1. What Is Contract Cheating?

  • Contract cheating occurs when a student enlists someone else to do their academic work.
  • Some examples include:
    • Purchasing a paper or exam answers
    • Paying someone to complete an assignment or take an exam for you
    • Enlisting someone to complete an assignment or take an exam for you, even if that person is not paid
  • 7% of US students report having purchased an assignment

2. The Risks Of Contract Cheating

  • Serious academic and disciplinary penalties (including failure in a course, suspension, or expulsion)
  • Risk of doing business with a dishonest person or organization – students have reported being blackmailed after paying a service to write papers on their behalf
  • Robbing yourself of an opportunity to learn
  • Possible illegal activity (NJ Rev Stat § 18A:2-3 (2019))

3. Community Impact

  • Damages the reputation of the institution
  • Diminishes the value of a Rutgers education – employers will be less likely to hire individuals who come from programs where students are known to cheat
  • Unfair to students who work honestly; 23% of US students reported having peers who purchased assignments

4. What Can I Do To Help?

  • Share information about contract cheating among your peers
  • Steer clear of any service or “tutor” that promises A grades or asks for your NetID and password
  • Hold yourself and other students accountable for completing work independently
  • Follow the Rutgers University Honor Pledge: “On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on this examination or assignment.”

Sources