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FSU Blames 'One Rogue Tutor' In Cheating Scandal

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By ADAM EMERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

A poorly structured online course, a lack of attention and sloppy oversight of "one rogue tutor" combined to "contaminate" a class in which as many as 50 student-athletes may be penalized for cheating, Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell said today.

"No coaches were involved, and the student-athletes, who come from a number of sports, did not enroll in the course with the intent to do anything wrong," Wetherell said in a written statement. "However, a university-employed tutor provided inappropriate help on exams, without the request of the student-athletes in many cases."

Regardless, the student-athletes are "suffering the consequences," Wetherell said. And the university is taking action to guard against a similar scandal in its online education offerings.

For instance, FSU has "modified" the course in question, a survey of music and Western culture. This week, university Provost Larry Abele said that investigators reviewed the computer records of as many as 900 students enrolled in the online course but found little evidence that cheating was widespread in the student body.

Students testing in online courses will need to bring a photo ID and a password to a testing center. And no proctors with ties to the athletic department can oversee the tests.

The university is expected to release the findings of its internal investigation to the NCAA governing body in early 2008, Wetherell said.

Reporter Adam Emerson can be reached at (813) 259-8285 or aemerson@tampatrib.com.

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