Tech students acknowledge misconduct, accept penalties

ATLANTA - Georgia Tech officials said 136 students have acknowledged misconduct and accepted punishment stemming from allegations of cheating on computer science homework last fall. <br> <br> Eighteen students are waiting for their cases to be heard by the student honor committee, and 32 students were exonerated. One student dropped out of school before his case was resolved. Sanctions range from a failing grade on the assignment to suspension. <br> <br> Many of the 187 Georgia Tech students accused of violating Tech&#39;s honor code were found guilty and sanctioned during an investigation that was initiated when a special software program designed to detect cheating snarled some students. <br> <br> Penalties depended on the extent of cheating involved. One student with a prior record of plagiarism who was suspended for two semesters, ending in January 2003, Tech spokesman Bob Harty said. <br> <br> Tech officials have decided to allow students in introductory computer science courses to share information and collaborate on homework, previously prohibited under the school&#39;s academic honor code. Students will be required to document any help they receive in their assignments. <br> <br> Harty said the school recognized it was too rigid in its demand that students work independently on assignments. Beginning this summer, computer science instructors will rely less on homework to determine whether a student is learning the subject matter. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s fair to say the tests and quizzes will carry a larger percentage of the grade,&#39;&#39; Harty said.