2012 Harvard cheating scandal

Harvard University's Massachusetts Hall

The 2012 Harvard cheating scandal involved approximately 125 Harvard University students who were investigated for cheating on the take-home final examination of the spring 2012 edition of Government 1310: "Introduction to Congress". Harvard announced the investigation publicly on August 30, 2012.[1] Dean of Undergraduate Education Jay M. Harris described the case as "unprecedented in its scope and magnitude".[2][3][4] The Harvard Crimson ranked the scandal as the news story most important to Harvard in 2012.[5]

A teaching fellow noticed similarities between a small number of exams during grading in May 2012.[1][4][6] The course's professor brought the case to the Harvard College Administrative Board, which reviewed all final exams, leading to individual cases against nearly half of the 279 students enrolled in the class, almost two percent of the undergraduate student body.[1][4][6] The administrative board completed its investigation in December 2012.[7] On February 1, 2013 Harvard revealed that "somewhat more than half" of the investigated students, estimated at 70%, were forced to withdraw.[8][9]

Government 1310: "Introduction to Congress" was led by assistant professor Matthew B. Platt in Spring 2010, 2011, and 2012.[10] The course was offered to students of Harvard College and Harvard Extension School.[11][12][13] It developed a reputation as an easy course, receiving a high proportion of "easy" or "very easy" ratings in the Q Guide, Harvard's collection of course evaluations.[10][14] According to some Spring 2012 students, Platt immediately confirmed this reputation by promising 120 A's and stating that attendance was optional.[3][15][16][17] Students who attended could share their notes.[17]

Grades were determined by four take-home exams.[4][10] In 2010 and 2011, the take-home exams were essays, but in 2012 they were changed to a short answer format.[10] The change corresponded with a spike in difficulty and a drop in overall score, according to the Q Guide.[10] Students said the short answer format facilitated collaboration.[4][10] Some guessed that the changes were forced from above.[9]

  1. ^ a b c "College announces investigation". Harvard Gazette. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  2. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard; Bidgood, Jess (2012-08-30). "Harvard Says 125 Students May Have Cheated on Exam". The New York Times. Cambridge (Mass). Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  3. ^ a b Pérez-Peña, Richard (2012-08-31). "Students of Harvard Cheating Scandal Say Group Work Was Accepted". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  4. ^ a b c d e Robbins, Rebecca D. (2012-08-30). "Harvard Investigates 'Unprecedented' Academic Dishonesty Case". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  5. ^ "TOP 12 NEWS STORIES OF 2012". The Harvard Crimson. 2012-12-31. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
  6. ^ a b "Harvard investigates 125 students for cheating on final exam". The Boston Globe. 2012-08-30. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  7. ^ "With Investigation Complete, Harvard Plans a Cheating Scandal Announcement". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  8. ^ Landergan, Katherine (2012-09-30). "Half of students in Harvard cheating scandal required to withdraw from the college". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  9. ^ a b Pérez-Peña, Richard (2013-09-16). "Students Accused of Cheating Return Awkwardly to a Changed Harvard". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Cheating Scandal Erupts After Short-Answer Questions Added To Congress Exams". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  11. ^ "GOVT E-1310 Home § Government E-1310 (Spring 2009-2010)". Harvard University. 2013-06-19. Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  12. ^ "GOVT E-1310 Home § Government E-1310 (Spring 2011)". Harvard University. 2013-06-19. Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  13. ^ "GOVT E-1310 Home § Introduction to Congress (Spring 2012)". Isites.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  14. ^ "Harvard Q | Home". Q.fas.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference salon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference businessweek was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference globe-concerns was invoked but never defined (see the help page).