On Friday, 5th June 2020, the Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) ruled on a case violating the Ashesi Honor Code.
The Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) has found a student guilty of violating the Ashesi Honor Code during an online examination. While the exam was in session the student "mistakenly" posted a question number on the class WhatsApp platform for assistance that she/he meant to send to a friend. The case was escalated to AJC due to an informal resolution already on record of the student.
As stated in Ashesi’s student handbook:
"The purpose of the Exam Code of Conduct is to create an ethical environment for examinations. Failure to abide by the Exam Code of Conduct can result in disciplinary action. During an examination, students:
- Are not allowed to talk to each other, exchange verbal or non-verbal information or physical objects of any kind or engage in any activity that could result in the unfair advantage for one or more students before, during, or after the quiz or exam, while they are in or out of the classroom.” (Section 8.1)
After deliberating, the AJC concluded that the student will receive a failing grade (E) for the course.
Advice to the Ashesi Community:
The AJC encourages the community to consider the importance of understanding and adhering to the code of ethics which serves as a foundation to any respectable society. AJC would like to further remind the Ashesi community of the following:
- The Ashesi code of conduct must be adhered to regardless of the environment or circumstance.
- Students should always avoid cheating and any distractions/ temptations during an examination.
- Students should always refer to the examination code of conduct before the examination period to serve as a reminder.
We do agree that times have changed, and it is tough adjusting to the current circumstance (not to be used as an excuse). Nothing is worth sacrificing one’s ethics for, and our values and especially the Ashesi Honor Code should not be compromised no matter the situation. Remember, as a trusted community we are to uphold our values and be confident to hold others accountable for their actions. We trust that this case will serve as a learning experience for our community. Academic honesty is very important at Ashesi and it 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.
Now is as good a time as any to exhibit ethical courage!