Jim- Do you have an honor or conduct code on campus. If so then your next step should 
be spelled out. Else, I'd contact my department chair, division chair, dean, or 
whomever would know the correct course of action. You should also consult your faculty 
handbook as it surely spells out what to do when an accusation is made. Unfortunately, 
if you did not see it nor did the proctor, I doubt there is a great deal you can do 
unless there are other independent reasons to doubt the student's grade. Oh- Grade the 
exam. I once saw a student cheating but upon grading the test discovered he'd made 18% 
on a multiple choice exam. I decided it wasn't worth pursuing the rather complicated 
procedure at that institution and merely notified the student that I knew what had 
happened and would be watching them carefully. They didn't do it again and actually 
passed the course. Another tack- A friend of mine in the English dept handles these 
situations by bringing in the student and congratulating them on doing so well. It 
wouldn't work for me but he has actually had students come back and confess. Go 
figure. Take care. Tim Shearon, Albertson College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID 83605. [EMAIL 
PROTECTED]


-----Original Message-----
From:   Jim  Guinee [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent:   Fri 10/29/2004 9:26 PM
To:     Teaching in the Psychological Sciences
Cc:     
Subject:        cheating question, advice welcomed
A nice non-spiritual dilemma :-)

I normally proctor my own exams, but a conference I wanted
to attend happened to coincide with the date of a course exam.

To get to the point, the department's proctor reported that one of
my students spoke to her after class, claiming she saw another student
cheating during the test.  According to the accuser, the alleged offender
had his notebook open, on the floor, and was looking down at it
while working on the test.

The proctor informed me she did NOT see this occur.

The student did not name the alleged offender, but from the description of
him (and the fact she sits right behind him in class) I know exactly
who she is talking about.

I have never had this kind of cheating situation arise, and I
would be interested in hearing from others.  I just learned about it
this afternoon, and have had little time to consider my next steps.

I'm pretty sure the first thing I should do is to call the accuser
into my office and discuss what she saw.

>From there I am uncertain what I can do given that I didn't see the event.

I also want to let the accuser know what might occur if I decide to go
through with this (I don't want her to get burned later by opening her
mouth).

Minimally I feel the alleged offender needs to be told that an accusation
was made, and give him a chance to respond.

I expect him to deny it, and from there, I'm not sure what else can or
should be done.  I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, which any
student deserves, but to be warned that a complaint has been made and
while not proven guilty he is nonetheless "suspect."

I hope that's clear and sufficient.

Best wishes,
Jim Guinee

************************************************************************
 Jim Guinee, Ph.D.
 Director of Training & Adjunct Professor                              
 University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center                
 313 Bernard Hall    Conway, AR  72035    USA                          

 "Too many of us have a Christian vocabulary rather than a 
   Christian experience.  We think we are doing our duty when 
   we're only talking about it."  ... Charles F. Banning

 E-mail is not a secure means to transmit confidential            
 information. The UCA Counseling Center staff does not          
 use e-mail to discuss personal issues. The staff does           
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