I'm back and in need of advice and wisdom from the fora. Does anyone have experience working with a student who formally accused you of discrimination?
I teach a fun, kind of "fluff" topic as a five week online summer elective. While we do reach useful objectives, and I wouldn't go so far as to call this a bull crap class, it is highly creative. Students submit five short papers and are free to approach the topic as they'd like. It takes time to complete the assignments, but the assignments are not difficult.
It's a master's level course elective. I had a doc student, from another department, take the class last year. They plagiarized a whole paper in week 4. We went through the honor code office, had a hearing, and during the hearing the student tried eluding to the idea that I was racist and coming after them because they're an international student. They didn't use the word racist, but that's clearly the direction the conversation was going. When I had an opportunity to respond, I presented my syllabus to show all the ways I support those who are ESL and that seemed to stop the student's argument in their tracks. The plagiarism aspect was a slam dunk, and the student was charged and placed on academic probation.
This did not deter the student from lodging a formal, written complaint of discrimination. The university once again found no merit in the complaint.
I'm the only person who teaches this class and the student is permitted to take the class again to un-do the F they received after 12 months on probation. In speaking with the honor code office, I have to allow them to take the class again. How can I objectively assess this student's work knowing they are not only a cheater but a liar who will make up anything to get their way? How can I objectively interact with someone who tried to throw me under the bus by insinuating that I am a racist and formally filed an accusation of discrimination?
I have a couple of months to completely rewrite the course and the instructions for the short papers. Between this student and chat GPT, I don't have much of a choice. I'm so defeated and I'm certain this student has zero idea of what they've done to me, or the situation they've placed me in, as they're far too concerned with their own self preservation.
Have any of you found yourselves in this situation?
Thanks in advance. You folks are so helpful and supportive here.
Quote from: foralurker on March 17, 2023, 12:13:31 PM
I'm back and in need of advice and wisdom from the fora. Does anyone have experience working with a student who formally accused you of discrimination?
I teach a fun, kind of "fluff" topic as a five week online summer elective. While we do reach useful objectives, and I wouldn't go so far as to call this a bull crap class, it is highly creative. Students submit five short papers and are free to approach the topic as they'd like. It takes time to complete the assignments, but the assignments are not difficult.
It's a master's level course elective. I had a doc student, from another department, take the class last year. They plagiarized a whole paper in week 4. We went through the honor code office, had a hearing, and during the hearing the student tried eluding to the idea that I was racist and coming after them because they're an international student. They didn't use the word racist, but that's clearly the direction the conversation was going. When I had an opportunity to respond, I presented my syllabus to show all the ways I support those who are ESL and that seemed to stop the student's argument in their tracks. The plagiarism aspect was a slam dunk, and the student was charged and placed on academic probation.
This did not deter the student from lodging a formal, written complaint of discrimination. The university once again found no merit in the complaint.
I'm the only person who teaches this class and the student is permitted to take the class again to un-do the F they received after 12 months on probation. In speaking with the honor code office, I have to allow them to take the class again. How can I objectively assess this student's work knowing they are not only a cheater but a liar who will make up anything to get their way? How can I objectively interact with someone who tried to throw me under the bus by insinuating that I am a racist and formally filed an accusation of discrimination?
I have a couple of months to completely rewrite the course and the instructions for the short papers. Between this student and chat GPT, I don't have much of a choice. I'm so defeated and I'm certain this student has zero idea of what they've done to me, or the situation they've placed me in, as they're far too concerned with their own self preservation.
Have any of you found yourselves in this situation?
Thanks in advance. You folks are so helpful and supportive here.
All that sucks. Sorry.
1. You can assess the student's work just fine, because this is your job, and you're a professional. Obviously, you'll probably scrutinize his papers more closely, but unless you find any evidence that he plagiarized them, his personality defects don't come into the grade and you obviously won't consider them. Remember, he's the one who falsely accused you of giving grades based on invalid criteria, it's not true.
2. As for interacting with him in class, again, you can do it. My guess is that he isn't going to exactly be an active participant, but we've all taught students we didn't like very much. You don't need to like him, you just need to make sure that nobody can tell you don't like him.
3. It's always a good idea to rewrite instructions and assignments to address issues you've been seeing, but I think you might be overreacting. Academia seems to me, to be having an unwarranted freakout about CHATGPT. A student in a doctoral class is not going to be able to write a decent paper using CHATGPT without a lot of work. (Seriously, try entering in paper prompts, I suspect the stuff that you get back will put your mind at ease) It doesn't sound like this student is an evil mastermind, since you caught the cheating last time, so I don't think you need to redesign the course around him. If you think that there's reason to be concerned about plagiarism more generally in the course, then there are things you could do, from scaffolding assignments, to requiring students to write certain kinds of papers for each one. (Pick a document from some collection and discuss it in depth, Pick a document and discuss how it relates to the work of a scholar, etc etc.)
4. You'll be fine. I can see why this was an upsetting experience. It's never pleasant to be accused of something you didn't do. But, remember, that you were fully exonerated at every turn. From your description, it doesn't sound like anybody ever put any credence in the student's charges, and there was never any actual professional danger for you. You don't need to feel embattled or scrutinized. Just keeping doing your job.
Quote from: Caracal on March 17, 2023, 01:06:15 PM
Academia seems to me, to be having an unwarranted freakout about CHATGPT. A student in a doctoral class is not going to be able to write a decent paper using CHATGPT without a lot of work. (Seriously, try entering in paper prompts, I suspect the stuff that you get back will put your mind at ease)
That's a good idea. I'm going to do this when I'm working on my revisions.
Quote from: Caracal on March 17, 2023, 01:06:15 PM
You'll be fine. I can see why this was an upsetting experience.
Thank you - I appreciate your comments!
Sorry this happened-- Can you have a colleague grade this student's papers? Even if you can set aside your feelings, given what happened last time it seems like a good precaution to head off claims of bias by the student this time. It that is not possible, I'd see if you can set your LMS to do blind grading (where you can't see the student's identity while grading)-- I think most will do that. If appropriate for your subject matter, you could also consider including at least some objective (e.g., multiple choice exam) assessments.
QuoteI'd see if you can set your LMS to do blind grading
That is my recommendation too.
And set the LMS to use the plagiarism checkers. Do it for all, automatically.
Finally, do not be defensive about the false accusation. It is false! There is no truth in it! YOU are not the one that cheated! You have done nothing wrong! Dont change your life because a student made a false accusation. IF they make another, Defend Yourself vigorously! Do not give in to their Harassment! IF they make the charge again, Counter with your own charge of harassment! And if hey ask for a suggested/recommended penalty (our system allows the professor to make a recommendation), dont hold back!
IS this the kind of behavior that should be permitted in a university setting teaching others? Dont hold back!
Absolutely finally, dont let this worry you for the next 4 months! You have a life outside of this. Dont let it interfere with that life!
The blind grading is a good idea. They set up a blog outside of the LMS last time. As for having someone else grade, I might be able to ask for a TA or split a TA with one of the other summer instructors in my department.
Thanks, everyone. Glad I asked before I started revising the course. It's validating to hear from others and I've been putting the course preparation work off because of this.
Agree with the others. Student looks disrespectful, insolent and dishonest.
I assume that if the student plagiarizes again, he will be expelled?
Blind grading and/or having the student's work graded by someone else will ensure that when the student accuses you of bias a second time, you'll have a watertight defense. Maybe have them submit the papers in a way that ensures you genuinely cannot tell who wrote them. They can provide the key later and you can match up the grades to the names.
What I personally would do is not teach the class again until the student has graduated.
Quote from: foralurker on March 17, 2023, 02:28:31 PM
The blind grading is a good idea. They set up a blog outside of the LMS last time. As for having someone else grade, I might be able to ask for a TA or split a TA with one of the other summer instructors in my department.
Thanks, everyone. Glad I asked before I started revising the course. It's validating to hear from others and I've been putting the course preparation work off because of this.
I still don't think it's necessary, but I can see the argument for this as a practical matter. I would just make sure to run it by your chair, or director of grad studies. If you're handling the grading for this student differently, even by specifically assigning his papers to a TA, you want to be careful that other people are involved in the decision.
I'd also make sure when you talk to someone about this, to frame it as a way to head off unpleasantness, not as a concern about your ability to grade his work fairly. "I'd like to think this will be fine, and maybe it will be, but since this is someone who was willing to make false accusations of discrimination against me, he's probably willing to make false claims of retaliation too. Would it make sense to just take that off the table."
Quote from: kaysixteen on March 17, 2023, 11:22:29 PM
I assume that if the student plagiarizes again, he will be expelled?
Yes, that is correct. You'd think that alone would ease my mind, but if you had witnessed the hearing (also my first time seeing them) this person believes they are above the university, their sanctions, and any potential for punishment. I initially thought this was some act they were putting on to appear confident, but it kept going and going. And carried over into later written correspondence.
Quote from: Hegemony on March 18, 2023, 12:36:02 AM
What I personally would do is not teach the class again until the student has graduated.
I agree. And I tried to weasel my way out of it, but I didn't want to share my feelings and upset as I have here. My program chair is much too willing to hear out and entertain student complaints. I suspect giving a student the chance to right their wrong (the F, not what they've done) is right up the chair's alley.
Quote from: Caracal on March 18, 2023, 06:22:13 AM
Quote from: foralurker on March 17, 2023, 02:28:31 PM
The blind grading is a good idea. They set up a blog outside of the LMS last time. As for having someone else grade, I might be able to ask for a TA or split a TA with one of the other summer instructors in my department.
Thanks, everyone. Glad I asked before I started revising the course. It's validating to hear from others and I've been putting the course preparation work off because of this.
I still don't think it's necessary, but I can see the argument for this as a practical matter. I would just make sure to run it by your chair, or director of grad studies. If you're handling the grading for this student differently, even by specifically assigning his papers to a TA, you want to be careful that other people are involved in the decision.
I'd also make sure when you talk to someone about this, to frame it as a way to head off unpleasantness, not as a concern about your ability to grade his work fairly. "I'd like to think this will be fine, and maybe it will be, but since this is someone who was willing to make false accusations of discrimination against me, he's probably willing to make false claims of retaliation too. Would it make sense to just take that off the table."
Yes, I was thinking about grading everyone blind and/or with the help of a TA to prevent exactly what you've described.
I especially like your framing recommendations. Thank you for that. While what you've described is at the center of what I'm concerned about, I've come to realize that I'm still feeling a little raw from this situation and those feelings have returned now that it's time to start prepping the course.
I empathize with you. I have two students currently retaking a class in which both plagiarized their final paper (in different semesters). One is an international distance student who never had a conversation with me when I provided feedback. In fact, I am not even sure if they ever communicated with our academic integrity office or just accepted the consequences. The other student was a librarian, so I found that especially egregious. We had a very uncomfortable phone conversation where they dragged out excuses for 45 minutes, but eventually accepted the consequences. Both received a grade of F overall. Last summer, as i prepared for my sabbatical, I decided to teach a new doctoral class instead of my usual two masters classes. This was the first time this class was taught by someone else in many years, so I was quite surprised to see both of these students enroll in my class this semester rather than retake it with someone else and in an accelerated format.
To be honest, it made me uncomfortable at first, but both have to do the entire class over even though the only issue was with the final paper. Both have done relatively well. I just have to wait until these students submit final papers in May before I can see if they have redeemed themselves in this particular situation. I know this held up the international student's graduation, so I hope they take this paper seriously.
If it's a "fun summer elective," can your department really compel you to teach it? It doesn't sound as if it fulfills any necessary requirements. And it is certainly not a requirement that if a student fails a certain course, the department is required to offer that course as many times as needed for the student to retake it and pass.
That is uncool that they let him take your class again.
The first confirmed plagiarism case I ever caught occurred when I was in grad school. While I never saw his little pretentious self again, the little plagiarizing worm bad-mouthed me to some of my grad student friends the next semester. We found it very funny, and somehow, with a good deal of vindictive schadenfreude, it erased any lingering guilt I might have held onto.
Never had anything as fraught as your situation, but I have had several students who were angry about their grades take later classes with me, and I just treated them as I would any student. These were definitively uncomfortable situations, I just figured I had the power, not them. In a way, you can think that you kicked this guy in the booty. Go in like a UFC champ.
Just be sure he is not trying to set you up. Have someone on the faculty read his assignments also to back up your decisions.
Best of luck.
Quote from: darkstarrynight on March 18, 2023, 04:47:22 PM
The other student was a librarian, so I found that especially egregious.
Holy crap! That's bad. :-(
Quote from: Hegemony on March 18, 2023, 06:07:15 PM
If it's a "fun summer elective," can your department really compel you to teach it?
No, probably not. I tried to get around it by proposing a new summer course offering, and got nowhere, but I'm contracted to teach one class in the summer. There are two classes in the accelerated summer format, and another prof teaches the other option as overload (and enjoys the extra money). I don't think this is the favor I'm ready to call in (or the hill I'm ready to die on) because I'm still new here and new to faculty life.
Quote from: Wahoo Redux on March 18, 2023, 06:36:06 PM
Just be sure he is not trying to set you up. Have someone on the faculty read his assignments also to back up your decisions.
This itchy, conspiratorial place in the back of my brain keeps telling me this too. I'm going to come up with a uniform grading procedure for the whole class with two sets of eyes if possible.
Thanks, everyone
I wouldn't worry too much about it. Your admin has supported you in the past, and if he provokes an incident it will probably mean he is out of your program, at least I would think so.
Is it standard operating procedure nowadays to allow a grad student who's been found guilty of plagiarism to remain in the grad program? What about cheating in professional schools, such as med school?
My first post on the fora when it moved from the chronicle was about this exact issue. I had someone in another class again who had complained the last time that he got an F for having not submitted work for 8 of 10 weeks, but then later claimed a disability that had never gone through the applicable office. My chair knew exactly who he was when I gave the "heads up" about a complaint since he had pulled the same thing a couple other times. He took it the next time with no incident. I wouldn't assume you'll have an issue of any kind. He's probably more irritated that there isn't a different section with another instructor than you are that he will be in your class again.
Quote from: kaysixteen on March 18, 2023, 11:15:18 PM
Is it standard operating procedure nowadays to allow a grad student who's been found guilty of plagiarism to remain in the grad program? What about cheating in professional schools, such as med school?
Oh, it's worse than that. We are an honor code school, and that honor code feels like it has teeth if you're dealing with an undergrad. The problem I'm seeing with how our honor code was written, is it feels like they've forgotten that grad students—doctoral students—may plagiarize too. At this level of study, the honor code doesn't feel like it has teeth. Maybe I'm out of line in my thinking, but if a doc student submits a whole paper they lifted from someone's blog, that should be enough to get you booted from your program.
Thanks for sharing your expertise, folks. I swear, I once had a sense of confidence and a spine. (That was before the PhD)
Quote from: foralurker on March 19, 2023, 07:45:53 AM
Quote from: kaysixteen on March 18, 2023, 11:15:18 PM
Is it standard operating procedure nowadays to allow a grad student who's been found guilty of plagiarism to remain in the grad program? What about cheating in professional schools, such as med school?
Oh, it's worse than that. We are an honor code school, and that honor code feels like it has teeth if you're dealing with an undergrad. The problem I'm seeing with how our honor code was written, is it feels like they've forgotten that grad students—doctoral students—may plagiarize too. At this level of study, the honor code doesn't feel like it has teeth. Maybe I'm out of line in my thinking, but if a doc student submits a whole paper they lifted from someone's blog, that should be enough to get you booted from your program.
Thanks for sharing your expertise, folks. I swear, I once had a sense of confidence and a spine. (That was before the PhD)
I suppose part of the issue might be that you're dealing with a student from outside of your program? Usually, the formal university penalties for plagiarizing a paper would only be part of the issue for a grad student. If their advisor, or potential advisors felt that what happened was serious enough and there weren't mitigating factors of some sort, there's just no way they could stay in the program. A grad student doesn't just need to pass courses, they should be considered to be a professional in training and that means they need to do acceptable work. Plagiarized papers obviously fall way below that standard.
Quote from: Caracal on March 19, 2023, 02:40:42 PM
I suppose part of the issue might be that you're dealing with a student from outside of your program? Usually, the formal university penalties for plagiarizing a paper would only be part of the issue for a grad student. If their advisor, or potential advisors felt that what happened was serious enough and there weren't mitigating factors of some sort, there's just no way they could stay in the program. A grad student doesn't just need to pass courses, they should be considered to be a professional in training and that means they need to do acceptable work. Plagiarized papers obviously fall way below that standard.
That's an interesting take and I suspect you are right. I was told, both verbally and in writing, that I was not to discuss or reveal that the student had plagiarized, had gone through the honor code office, or had been placed on probation. I pushed back hard on this (I guess I do have a spine after all!), and told the director of the honor code office that I wanted him to send a letter to the student's department and alert them that their student was on probation. The probation meant that all of their research activities would need to come to a halt for 12 months (no pubs, no conferences, etc.). I did get a response back from the honor code director that said the letter was sent to the student's department to alert the appropriate parties (PI, advisor, chair).
So, I can't ask anyone what happened and, for that matter, I haven't gotten to know anyone in the other department as our paths don't cross. COVID shutdowns that were in place when I arrived didn't help with cross department networking either. Who knows, I may be considered a villain in that student's department.
Quote from: foralurker on March 19, 2023, 04:22:38 PM
Quote from: Caracal on March 19, 2023, 02:40:42 PM
I suppose part of the issue might be that you're dealing with a student from outside of your program? Usually, the formal university penalties for plagiarizing a paper would only be part of the issue for a grad student. If their advisor, or potential advisors felt that what happened was serious enough and there weren't mitigating factors of some sort, there's just no way they could stay in the program. A grad student doesn't just need to pass courses, they should be considered to be a professional in training and that means they need to do acceptable work. Plagiarized papers obviously fall way below that standard.
That's an interesting take and I suspect you are right. I was told, both verbally and in writing, that I was not to discuss or reveal that the student had plagiarized, had gone through the honor code office, or had been placed on probation. I pushed back hard on this (I guess I do have a spine after all!), and told the director of the honor code office that I wanted him to send a letter to the student's department and alert them that their student was on probation. The probation meant that all of their research activities would need to come to a halt for 12 months (no pubs, no conferences, etc.). I did get a response back from the honor code director that said the letter was sent to the student's department to alert the appropriate parties (PI, advisor, chair).
So, I can't ask anyone what happened and, for that matter, I haven't gotten to know anyone in the other department as our paths don't cross. COVID shutdowns that were in place when I arrived didn't help with cross department networking either. Who knows, I may be considered a villain in that student's department.
It would appear that tuition trumps academic integrity in your institution. It is quite likely that the student has submitted plagiarized assignments in other courses. All you can do at this point is to make sure that your grading is transparent, and run all your decisions by your chair.
I once had a student who accused me of bias because Stu claimed that hu had As and B+s in other courses. The secretary looked up Stu's grades which were Ds and Cs--not even a single C+.
As others have noted, Stu is probably trying to set you up. If Stu is an international student on a student visa, the department might be (misguidedly) protecting the student from having to leave the program. Students on probation are not considered to be full time students, which is the requirement for being allowed to stay in the US.
Quote from: Langue_doc on March 20, 2023, 05:14:05 AM
As others have noted, Stu is probably trying to set you up. If Stu is an international student on a student visa, the department might be (misguidedly) protecting the student from having to leave the program. Students on probation are not considered to be full time students, which is the requirement for being allowed to stay in the US.
I did not know they weren't considered full time while on probation. Interesting. Yes, the student is an international student. This is making much more sense.
Quote from: foralurker on March 20, 2023, 08:17:59 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on March 20, 2023, 05:14:05 AM
As others have noted, Stu is probably trying to set you up. If Stu is an international student on a student visa, the department might be (misguidedly) protecting the student from having to leave the program. Students on probation are not considered to be full time students, which is the requirement for being allowed to stay in the US.
I did not know they weren't considered full time while on probation. Interesting. Yes, the student is an international student. This is making much more sense.
I'm not sure that's quite right. A bit of quick googling seems to indicate that, by itself, probation wouldn't lead to a loss of a visa or full time status. However, if probation involved a requirement to take fewer courses, or some other change in status, that could result in a loss of visa...
Ah, ok. Then no, course registration doesn't seem to be a factor.
Something that no one in the honor code office would answer was how probation would impact the student's stipend and tuition waiver. (It's none of my business , which is probably why they ignored that one question when responding.) As the probation section is written from an undergrad point of view, I was unable to find this on my own. I don't mean to sound petty, but I suspect the student's family has enough money that the loss of these funds would have little impact on the student's wellbeing. But, I'm left curious as to how that could impact a visa.
To be clear, absolutely none of this is important to my central question. The conversational winds blew in that direction and I'm simply curious. Not so much about this one student, but higher ed as a whole.
Quote from: foralurker on March 21, 2023, 08:21:15 AM
Ah, ok. Then no, course registration doesn't seem to be a factor.
Something that no one in the honor code office would answer was how probation would impact the student's stipend and tuition waiver. (It's none of my business , which is probably why they ignored that one question when responding.) As the probation section is written from an undergrad point of view, I was unable to find this on my own. I don't mean to sound petty, but I suspect the student's family has enough money that the loss of these funds would have little impact on the student's wellbeing. But, I'm left curious as to how that could impact a visa.
To be clear, absolutely none of this is important to my central question. The conversational winds blew in that direction and I'm simply curious. Not so much about this one student, but higher ed as a whole.
I suppose it would all depend on the details. Stipends can be dependent on TAing, and I have no idea if you could do that while under probation. Obviously, if the stipend is competitive in some way, probation could effect that. It seems like there might be ways in which being under probation could effect your ability to file for a renewal of a visa, or something? I'd be curious too, it seems pretty clear that by itself probation wouldn't necessarily lead to the loss of a visa, but I realized I probably didn't want to spend an hour trying to figure this out.
Quote from: Caracal on March 21, 2023, 10:24:54 AM
I'd be curious too, it seems pretty clear that by itself probation wouldn't necessarily lead to the loss of a visa, but I realized I probably didn't want to spend an hour trying to figure this out.
LOL! No, please don't
This. You've got this and the important people have your back. And this student has already tried all the bullshit! If things do start to go sideways, let your chair and people know, keep notes and maybe bring in someone else to grade this student's work. But it is not likely any of that will be needed.
Quote from: Wahoo Redux on March 18, 2023, 08:39:01 PM
I wouldn't worry too much about it. Your admin has supported you in the past, and if he provokes an incident it will probably mean he is out of your program, at least I would think so.