Princeton Faculty Votes to Restore Exam Proctoring After Rise in AI Cheating

Forty-five percent said they knew of cheating by a peer but chose not to report it.

Professors have adjusted practices in response.

The number of take-home exams has declined by more than two-thirds in the past year. The economics department will require oral defenses of research projects next year. History professor David Bell has added oral exams and shifted from take-home papers to in-class writing using blue books.

One colleague requires students to write papers in Google Docs so that drafting stages can be reviewed. Anthony Grafton, a history professor who retired last year, described AI as a temptation for students. Michael Laffan, another history professor, said he has observed students copying responses from ChatGPT in coffee shops near campus.

Makuc, a senior and former chair of the Honor Committee, said cheating has become more visible. Students post about violations on the anonymous app Fizz. This visibility makes students who follow the rules feel disadvantaged and can encourage further cheating.

William Aepli, a graduating senior and former chair of the group representing students accused of violations, said the change alters the student-faculty relationship. The tradition of self-proctoring and trust is being replaced by surveillance. Bell noted that adjustments to prevent cheating signal distrust to students.

Bell said all current solutions involve greater surveillance. He expressed reluctance about the direction this may take instruction but indicated adaptation may be necessary. The university’s actions reflect an effort to address challenges posed by generative AI to academic integrity.