Fraud Scandal in College Admissions: What Happens to Students?



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Coaches accused of falsely introducing potential students as athletes have been fired or put off by their universities, and schools are currently reviewing enrolled students to confirm that no one else was involved .

But it remains to be seen what will happen to the students themselves. According to the criminal's affidavit, some students were aware of the fraud, but others had no idea.

Will students be expelled or allowed to continue their education? What will be the consequences, if any?

CNN spoke to two college admissions and higher education law experts about potential outcomes for students whose parents pulled the strings to enter prestigious universities.

Here is what they had to say.

The fate of the students will be determined on a case by case basis

Christine Helwick, former general counsel for the California State University system, said there is "no good solution" for the future of these students.

"It will have to be a case-by-case determination," she said.

If it turns out that a student has cheated on an exam like SAT or lied when applying for school, his fate depends on where he was in the process he was already registered or had graduated when cheating was discovered, Helwick said.

If they were in the middle of the application process, the school could easily take them into consideration. At least two universities said they would refuse admission to students if they were involved in the scandal.

If they've already graduated, Helwick said she doubted that a school is revoking a degree.

Universities face the toughest decisions for students still enrolled, Helwick said. She added that schools should check if these students were aware of the fraud or if this had been done by their parents behind the back of the student.

Ed Boland, a former admissions officer at Yale University and author of his thesis, "The Battle for Room 314," said that the dean of a school would likely open an investigation to determine whether the school's school was in danger. student was aware of the fraud. – and if so, whether the student was complicit in the process.

Those who knew should face expulsion, according to an expert

According to the criminal's affidavit, not all students were aware of the fraud committed by their parents. Currently, no student is being prosecuted in the scandal.

The two students whose affidavit claims to have read about are the daughters of Elizabeth and Manuel Henriquez, accused of having paid hundreds of thousands of dollars and favors as part of the l & # 39; fraud. The affidavit says that their daughters have actively participated. CNN contacted the Henriquezes for a comment.

According to the affidavit, a supervisor, paid by the eldest daughter of Henriquez for giving answers during the examination, "jubilant" with her and her mother "on the fact that they are safe. were deceived and got out of it. "

Stanford Students Bring Class Action Against University Admissions Scandal

In the cases of students complicit in cheating, Boland said that such behavior justified an "immediate expulsion", adding that the universities had to show everyone that they would not tolerate the scam of the admission process.

"This scandal undermines public confidence in this process," he said, "and schools must act with firmness and speed to show the public that he is as alarmed as the public."

When asked if it was likely that some students did not know that he had cheated, Boland responded in the affirmative. If fewer people were involved in the process, he said, it would be easier to control.

For example, according to the affidavit, a student admitted to the University of Southern California as a track athlete has no idea of ​​the arrangement and is surprised when his Guidance counselor asks him questions about the track.

Boland also pointed out that many students would not want to "enjoy it despite the desires of their parents".

Helwick was not necessarily agreed, pointing out that the alleged scam involved cheating on SATs or ACTs or being portrayed as a potential athlete for a team for which they were not. They had no intention of playing.

"It's hard to imagine that one student knows neither of them," she said.

Could they have a second chance?

Helwick and Boland both indicated that students might have a chance to be redeemed, depending on their case.

Some schools might be willing to check if the students in question had proven so far that they could show up on their own merits, Helwick said, to decide if they would be allowed to stay .

"Where did they progress?" she asked. "How did they do well, did they demonstrate that they were really capable of performing at a level comparable to that of someone who came under normal circumstances?"

What we know so far in the cheating scandal of college admissions

One could also ask a student to leave the university and attend another institution to prove his academic merit himself, said Mr. Boland, which is "a very common practice", often for a student who would have failed too much or too much partying and do not take their education seriously enough.

And, Helwick said, "community colleges are available to all kinds of people."

Melanie Schuman and Mark Morales of CNN contributed to this report.

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