Moving cheats on. Duke – a case in point.
Interesting report from CNN on Duke MBA cheats. What's interesting about this case is that the professor noted unusual similarities in the overall responses to tests and decided to look back at previous submissions (smart move – grades can be changed retroactively). The result? Several students with ruined reputations, course fees wasted and no idea if they could have actually made the grade on their own. It makes for interesting reading because the story suggests the reputations will be tarnished for only a few weeks. For those who are expelled of course the ramifications are far worse. What they dont realize for those caught with minor infractions (I love that term – youre either a cheat or youre not) is that their details are also likely to be named at some stage, by those who didnt cheat. This stuff spreads quickly. A number of universities are moving towards the online anonymous naming and shaming of students suspected of violating honor codes. Once google gets hold of this – youre on record for life. Try explaining that on your facebook account.
Oh, and dont cheat. Ever 
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I think perhaps the most interesting stat in that story, to me at least, is that 56% of MBA students admitted to cheating in 2005, while only 47% of students in other master’s programs admitted to the same. Perhaps that shows a root problem in American business colleges. I know that a friend of mine here at RIT finds her ethics course requirement to be an absolute waste because it is more philosophically-oriented and not business-oriented in the slightest.