2008 Woodie Awards
Students Angry Over Test
School of Professional Psychology students not pleased on how alleged cheating was handled
Kelly McGee
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News
During the winter break, students from the Psychopathology class at the School of Professional Psychology were notified that their fall semester grades would be posted late because of allegations of cheating on the final exam.
Returning for spring semester, the students were given a second exam to replace their final, which was much shorter than the first.
The administration has not released an official statement to either the students or the public about the allegations.
The Psychopathology class was made up of two sections, and the final was administered two separate times.
Some of the students speculate that others from the first section made comments about the final exam to students in the second section in between the two testing sessions.
While some students believe that others may have overheard their peers discussing the test, others believe the students turned themselves in.
A few students find it hard to believe that cheating could have occurred. "The first final was three hours long and was essay questions," one student said.The student argued that any information that could have been passed between students in the hallway could not have had a significant effect on the exam.
"If we really wanted to have cheated we could have during the test. There wasn't a professor in the room the entire time we took it," added the student.
Due to the lack of information provided by the administration, one student felt "cheated by the staff."
Many students were upset that the second test was 25 multiple-choice questions, something they felt was a poor substitute for the test they had previously taken.
Many have also noticed the change in the atmosphere on campus.
"Now there is tension between all the students. It has broken up any sense of school unity or class unity," said a student who was in the class.
Some students have contemplated leaving the program because of their frustration and the confusion that has resulted from the situation.
Without official comment from the administration, speculation has continued to spread throughout the school and into the community.
One student said, "If the school would just face the issue and discuss it, then the rumor mill would stop."
The sources cited in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the fear of repercussions for discussing the issue.
Returning for spring semester, the students were given a second exam to replace their final, which was much shorter than the first.
The administration has not released an official statement to either the students or the public about the allegations.
The Psychopathology class was made up of two sections, and the final was administered two separate times.
Some of the students speculate that others from the first section made comments about the final exam to students in the second section in between the two testing sessions.
While some students believe that others may have overheard their peers discussing the test, others believe the students turned themselves in.
A few students find it hard to believe that cheating could have occurred. "The first final was three hours long and was essay questions," one student said.The student argued that any information that could have been passed between students in the hallway could not have had a significant effect on the exam.
"If we really wanted to have cheated we could have during the test. There wasn't a professor in the room the entire time we took it," added the student.
Due to the lack of information provided by the administration, one student felt "cheated by the staff."
Many students were upset that the second test was 25 multiple-choice questions, something they felt was a poor substitute for the test they had previously taken.
Many have also noticed the change in the atmosphere on campus.
"Now there is tension between all the students. It has broken up any sense of school unity or class unity," said a student who was in the class.
Some students have contemplated leaving the program because of their frustration and the confusion that has resulted from the situation.
Without official comment from the administration, speculation has continued to spread throughout the school and into the community.
One student said, "If the school would just face the issue and discuss it, then the rumor mill would stop."
The sources cited in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the fear of repercussions for discussing the issue.
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