Roberto Serrano, an economics professor at Brown University, criticized the university for its slow response to allegations of widespread cheating using artificial intelligence (AI) among his students. In an op-ed published in The Free Press, Serrano detailed how he transitioned his midterm and final exams to an online format following a shooting incident on campus in December. This change resulted in a significant increase in enrollment to 86 students, with an average midterm score of 96, which was higher than previous years' averages of 65 to 80. He noted that many answers appeared to be generated by ChatGPT.
After observing these results, Serrano reverted the final exam to an in-person format and stated that midterm scores would be voided if they did not align with final exam scores. Ultimately, only 59 students took the final exam, resulting in an average score of 48.6. Serrano reported that 22 of the 27 students who dropped the course had achieved perfect midterm scores.
Serrano communicated his findings to the university's Committee on the Academic Code and the campus newspaper, The Brown Daily Herald, but did not receive any acknowledgment until the story gained traction last month. He expressed concerns about the moral implications of cheating in academia, stating that failing to address such behavior could encourage it.
In response, Brown University stated that it had been responsive to Serrano's concerns and that academic leaders had been in contact with him regarding the allegations. The university indicated that it is now moving forward with the necessary procedures to address the claims. Serrano also mentioned that he felt compelled to go public with his concerns to prompt action from the university, emphasizing the need for proper incentives to discourage cheating in the context of AI advancements.