Each of the reasons can become the basis of campus programs to reduce the incidence of academic dishonesty. Student values have changed. The ability to succeed at all costs is one of the most cherished values. Students are more interested in financial security, power, and status and less committed to altruism, social concerns, and learning for the sake of learning. Increased competition for enrollment in popular disciplines and for admission to prestigious graduate and professional schools prompts students to cheat to improve their grades.
Students believe that others cheat and get away with it, so they cheat too.
The risks associated with cheating are minimal. Often faculty members avoid using campus disciplinary procedures and simply give a lower grade to students suspected of cheating. Where campus sanctions are imposed, they may not be appropriate for the severity of the infraction. Students are succumbing to frequent temptations. Faculty are careless about securing examinations or proctoring exams and frequently repeat the same assignments or examinations.