Resolution on Academic Integrity in Online Courses

Background

The proliferation of online courses at Rutgers has led to concerns about preserving our traditional high level of academic integrity. In response to the challenges that online assessment presents to the maintenance of high standards of academic integrity, the University has entered into agreements with some internet entrepreneurs for services designed to prevent any kind of cheating during online examinations. Among these are Examity and Verificient Technologies (ProctorTrack). These services, which are paid for by the students, raise serious concerns about privacy, and are of questionable efficacy in preventing cheating on exams. At this time, there does not appear to be any online way of duplicating the traditional in-classroom testing environment, which has been and remains the most effective method for maintaining academic integrity during exams.

Resolution

Be it resolved that

• The University should provide space and scheduling assistance so that all students in a Rutgers online course with a traditional final examination (usually of three hours or less) take that examination in a proctored location on campus at a specific time.


• Students in a Rutgers online course with such a final examination, who are unable to come to campus, shall take the final examination in an approved testing center at the same time as the on campus exam is being administered, except when a substantial time zone difference makes simultaneous testing impossible. In such a case the student at the remote location shall take the exam after it is given on campus


• Should the instructor of an online course wish to give additional on-site examinations during the semester, the University should provide space and scheduling assistance, as well.