michelle240
Junior Member
Michelle, MA
Not sure if this is the right area or not but I've got a serious problem on my hands I was hoping someone can help me out with. I am currently in a 2 year nursing program at a community college. I have already completed my first year and mid way through the 3rd semester. This past week during an exam I was accused by the professor of cheating because my cell phone was sitting on my lap. The professor claims it was "hidden", and is now trying to have me removed from the program. My went into the hospital that morning and I kept my phone with me in case if anyone needed to get a hold of me. I received one text msg during the test in which the professor saw me reach into my bag, grab my phone, and check real quick. The professor than asked if I needed to get the phone call and I replied no. Ten min later it went off again (junk mail), thinking it could be someone at the hospital I decided to check again, and hold onto my phone rather than dig through my bag over and over. The professor saw the tip of my phone sitting in my lap and pulled me out of the room asking me why I still had my phone. I told her about my dad in the hospital and I wanted to make sure I could pick up if need be. She took me down to the deans office, where she filed a formal complaint stating "my actions support the act of cheating, and the lack of professional communication along with the hidden phone use significantly breaches professional expectation." I have 11 weeks of the program left and 12 weeks of rotations, to this point I've had all A's and B's, and I also have over 150 college credits under my belt.
No where in the course syllabus, program handbook, or school handbook does is state cell phones are banned at tests. I gave the Dean records of my text and data for that morning, both of which show no usage besides the initial text. I also gave him documentation of the hospital stay.
On that same day another student had his noted open on the floor for the first 20 min of the exam, she just went and flipped them over, at the same time another student loudly took out her phone to put it on vibrate. How come these aren't viewed as cheating?
As far as the process: both parties give their side to the dean who will make a decision, if I do not like that decision I appeal and go in front a 3 person panel including 2 professors and 1 student.
Does she have enough evidence to support that I was cheating?
Do I have enough evidence to prove I wasn't cheating and my phone was only there for emergency purposes?
Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.
Not sure if this is the right area or not but I've got a serious problem on my hands I was hoping someone can help me out with. I am currently in a 2 year nursing program at a community college. I have already completed my first year and mid way through the 3rd semester. This past week during an exam I was accused by the professor of cheating because my cell phone was sitting on my lap. The professor claims it was "hidden", and is now trying to have me removed from the program. My went into the hospital that morning and I kept my phone with me in case if anyone needed to get a hold of me. I received one text msg during the test in which the professor saw me reach into my bag, grab my phone, and check real quick. The professor than asked if I needed to get the phone call and I replied no. Ten min later it went off again (junk mail), thinking it could be someone at the hospital I decided to check again, and hold onto my phone rather than dig through my bag over and over. The professor saw the tip of my phone sitting in my lap and pulled me out of the room asking me why I still had my phone. I told her about my dad in the hospital and I wanted to make sure I could pick up if need be. She took me down to the deans office, where she filed a formal complaint stating "my actions support the act of cheating, and the lack of professional communication along with the hidden phone use significantly breaches professional expectation." I have 11 weeks of the program left and 12 weeks of rotations, to this point I've had all A's and B's, and I also have over 150 college credits under my belt.
No where in the course syllabus, program handbook, or school handbook does is state cell phones are banned at tests. I gave the Dean records of my text and data for that morning, both of which show no usage besides the initial text. I also gave him documentation of the hospital stay.
On that same day another student had his noted open on the floor for the first 20 min of the exam, she just went and flipped them over, at the same time another student loudly took out her phone to put it on vibrate. How come these aren't viewed as cheating?
As far as the process: both parties give their side to the dean who will make a decision, if I do not like that decision I appeal and go in front a 3 person panel including 2 professors and 1 student.
Does she have enough evidence to support that I was cheating?
Do I have enough evidence to prove I wasn't cheating and my phone was only there for emergency purposes?
Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.