Schools should create an environment where cheating is embarrassing, where students act honestly from the start. Patricia Burton, assistant professor of philosophy, says she tries to establish trust in the classroom early, so students won't feel tempted to cheat later. The University handles cheating in different ways. Instructors can settle the matter themselves, merely lowering a grade or even expelling a student from a course. They can pass the case onto their division heads, who can hand down heavy punishments.
Students can find themselves kicked out of classes or even academic programs.
Division heads can also report incidents to the dean of students. Usually, said Zel Eaton, assistant dean of student affairs, professors or division heads take care of any complaints on their own. He estimated the Student Affairs Office hears two or three cheating cases per semester. If students believe a punishment is unfair, they can fight, appealing a professor's decision to a division head and a division head's decision to the vice president for academic affairs. What could cause trouble is a confusing cheating policy.