Brown University Professor Eliminates Take-Home Exams Following Widespread Cheating Incident

An economics professor at Brown University has announced a ban on take-home exams after nearly half of his class achieved perfect scores on a midterm, leading to suspicions of mass cheating. The professor, Roberto Serrano, confirmed his fears after a significant number of students dropped the class or failed the in-person final exam. This policy change, reported on July 8, 2026, highlights ongoing concerns about academic integrity in higher education.

Context

The incident at Brown University involved an economics professor who observed an unusually high number of perfect scores on a midterm exam. Following this, many students either dropped the class or performed poorly on the in-person final exam. This situation has raised alarms about the reliability of take-home assessments in measuring student knowledge.

Why it matters

The decision to eliminate take-home exams underscores the growing concerns about academic integrity in universities. It reflects a broader trend of institutions grappling with cheating and the effectiveness of assessment methods. This incident may prompt other educators to reevaluate their testing strategies.

Implications

The ban on take-home exams may lead to increased scrutiny of student performance and assessment methods across higher education. Students may need to adapt to more traditional testing formats, which could affect their study habits and stress levels. This situation may also influence discussions about academic policies and integrity at other universities.

What to watch

In the near term, it will be important to monitor how other professors and institutions respond to this incident. Changes in assessment policies may emerge as educators seek to maintain academic standards. Additionally, the impact on student enrollment and performance in similar courses could provide further insights.