An undergraduate admitted they would hire a freelancer to do their work for them. What should I do?












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I, a graduate student, have started tutoring undergraduates in computer science at my university to help make ends meet. One student who inquired about my services turned me down upon hearing my rates and remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.



Should I tell the professor about this student, in case he wants to review their submissions more closely? I don't have any proof that they have already cheated, but this constitutes strong evidence that they are likely to. In this question, the OP appears to have evidence to suggest that cheating has taken place already, which seems more clear-cut.










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    2















    I, a graduate student, have started tutoring undergraduates in computer science at my university to help make ends meet. One student who inquired about my services turned me down upon hearing my rates and remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.



    Should I tell the professor about this student, in case he wants to review their submissions more closely? I don't have any proof that they have already cheated, but this constitutes strong evidence that they are likely to. In this question, the OP appears to have evidence to suggest that cheating has taken place already, which seems more clear-cut.










    share|improve this question

























      2












      2








      2








      I, a graduate student, have started tutoring undergraduates in computer science at my university to help make ends meet. One student who inquired about my services turned me down upon hearing my rates and remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.



      Should I tell the professor about this student, in case he wants to review their submissions more closely? I don't have any proof that they have already cheated, but this constitutes strong evidence that they are likely to. In this question, the OP appears to have evidence to suggest that cheating has taken place already, which seems more clear-cut.










      share|improve this question














      I, a graduate student, have started tutoring undergraduates in computer science at my university to help make ends meet. One student who inquired about my services turned me down upon hearing my rates and remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.



      Should I tell the professor about this student, in case he wants to review their submissions more closely? I don't have any proof that they have already cheated, but this constitutes strong evidence that they are likely to. In this question, the OP appears to have evidence to suggest that cheating has taken place already, which seems more clear-cut.







      ethics plagiarism






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      asked 2 hours ago









      ArnoldFArnoldF

      27929




      27929






















          4 Answers
          4






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          In dubio pro reo. Evaluations of projects is already a highly subjective process. If you tell someone "Please evaluate this project, it is very likely the author cheated" they will probably give a worse grade than if simply told to evaluate the exact same project. What if the student then didn't cheat?



          If your institution has no way of properly assessing a candidate, i.e., one could "buy" a degree by having external services do the work, then this is an institutional problem and you won't fix it by suggesting to a professor that one of their students may cheat.



          Lastly, think about the effects your behavior has on the institutional climate. Would you like to study in an environment in which people tell professors "Arnold may be cheating, I watched him visit that freelancing website"?






          share|improve this answer
























          • You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

            – ArnoldF
            2 hours ago











          • "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

            – ArnoldF
            2 hours ago



















          1















          [The student] remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.




          That does not sound to me like "admitting" that they "would" cheat. If I said to a prospective financial advisor, "your rates are so high I may as well just declare bankruptcy now", that does not mean that I am going to declare bankruptcy, it is merely a way to express that the advisor's services do not seem cost-effective.



          Given this, I would do nothing -- you offered legitimate tutoring services and the student declined your offer. You have no compelling reason to suspect that the student will actually cheat.






          share|improve this answer































            -1














            First, I'll guess that the prof already recognizes the possibility.



            Second, if you have a contractual obligation to the student you need to honor it. I doubt that is the case here since you were turned down. But you can't, ethically, act against the interests of your clients. You can, of course, back out of a client relationship if you think the client is abusing it or otherwise acting unethically.



            Don't interpret the above to imply that you must do what the client wants you to do if it is unethical. Some relationships are governed by law, but those laws, i think, just try to codify what good ethics suggests. Lawyer-client relationships for example have legal constraints.



            But even in the case you have such an obligation, you still could inform the prof that you have some evidence that such cheating is being contemplated. If asked by who, you may need to decline to answer. In particular, naming a student may well be very unfair as the student might just have been expressing frustration out loud, with no intent to break the rules.



            If the prof is a bit naive, you can inform him/her about the likely web-sites that enable such things. But it is the professors responsibility to "police" the class.






            share|improve this answer































              -1














              No. It's not your job to worry about that.






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                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes








                4 Answers
                4






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                4














                In dubio pro reo. Evaluations of projects is already a highly subjective process. If you tell someone "Please evaluate this project, it is very likely the author cheated" they will probably give a worse grade than if simply told to evaluate the exact same project. What if the student then didn't cheat?



                If your institution has no way of properly assessing a candidate, i.e., one could "buy" a degree by having external services do the work, then this is an institutional problem and you won't fix it by suggesting to a professor that one of their students may cheat.



                Lastly, think about the effects your behavior has on the institutional climate. Would you like to study in an environment in which people tell professors "Arnold may be cheating, I watched him visit that freelancing website"?






                share|improve this answer
























                • You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago











                • "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago
















                4














                In dubio pro reo. Evaluations of projects is already a highly subjective process. If you tell someone "Please evaluate this project, it is very likely the author cheated" they will probably give a worse grade than if simply told to evaluate the exact same project. What if the student then didn't cheat?



                If your institution has no way of properly assessing a candidate, i.e., one could "buy" a degree by having external services do the work, then this is an institutional problem and you won't fix it by suggesting to a professor that one of their students may cheat.



                Lastly, think about the effects your behavior has on the institutional climate. Would you like to study in an environment in which people tell professors "Arnold may be cheating, I watched him visit that freelancing website"?






                share|improve this answer
























                • You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago











                • "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago














                4












                4








                4







                In dubio pro reo. Evaluations of projects is already a highly subjective process. If you tell someone "Please evaluate this project, it is very likely the author cheated" they will probably give a worse grade than if simply told to evaluate the exact same project. What if the student then didn't cheat?



                If your institution has no way of properly assessing a candidate, i.e., one could "buy" a degree by having external services do the work, then this is an institutional problem and you won't fix it by suggesting to a professor that one of their students may cheat.



                Lastly, think about the effects your behavior has on the institutional climate. Would you like to study in an environment in which people tell professors "Arnold may be cheating, I watched him visit that freelancing website"?






                share|improve this answer













                In dubio pro reo. Evaluations of projects is already a highly subjective process. If you tell someone "Please evaluate this project, it is very likely the author cheated" they will probably give a worse grade than if simply told to evaluate the exact same project. What if the student then didn't cheat?



                If your institution has no way of properly assessing a candidate, i.e., one could "buy" a degree by having external services do the work, then this is an institutional problem and you won't fix it by suggesting to a professor that one of their students may cheat.



                Lastly, think about the effects your behavior has on the institutional climate. Would you like to study in an environment in which people tell professors "Arnold may be cheating, I watched him visit that freelancing website"?







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 2 hours ago









                HRSEHRSE

                4861414




                4861414













                • You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago











                • "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago



















                • You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago











                • "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

                  – ArnoldF
                  2 hours ago

















                You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

                – ArnoldF
                2 hours ago





                You make a good point about influencing the evaluation process. I agree that would be bad for me to do if they don't actually end up cheating.

                – ArnoldF
                2 hours ago













                "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

                – ArnoldF
                2 hours ago





                "Would you like to study in an environment in which [...]" - No I wouldn't. I'm on the fence about doing anything, which is why I asked. It sort of seems like any student who is so open about their willingness to cheat will be caught eventually, with or without my help.

                – ArnoldF
                2 hours ago











                1















                [The student] remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.




                That does not sound to me like "admitting" that they "would" cheat. If I said to a prospective financial advisor, "your rates are so high I may as well just declare bankruptcy now", that does not mean that I am going to declare bankruptcy, it is merely a way to express that the advisor's services do not seem cost-effective.



                Given this, I would do nothing -- you offered legitimate tutoring services and the student declined your offer. You have no compelling reason to suspect that the student will actually cheat.






                share|improve this answer




























                  1















                  [The student] remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.




                  That does not sound to me like "admitting" that they "would" cheat. If I said to a prospective financial advisor, "your rates are so high I may as well just declare bankruptcy now", that does not mean that I am going to declare bankruptcy, it is merely a way to express that the advisor's services do not seem cost-effective.



                  Given this, I would do nothing -- you offered legitimate tutoring services and the student declined your offer. You have no compelling reason to suspect that the student will actually cheat.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    1












                    1








                    1








                    [The student] remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.




                    That does not sound to me like "admitting" that they "would" cheat. If I said to a prospective financial advisor, "your rates are so high I may as well just declare bankruptcy now", that does not mean that I am going to declare bankruptcy, it is merely a way to express that the advisor's services do not seem cost-effective.



                    Given this, I would do nothing -- you offered legitimate tutoring services and the student declined your offer. You have no compelling reason to suspect that the student will actually cheat.






                    share|improve this answer














                    [The student] remarked (in writing) that they might as well just buy solutions to their projects on a particular freelancing website for that price, as their friends do.




                    That does not sound to me like "admitting" that they "would" cheat. If I said to a prospective financial advisor, "your rates are so high I may as well just declare bankruptcy now", that does not mean that I am going to declare bankruptcy, it is merely a way to express that the advisor's services do not seem cost-effective.



                    Given this, I would do nothing -- you offered legitimate tutoring services and the student declined your offer. You have no compelling reason to suspect that the student will actually cheat.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 57 mins ago









                    cag51cag51

                    14.5k53256




                    14.5k53256























                        -1














                        First, I'll guess that the prof already recognizes the possibility.



                        Second, if you have a contractual obligation to the student you need to honor it. I doubt that is the case here since you were turned down. But you can't, ethically, act against the interests of your clients. You can, of course, back out of a client relationship if you think the client is abusing it or otherwise acting unethically.



                        Don't interpret the above to imply that you must do what the client wants you to do if it is unethical. Some relationships are governed by law, but those laws, i think, just try to codify what good ethics suggests. Lawyer-client relationships for example have legal constraints.



                        But even in the case you have such an obligation, you still could inform the prof that you have some evidence that such cheating is being contemplated. If asked by who, you may need to decline to answer. In particular, naming a student may well be very unfair as the student might just have been expressing frustration out loud, with no intent to break the rules.



                        If the prof is a bit naive, you can inform him/her about the likely web-sites that enable such things. But it is the professors responsibility to "police" the class.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          -1














                          First, I'll guess that the prof already recognizes the possibility.



                          Second, if you have a contractual obligation to the student you need to honor it. I doubt that is the case here since you were turned down. But you can't, ethically, act against the interests of your clients. You can, of course, back out of a client relationship if you think the client is abusing it or otherwise acting unethically.



                          Don't interpret the above to imply that you must do what the client wants you to do if it is unethical. Some relationships are governed by law, but those laws, i think, just try to codify what good ethics suggests. Lawyer-client relationships for example have legal constraints.



                          But even in the case you have such an obligation, you still could inform the prof that you have some evidence that such cheating is being contemplated. If asked by who, you may need to decline to answer. In particular, naming a student may well be very unfair as the student might just have been expressing frustration out loud, with no intent to break the rules.



                          If the prof is a bit naive, you can inform him/her about the likely web-sites that enable such things. But it is the professors responsibility to "police" the class.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            -1












                            -1








                            -1







                            First, I'll guess that the prof already recognizes the possibility.



                            Second, if you have a contractual obligation to the student you need to honor it. I doubt that is the case here since you were turned down. But you can't, ethically, act against the interests of your clients. You can, of course, back out of a client relationship if you think the client is abusing it or otherwise acting unethically.



                            Don't interpret the above to imply that you must do what the client wants you to do if it is unethical. Some relationships are governed by law, but those laws, i think, just try to codify what good ethics suggests. Lawyer-client relationships for example have legal constraints.



                            But even in the case you have such an obligation, you still could inform the prof that you have some evidence that such cheating is being contemplated. If asked by who, you may need to decline to answer. In particular, naming a student may well be very unfair as the student might just have been expressing frustration out loud, with no intent to break the rules.



                            If the prof is a bit naive, you can inform him/her about the likely web-sites that enable such things. But it is the professors responsibility to "police" the class.






                            share|improve this answer













                            First, I'll guess that the prof already recognizes the possibility.



                            Second, if you have a contractual obligation to the student you need to honor it. I doubt that is the case here since you were turned down. But you can't, ethically, act against the interests of your clients. You can, of course, back out of a client relationship if you think the client is abusing it or otherwise acting unethically.



                            Don't interpret the above to imply that you must do what the client wants you to do if it is unethical. Some relationships are governed by law, but those laws, i think, just try to codify what good ethics suggests. Lawyer-client relationships for example have legal constraints.



                            But even in the case you have such an obligation, you still could inform the prof that you have some evidence that such cheating is being contemplated. If asked by who, you may need to decline to answer. In particular, naming a student may well be very unfair as the student might just have been expressing frustration out loud, with no intent to break the rules.



                            If the prof is a bit naive, you can inform him/her about the likely web-sites that enable such things. But it is the professors responsibility to "police" the class.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 2 hours ago









                            BuffyBuffy

                            45.6k12147233




                            45.6k12147233























                                -1














                                No. It's not your job to worry about that.






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                                  -1














                                  No. It's not your job to worry about that.






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                                  New contributor




                                  guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                    -1












                                    -1








                                    -1







                                    No. It's not your job to worry about that.






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                                    New contributor




                                    guest is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                                    No. It's not your job to worry about that.







                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




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                                    answered 1 hour ago









                                    guestguest

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                                    272




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                                    New contributor





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