any reservations; academic integrity will only be achieved if students see follow-through when we say we care about academic integrity.

Prepare for the conversation

If you choose to meet with the student, it may be helpful to think of three C's in addressing academic misconduct with a suspected offender: clarity, compassion, and candor:

  • Be clear about the behavior you find questionable.
  • Be compassionate to the student who may experience significant distress but also great learning from this incident.
  • Be candid about your interpretations of the behavior and your feelings about the incident.

What to say

If you're unsure about how to have a clear, compassionate, and candid conversation with a student:

  1. Begin your intervention with a statement. Example:
    1. "I have some concerns about your recent [paper or exam], and would like to engage in a dialogue with you about it. When can you come in to see me?"
  2. Start the conversation by asking the student a question. This way, the student can tell his or her story rather than hearing your interpretation first. Examples:
    1. "Why don't we start by you telling me how you're feeling about the class/ this assignment?"
    2. "What was your process for studying/ completing the assignment?"
    3. "Are you satisfied with your learning/ progress in the course?"
  3. After listening to the student's story, express your concerns about the assignment or work in question. Example:
    1. "I'm concerned because the information I have suggests that you may have _________________. Is that an accurate assessment? Why not?"
  4. Tell the student what you're planning to do next. This could include:
    1. Considering his or her answers and thinking further about your next step
    2. Reporting the incident to the Academic Integrity Office

Remain Steadfast

Student reactions may vary. Your student may cry, get angry, accuse or offend you, calmly admit to the misconduct, or deny the misconduct outright. In any event, proceed using your best judgment, knowing that it is your professional and ethical obligation to follow Senate Policy which states that you must report all suspected academic integrity violations to the Academic Integrity Office.