On Thursday, March 21^st, 2024, the Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) heard and deliberated on allegations of violating examination rules during the Financial Accounting exam in the 2023/24 Spring Semester by a student from the Class of 2026.

 

Background to the case:

During the Financial Accounting mid-semester exam, the student in question arrived in the examination hall with a calculator, awaiting the start of the paper. The FI announced that students present their smart devices and reiterated the examination rules at various times before the start of the paper. Some students went up to the FI and presented their devices, including their watches, phones, laptops, etc. Just before the paper commenced, the FI patrolled the room and inspected the student’s calculator. The FI discovered various mathematical calculations and, in an attempt to erase the memory, chanced upon copious notes for the Financial Accounting paper stored in multiple tabs and were visible for copying. The student was asked if he/she owned the calculator, but the student fumbled in the response. The FI immediately seized the calculator and presented the findings to the faculty member and the Dean. The student in question and the FI were asked to submit their statements pending a hearing with the AJC.

 

 At the hearing:

The student shared that on the day in question he/she was running late for the exam and so forgot to erase the memory of the calculator. He/she fumbled in response to the question to ascertain the owner of the calculator because he/she believed that by saying the calculator belonged to a friend would let him/her off the hook but later admitted to being the owner to the FI after the paper. The student also did not recollect the announcement from the FI when he/she entered the examination room. The panel found several inconsistencies in the student’s version of events such as:

• The mathematical calculations found on the calculator were those of a statistics exam written earlier; however, the calculations found had nothing to do with statistics.
• Tabs 1.1 to 1.3 on the calculator were blank because those tabs do not permit notes to be typed in, but only calculations. However, the committee was able to type in notes in those same tabs. Tab 1.4 is filled with notes for Financial Accounting and possible answers to the exam.
• he/she did not own the calculator but later admitted to being the owner out of fear of being punished since he/she had not erased the memory.
• Being in possession of a smart calculator that had Wi-Fi access when an announcement had been made for students to present all smart devices, yet had erased the calculator’s memory for previous exams.

 

The AJC deliberated on the following infractions of policies in the Student Handbook:

• For examinations that allow the use of calculators, students must erase the memory from their calculator before they enter into the examination hall and may be asked by an invigilator to demonstrate that the memory has been cleared. (Section 8.2)
• A student should not knowingly provide false information or make a misrepresentation to any University office. (Section 9.2)
• Ashesi University, its students, and its professional associations will not in any way condone cheating, lying, or any other misrepresentations. Moreover, anyone who willingly conceals these activities will be considered accomplices and equally culpable. (Section 7.5)

 

Verdict & Recommendations

After carefully reviewing all the case facts, the AJC concluded that the student is guilty of violating the examination code of conduct and lying to a university official and should be suspended for one semester with immediate effect.

 

Advice to the Ashesi Community:

The Committee would like to advise that:

• Students should reset calculators ahead of any exam that requires the use of a calculator.
• Faculty should insist on students not bringing unapproved calculators to the examination hall.
• Faculty should share a list of approved calculators with students ahead of the examination.
• Lying to a university official or office will always have severe consequences.
• Invigilators are to ensure strict adherence to examination rules outlined in Section 8.1. & 8.2 of the Student’s Handbook and this should be re-echoed at various times ahead of the start of the paper
• Students must learn from past infractions regarding academic integrity, to understand the seriousness with which cases are treated.

 

This case provides a lot of learning for the entire community, and the hope is that it is reflected on as such. Our code of ethics is central to our mission: to train a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa; to cultivate within our students the critical thinking skills, concern for others, and the courage it will take to transform a continent. This code applies to all, no matter the circumstance.