Academic Dishonesty?

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worldofpharm

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I need advice on how to handle a situation. I take my pharmacy exams in a private room due to anxiety, and study in that room occassionally (so that will feel more comfortable during the exams). I was studying in there the day before and had papers everywhere (tons of notes, old exams (perfectly acceptable to study from), homework, etc.) I also like to compile a list of salient notes from the syllabus so that I don't need to keep flipping thru the many pages of the syllabus. I type these notes out in relatively small font so that I can have as much info present on one page as possible. The next morning the secretary walked me to the room to take the exam. I had nothing but pencil and calculator. I got thru most of exam when I noticed papers sitting on a chair that was pushed in against the table. They were mine from the day before, I missed them while packing up. I finished the exam, and not thinking properly, took my exam and the notes and started to head to the office to return my test. As I headed down the hallway, the secretary was walking to let me know my time was up. Only then did I realize that I had notes present on me, and how that would look if she noticed. I panicked. As we walked down the hall, I slid the notes onto a workman's cart but then realized I also laid down one portion of the exam. She said "Do you have everything or are they with the papers you laid down". I went to cart, got the exam portion I needed, and left the other papers there. She had a somewhat quizzical look on her face. I was terrified. I headed upstairs with her, turned the test into the office, got my bookbag, and saw the secretary head downstairs. I still didn't know how to explain the situation, so I walked outside for ten minutes then went back to cart and my papers were gone. I highly suspect that she took them (although the workmen may have moved them or thrown them out) and don't know if she will bring academic dishonesty charges against me. I didn't use the notes, most of the exam was over before I even noticed them, and I think I did fairly poorly on the exam, showing further that I didn't use the notes! My question is do I wait it out and see if charges are brought against me and then defend myself with an admittedly suspect situation, or do I explain now to the secretary the situation? If I explain to her that I had notes present during the exam and she WASNT going to press charges, then I feel I am unneccesarily implicating myself. I was clearly not thinking well before the exam (forgot my calculator and had to borrow from another secretary), during the exam, or after the exam (forgot my coat I hung up in the office). I CLEARLY wasn't thinking well when I picked up the notes and took them with me to return my exam but they were good notes that I wanted to keep for the final. A few of the pages were the compiled notes, typed in small font. I don't think the situation looks well for me, and I am at risk of getting expelled from the university. I am well into my PharmD program and this would be a personal tragedy. Does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks for any input.
 
At WVU two girls in the class before me were very clearly cheating on a biochem exam and were caught red handed by multiple members of the faculty. Sure, they were threatened with expulsion. But they hired themselves a lawyer and the school caved pathetically.

Really...who knows what might happen. But if anything comes of it, hire a lawyer. From what I've observed, they tend to crumble rather easily at the sight of a legal counsel.
 
thanks WVU.....that is good advice.....does anyone else have any other advice as to which to decide....say something now or wait and see?
 
thanks WVU.....that is good advice.....does anyone else have any other advice as to which to decide....say something now or wait and see?

Yeah, you're not in good shape here. You'll probably be looking at failing the exam in question, at the very least. You made it look even worse by trying to hide your notes. Be honest with whatever instrument the school uses to investigate cases like this (probably some kind of committee) and ask for mercy. Don't threaten to sue yet. And whatever you do, DON'T put yourself in this situation again.
 
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