She discovered the activity late in the semester when students showed her Versity promotional fliers and told her about the course postings. By then, the trust among students and between students and instructor that provides the basis for course integrity had deteriorated. The course virtually shut down after these practices were uncovered, Lyles-Chockley said. By making the material available online, Versity put her intellectual property at risk. The face of cheating and plagiarism has changed dramatically with the growth of the Internet.
Students have access to sites which post lecture material, term papers, and study guides.
While much of this material is legitimate, some companies, such as Versity, are publishing material acquired illegally. Simply entering a valid credit card number gives students access to a finished paper. When Lyles-Chockley discovered the cheating in her classroom she contacted her lawyers. Her material was pulled off the web, but she was not able to sue. The majority of the courses represented were survey general education requirements.