AI Cheating Scandal at Brown University Exposes Academic Integrity Issues

Brown University is facing a significant academic integrity crisis as a recent incident reveals a troubling trend among its students. In Spring 2026, a large number of students enrolled in the challenging ECON 1170 course, taught by blind professor Roberto Serrano, following a tragic shooting on campus. The shift to take-home exams led to unprecedented scores, raising suspicions of widespread cheating.

Surge in Enrollment and Exam Performance

Following the decision to allow take-home exams, enrollment in Serrano's class skyrocketed from an average of 30 students to 86 students. The midterm exam, administered on March 5, yielded an astonishing average score of 96 out of 100, with 40 students achieving a perfect score.

Serrano expressed his disbelief at the results, noting, “Historically the average grade in the midterm of this course has ranged between 65 and 80 percent, and this exam was harder than the exams I wrote in the past.” The unusual scoring prompted Serrano to investigate further, leading him to suspect that students might have relied on AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to complete their exams.

Final Exam Results Reveal Cheating

In an effort to verify the integrity of the midterm results, Serrano opted to conduct the final exam in person. He communicated to his students, “I am not declaring [the midterm] void for now. I am going to give the class a chance to prove me wrong.” However, the response was telling; 18 students dropped the course, and 9 failed to attend the final exam, notably 22 of whom had scored perfectly on the midterm.

The final exam results were drastically different, with the average score plummeting to 48. This stark contrast raised alarm bells for Serrano, who lamented the impact of cheating on students' learning.

Concerns Over AI and Academic Integrity

As Brown grapples with the implications of AI usage in education, a recent report indicated that a significant portion of students—56 percent of undergraduates and 67 percent of graduate students—use generative AI tools regularly. Despite this, many students expressed concerns about the negative effects of such tools on their cognitive abilities.

Serrano, who has experienced significant challenges in his own life, including losing his sight, advocates for a return to traditional learning methods. He emphasized, “We cannot afford to have a society in which a significant fraction of our best young minds think that cheating is okay.” His plea highlights the broader implications of academic dishonesty on societal values.