2008 Woodie Awards
Dental students under scrutiny
Holly Meyer
Issue date: 7/5/07 Section: News
Spring semester grades for the entire Year I class at SIUE School of Dental Medicine have been suspended pending an investigation of the students' academic honesty.
"Information was brought to us in May that cast a shadow on the academic honesty of our students," university spokesman Greg Conroy said.
Conroy said he could not be specific about the information.
An anonymous letter to the editor was sent to several media outlets, including the Alestle, proclaiming the innocence of the Year I students. It was not signed, but all 52 students names were listed at the end of the letter.
"The charges against the class are unfounded and represent nothing more than a Witch Hunt among the Year I Class," the letter said. "Students question whether the facts are being manipulated in order to persecute and harass the class."
According to the anonymous letter, certified mail was sent to each member of the Year I class to inform them of the charges brought against them.
Among the eight charges listed in the anonymous letter were "the commission of academic cheating, misuse of university documents with an intent to deceive, discussions of confidential or privileged information and cheating by any method or means."
The letter states the accusations of academic misconduct are the result of a file sharing system
among the dental students. Conroy said he could not discuss this information.
All 52 members of the Year I class are required to meet with the Student Conduct Committee.
After the interviews with Year I students, the SCC will make a recommendation to Ann Boyle, Dean of the SDM. Boyle will then decide what happens to each student based on the recommendation from the committee, Conroy said.
"Personal integrity and ethical standards form the foundation of all healthcare professions, including dentistry," Ann Boyle, dean of the SIU School of Dental Medicine, said in a statement issued by the university. "This matter raises questions about the integrity and ethical behavior of Year I students and is, therefore, under by Holly Meyer
"Information was brought to us in May that cast a shadow on the academic honesty of our students," university spokesman Greg Conroy said.
Conroy said he could not be specific about the information.
An anonymous letter to the editor was sent to several media outlets, including the Alestle, proclaiming the innocence of the Year I students. It was not signed, but all 52 students names were listed at the end of the letter.
"The charges against the class are unfounded and represent nothing more than a Witch Hunt among the Year I Class," the letter said. "Students question whether the facts are being manipulated in order to persecute and harass the class."
According to the anonymous letter, certified mail was sent to each member of the Year I class to inform them of the charges brought against them.
Among the eight charges listed in the anonymous letter were "the commission of academic cheating, misuse of university documents with an intent to deceive, discussions of confidential or privileged information and cheating by any method or means."
The letter states the accusations of academic misconduct are the result of a file sharing system
among the dental students. Conroy said he could not discuss this information.
All 52 members of the Year I class are required to meet with the Student Conduct Committee.
After the interviews with Year I students, the SCC will make a recommendation to Ann Boyle, Dean of the SDM. Boyle will then decide what happens to each student based on the recommendation from the committee, Conroy said.
"Personal integrity and ethical standards form the foundation of all healthcare professions, including dentistry," Ann Boyle, dean of the SIU School of Dental Medicine, said in a statement issued by the university. "This matter raises questions about the integrity and ethical behavior of Year I students and is, therefore, under by Holly Meyer
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