REGINA – A provost at the University of Regina says they will investigate allegations of students cheating in an ethics class if they are able to get concrete evidence.
Thomas Chase, who is vice-president academic, is responding to a CBC investigation that a significant number of students are suspected of cheating in a fourth-year law and professionalism class.
The allegations were reported by two students from the faculty who say they saw other students cheat during a law and professionalism quiz.
Chase says it’s unfortunate to hear of such allegations, particularly in a class focused on ethics and says they aren’t investigating the Feb. 6 allegations because the university doesn’t have any evidence.
He says a second case on Feb. 27 is being investigated, but so far, no one involved in cheating has been identified.
If either case is proven, the students involved could fail the assignment, fail the entire course, be suspended or even get expelled from the university.
It’s the second time in less than a year the faculty of engineering has been at the centre of a cheating controversy.
Grading irregularities were recorded in four classes in August of 2017.
“We take all allegations of cheating seriously, as does every university in the Country,” said Vianne Timmons, University of Regina President. “We will work and continue to work with every faculty on campus to make sure that these incidents are reduced.”
Timmons said she is concerned these allegations hurt the reputation of the university, and confirmed that if they find the cheaters, sanctions will be implemented.