A striking example of this challenge is at the University of Regina, particularly within its Faculty of Nursing. The university is currently investigating approximately 50 cases of alleged academic misconduct, a situation that has sparked widespread alarm.
Canadian universities have found themselves grappling with a significant challenge: ensuring academic integrity while addressing the heightened concerns of students and staff over invasive surveillance measures during examinations.
This complex situation has gained prominence following a surge in academic misconduct cases, a trend exacerbated by the pandemic’s shift to online learning and the increased availability of artificial intelligence tools that facilitate cheating.
Misconduct
A striking example of this challenge is at the University of Regina, particularly within its Faculty of Nursing. The university is currently investigating approximately 50 cases of alleged academic misconduct, a situation that has sparked widespread alarm. Cheryl Pollard, the Dean of Nursing, explained that these cases, stemming from online final exams conducted in December, represent a mere one percent of the total exams administered last semester.
“Then those are the videos that we will further investigate. It was really about finding a balance between patient safety and our students’ ability to move forward,” Pollard said.
The gravity of these allegations, however, cannot be understated, as they bear significant implications for the integrity of the educational process.
The university employs proctoring software designed to monitor and prevent cheating during exams. This technology, while advanced, records video and audio of students during tests, flagging any behavior deemed suspicious, such as looking away from the screen or leaving the seat.
While these measures are in place to safeguard academic integrity, they have raised concerns about their potential to cause undue stress and anxiety among students. Pollard revealed that most of the flagged cases had substantial grounds for misconduct, necessitating retakes of the implicated courses for those students.
Impact
The implications of these investigations have been profound. CTV News spoke with several nursing students who, despite being cleared of misconduct, experienced significant disruptions to their academic and personal lives.
Students like second-year Tyvan Yee expressed feelings of powerlessness and frustration, as the investigations led to changes in class schedules, impacts on scholarships, and complications with student loans. Yee’s case, like others, was eventually dismissed, but not before causing substantial upheaval in his academic journey.
“I felt powerless. I didn’t know what my options were,” Yee said. “This is a week before classes start. I had prepped—I bought my textbooks. I had planned out my schedule. I planned out my work schedule, and all of a sudden, that all went out the door.”
This situation at the University of Regina is not isolated. Across the country, universities are witnessing a rise in cheating cases.
A spokesperson from Western University noted a significant increase in academic integrity violations in the past five years, attributing this trend to more sophisticated cheating methods and enhanced detection tools.
“Reports of academic integrity violations have increased across the higher education sector over the past five years. There are many factors to consider that might explain this, but a high-level explanation is that there are more types of scholastic offenses being attempted and more tools in place to detect them,” said a spokesperson.
The use of proctoring software, while widespread, has drawn criticism from experts who argue that it imposes unnecessary stress on students.
Bonnie Stewart, an associate professor at the University of Windsor, points out that natural behaviors like diverting one’s gaze can be mistakenly flagged as cheating, adding to the anxiety and challenges students face. Stewart advocates for a re-evaluation of the current discourse around academic misconduct and the tools employed to combat it.
“It is pretty normal and human for your eyes to dart away from the screen, even if you’re legitimately thinking about something. Some proctoring tools still flag those kinds of behaviors,” said Stewart.
Improvements
In response to these concerns, some universities, including the University of Regina, are considering improvements to their proctoring systems to reduce their intrusive nature. Pollard acknowledges the limitations of the current technology and is looking at ways to make it less discriminatory and more efficient.
Furthermore, universities are exploring alternative methods to maintain academic integrity without relying heavily on surveillance technologies.
Western University, for instance, has established an academic integrity task force and is expanding resources for both instructors and students. This includes training modules and incorporating specific statements on academic integrity in course outlines.
The situation underscores a critical balancing act for educational institutions: maintaining rigorous standards of academic honesty while ensuring that the methods employed do not infringe upon the well-being and rights of students. As this discourse evolves, it is evident that universities must navigate these complex waters with sensitivity, ingenuity, and a commitment to both educational excellence and student welfare.
