Princeton to Supervise In-Person Exams for First Time in 133 Years

Princeton University will require proctors for all in-person exams beginning this summer, marking the first time in 133 years that the school has supervised tests. Faculty approved the measure on Monday after receiving requests from a significant number of undergraduate students and faculty who said cheating on in-class exams had become widespread.

The university's honor code, established in 1893 after students petitioned to remove proctors, had allowed exams without supervision. The honor code had been a longstanding tradition at the school. Artificial intelligence tools and cellphones have made undetected cheating easier, according to a letter from the dean reported by The Wall Street Journal.

" Instructors will be present during exams to serve as witnesses but will not interfere with students taking the tests. If a suspected violation occurs, instructors will report it to a student-run honor committee for review. Students have grown more reluctant to report cheating by classmates, often choosing anonymous reporting because of concerns about online doxxing or shaming.

A survey of more than 500 seniors conducted by the student newspaper last year found that 29.9 percent reported cheating on an assignment or exam during their time at the school. Nearly 45 percent said they knew of an honor code violation but did not report it, while only 0.4 percent said they had reported a peer.

One senior who chaired the honor committee said students support the change because it removes the burden of reporting classmates. The senior noted that technology has made cheating simple, such as switching windows on a laptop or using a phone under a desk or in a bathroom.

The changes at Princeton reflect broader challenges with academic integrity at colleges and universities. Some schools have returned to handwritten blue books, while others have adopted AI detection software. A poll by the Center for Democracy and Technology found that 43 percent of U.S. teachers in grades six through 12 used AI detection tools in the 2024-2025 academic year.