Harvard investigates cheating in 'Intro to Congress' class

American Thinker ^ | 08/31/2012 | Rick Moran

[ghost of nixon]

Harvard College's disciplinary board is investigating nearly half of the 279 students who enrolled in Government 1310: "Introduction to Congress" last spring for allegedly plagiarizing answers or inappropriately collaborating on the class' final take-home exam.

Dean of Undergraduate Education Jay M. Harris said the magnitude of the case was "unprecedented in anyone's living memory."

[ghost of nixon]

Again I would argue that cheating in your "Introduction to congress" class does constitute a proper introduction to congress.

[wideawake]

While it’s a rich vein for humor, it kind of shows the mindset of those who see government as a career - even at the highest levels of US academia.

[NurdlyPeon]

Again I would argue that cheating in your "Introduction to congress" class does constitute a proper introduction to congress.

Aaaaa....well....I'm not really sure how I would answer that one.

[CivilWarguy]

Harvard. Cheating.
No wonder Obama gets so many of his top officvials from Harvard!

[Pollster1]

I need more information. Were the cheaters punished, or were those who refused to cheat graded down because they didn’t understand the subject?

[dfwgator]

I’d say cheating would show that one has a very good working knowledge of Congress.

[Oldexpat]

Not like the old closed book timed exams we had when I was in school. Then they were graded and ranked and you were in real competition with your peers. Plus..the grades were posted so everyone knew how you did. Cheating was a bit tougher under those rules..and the punishment for cheating was expulsion. None of this everybody gets an A thing..very few of those.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Dean of Undergraduate Education Jay M. Harris said the magnitude of the case was “unprecedented in anyone’s living memory.”

Translation: “We got exposed”

” I’d say cheating would show that one has a very good working knowledge of Congress.”

They should get “extra credit”

[jessduntno]

“Again I would argue that cheating in your “Introduction to congress” class does constitute a proper introduction to congress.”

Ted Kennedy (D-HELL) comes to mind...

[DariusBane]

Let me see if I get this straight. A take home exam. Inappropriate collaboration? What am I missing? If it’s a take home exam, are you collaborating if you use Google?

Sorry I just don’t have a clue what kind of world academics live in.

[OneWingedShark]

I’ve always thought that practical exams are, generally, better than written exams...

[Cyman]

The most dangerous criminal organization in the world, the Ivy League.

[RichInOC]

Is it a survey class about the subject or is it practical training?

[libertarian27]

Article from the Harvard Crimson Paper

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/8/30/academic-dishonesty-ad-board/

Here’s the course:(I believe)

http://www.extension.harvard.edu/courses/introduction-congress

[blueunicorn6]

279 students in one class? If each student paid $1000 for the class, that’s.....!!!!!!!........might as well cheat.....Harvard’s robbing them....

[tet68]

“You didn’t pass that by yourself...”

[RetiredTexasVet]

Pick any of these Ivy League colleges and you will find cheating is the normal not the exception. These people don’t go to these colleges to get an education, they go there to buy a degree from an Ivy League college which they will leverage into a high paying position.

[libertarian27]

GOVT E-1310 Introduction to Congress

This course seeks to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to Congress. The first half of the course addresses the nuts and bolts of how Congress operates in terms of foundational theories, the committee system, congressional elections, and congressional procedures. In the second half of the course we apply this knowledge to an exploration of how and why Congress pays attention to certain issues rather than others. Students are encouraged to view Congress not only as an institution unto itself but also as an institution that interacts with a variety of actors to shift public policy. The recorded lectures are from the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences course Government 1310. (4 credits)

Spring term (23500)
Matthew B. Platt, PhD, Assistant Professor of Government, Harvard University.

Course tuition:
noncredit $1,045,
undergraduate credit $1,045,
graduate credit $2,000.

Online only, beginning Jan. 29.

***********************************
The asst. professor:

Matthew B. Platt
Assistant Professor of Government, Harvard University
Matthew Platt is an assistant professor in the government department at Harvard University. His current research interests center around three projects: an attempt to create a more instrumental view of non-voting political activity; understanding how the content of — and strategies for - the setting of the black agenda have changed over time; and developing a conceptual framework to provide a more comprehensive understanding of bill sponsorship as an agenda setting tool.

Education
PhD, University of Rochester

Extension School courses
GOVT E-1310 Introduction to Congress
(Spring)

http://www.extension.harvard.edu/courses/introduction-congress

[blueunicorn6]

First off, good job of investigating. This was recorded lectures? They’re paying $1000 to $2000 bucks for recorded lectures. Oh, they truly are the best and brightest there, aren’t they? No wonder you see so few con men on the streets these days.....they all teach at Harvard.

[stuartcr]

It’s part of the final...if you don’t get caught, you pass.