First year B.Com students to receive automatic fail after faculty finds evidence of widespread cheating

The Faculty says students will have a possibility of re-assessment, however they will not be eligible for more than the minimum pass mark

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce degree will be receiving an automatic fail in a progress test after the faculty found "evidence of collusion" among students.

According to student news portal FreeHour, first-year BCOM students will be receiving a zero in a progress test for study-unit EMA1008, or Quantitative Analysis for Business. 

The faculty circulated an email to students earlier today, claiming that they have over 43 screenshots showing evidence of collusion for two progress tests.

In the email the faculty stresses that students will have the possibility to be re-assessed, but students will not be eligible to receive a mark above the minimum pass threshold. 

"The Faculty reserves the right to impose penalties in cases where it has established that a breach of the regulations has been committed, as it deems appropriate," the email reads.

The university warned that if it happens again the University Assessment Disciplinary Board will be involved.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 KSU believes that the action...

Posted by KSU - Kunsill Studenti Universitarji on Monday, January 4, 2021

Student organisations speak out

In a statement on Monday evening, the Kunsill Studenti Universitarji said the decision to fail all students, was unfair to the ones who had worked hard and sat for their exam independently of their peers whilst following all regulations. 

"KSU calls for the reconsideration of this decision, following a thorough process that considers students individually rather than en masse,' the student organisation said. 

The KSU said it strongly condemned cheating in any form and believed that the collusion should be addressed by the University. However, that it was unreasonable to penalise all students without a fair hearing before the Faculty’s disciplinary board as part of a comprehensive investigation. 

ASCS, the representative organisation for BCOM students, expressed similar concerns. 

"Students should abide by the regulations at all times, especially now that examination formats have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic," the organisation said. 

"However, we strive for the fair treatment of all and find it unjust to take a blanket decision of failing every student in their first University test, including individuals who were completely unaware of the situation at hand."

𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐒'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐌𝐀𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟖 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. Today, 1st Year BCOM students received an email regarding...

Posted by ASCS on Monday, January 4, 2021