Is Harvard's new freshman class full of cheaters? Well, according to a new survey, there are probably more than the Ivy League school expected.
They survey conducted by The Harvard Crimson, cited more than 40 percent of freshmen admitted to cheating on homework and one in 10 said they've cheated on tests in the past. (Via WFXT)
Overall, 80 percent of the new freshmen participated in the online survey and many of them didn't seem afraid to tell the truth about their academic ethics in the past. (Via KOVR)
But making things worse, some university officials think there may be more freshman who aren't telling the truth about their own cheating — making cheating numbers even higher. (Via Fox Business)
But Harvard's paper was able to find some statistics on the respondents that might not surprise you. The New York Post writes: "The school's jocks cheat more than the nerds, and boys cheat more than girls."
That's troubling news to a school that got caught up in a massive cheating scandal just last year. (Via KNBC)
About 70 students were asked to leave the university after a professor noticed all-too-similar answers on a test. That punishment is considered less severe than expulsion. Students asked to leave can eventually re-apply for admission. (Via Daily Mail)
And with academic dishonesty being taken so seriously, many students may have to think twice before peeking off their neighbor's answers. (Via WCVB)
Starting this year, Harvard has ramped up its anti-cheating efforts. The school's senior communications officer said in a statement it is taking the matter very seriously.
"While the vast majority of Harvard and other students do their work honestly, beginning this year Harvard College has implemented a new, more robust strategy of communicating with all students, particularly first-year students, about the importance – and the ways to achieve – academic integrity."
A similar survey was done to find out how often Harvard's class of 2013 cheated — the numbers showed older students cheated less than the underclassmen. University officials say students are less likely to cheat as they move forward in their academic careers.
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