A cheating scandal that erupted last week at the University of Maryland has taken underhanded schoolyard behavior to a new level -- making it wireless.
Maryland currently is investigating 12 students who allegedly used the text-messaging function on their cellular phones to relay answers to one another during last semester's finals. The school is investigating whether the accused had friends message them answers posted online or on professors' doors during the exam period.
At the University, administrators and professors say they understand new technologies increase the possibility of cheating but put their faith in the Honor Code and the University's community of trust.
"The wonderful thing about having an Honor System is from the get go we go by the assumption that students will act honorably, which significantly reduces the vigilance needed by faculty members," University Provost Gene Block said.
Eric Swalwell, Maryland student government vice president for campus affairs, said the 12 accused students will be brought before the University's Student Honor Council, which consists of faculty members, students and school administrators.
The students will be tried under Maryland's Code of Academic Integrity, which was adopted in 1990. The code borrowed some of the language and basic principles of the University's Honor System, according to the Maryland Student Honor Council Web site.
A student-appointed Honor Board will hear the case and issue the sanction it sees fit, which could range from academic probation to expulsion.
University professors say they do not think shock waves emanating from College Park will seriously disturb the University's community of trust.
"I expect, given the operation of the Honor System, the appearance of a new temptation won't change the faculty support of the Honor Code," Faculty Senate Chairman Michael J. Smith said. "New technologies present new challenges to the community of trust, but the faculty will continue to work with the students to foster it."
Honor Committee Chairman Chris Smith said the University's Honor Committee has not encountered many cases involving such abuses of technology and does not expect them, adding that the only cases the Committee is likely to see will probably be committed by students who would cheat anyway.
"There isn't more cheating, just different methods," Smith said. "As new methods become available, those students predisposed to cheating will go ahead and use them."
Anthropology Prof. Richard Handler, associate dean for undergraduate academic programs, said the Maryland case helps illustrate the greater question of how new technology fits into an academic setting.
The rising number of plagiarized online term papers and students' difficulty citing online sources also illustrates this problem, Handler said.
"People know things are changing and know we have to adapt," he said.
Despite teaching large lecture courses, Handler said he would not change his behavior and method of proctoring exams. Given the essay-based nature of his testing, he said he feels his exams are not vulnerable to new electronic cheating.
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