DeKALB | Finals week is approaching and now is the time when some stressed out, cramming students get lured into cheating.

When a student is caught engaging in academic misconduct, the way the situation is handled varies. According to the NIU Student Code of Conduct, the instructor takes the case to the departmental chair, and if the facts of the incident are not disputed by the student, the faculty member may elect to resolve the matter at that level by issuing an ‘F’ for that course.

“It’s important that every student, especially at this time of year, knows that cheating has serious consequences on a college campus,” said Larry Bolles, director of Judicial Affairs.

However, if the student wishes to dispute the case or the instructor believes the offense was flagrant, the case is handled by Judicial Affairs. Flagrant offenses are defined as repeated offenses, but also take place if a student had a well-thought-out plan to cheat, or brought in someone else’s work as their own, Bolles said. The consequence for a flagrant offense is a suspension from the university.

Some students just can’t fight the temptation of cheating.

“I’ve peeked at people’s tests every now and then, but I’ve never blatantly cheated,” said junior communication major Phil Smith.

Instructors say plagiarizing is the leading offense.

And though it may seem that with technology, it is easier and more tempting to plagiarize than in the past, it is also easier for instructors to catch it.

“I tend to use Google and it is very effective,” said English instructor Stephanie Kummerer. “I type the phrase in for a sentence that doesn’t sound quite like that student’s writing.”

Some students, however, don’t seem to know they’re doing anything wrong.

“They say they didn’t know they couldn’t use stuff from the Internet,” Bolles said. “Some students have just never learned how to cite the Internet, and in a university you must give credit where credit is due. Then you can use anything.”

Instructors have different methods of combating plagiarism, but not all of those methods include threats.

“I make assignments that are so unique that it’s impossible to plagiarize,” Kummerer said. “I use material that is so recent that not too much material is written on the Internet.”

Instructors also work closely with students on big research projects. They show the students that doing the research isn’t so bad and that keeps them from plagiarizing. It also helps them with their future classes, Kummerer said.

Cheating is the ultimate crime a student can commit in an academic institution.

“We’re intellectual people and the ultimate sin is to get caught cheating,” Bolles said. “[If] Larry Bolles catches you cheating, he’s gonna suspend you from the university.”

Derrick Smith is a Campus Reporter for the Northern Star.