University of Regina to video record some student exam sessions to deter cheating

The university’s camera decision comes after two allegations of cheating this school year, one on Feb. 27, and another on March 6, where two students accused some of their engineering classmates of cheating on a quiz. (Shutterstock photo)

REGINA — Writing exams is stressful at the best of times, but this year it will be even more so for some University of Regina students.

The university has introduced a pilot project to video record students during some exams.

The reason?

University provost Thomas Chase says they hope the cameras will deter cheating, or what officials call “academic misconduct.”

Students have the right to refuse to take their exams under these conditions, but there is a catch — if they refuse they can’t retake the test and won’t get a mark.

Students’ Union president Jermain McKenzie says that just isn’t fair.

“It is a mafia type of situation, because you are not left with a choice, even though you’re given a choice,”he said Tuesday. “And so I think a lot of students find that actually insulting.”

The university’s camera decision comes after two allegations of cheating this school year, one on Feb. 27, and another on March 6, where two students accused some of their engineering classmates of cheating on a quiz.

McKenzie said the cameras only add to the anxiety of exams for students.

“It was a week before final exams that this came out. And so a lot of students are really unhappy about the approach that the university has taken,”he said.

The university says it will only consult the video if a student is believed to be cheating.

After an investigation, the video would be destroyed.