In the digital age, students who are overwhelmed with academic and personal obligations may be more inclined to pay someone else to take my online class. This technique of controlling academic workloads is not without its ethical and legal implications. Learn more?

Academic integrity is the most important ethical issue. There are many codes of conduct in universities and colleges that prohibit plagiarism. These codes are violated when academic work is outsourced. Education is meant to encourage learning, critical thought, and personal development. Outsourcing schoolwork can lead students to miss out on these important components of education. This could result in a lack of expertise.

Ethics is more than just personal integrity. Impacts on the education system are wider. The value of degrees and certificates purchased decreases. Devaluation can damage the reputation of the institution, the person, their peers and their reputation. The devaluation of certificates could harm employers and the public’s trust.

Legal waters are murkier. In many places, it is legal to hire someone else to take online classes. However, this is not always possible. Students who commit these crimes may be punished by educational institutions. Sanctions can range from failing grades to expulsion, depending on the severity of the transgression.

Consider the contractual consequences. Academic dishonesty is often prohibited in the terms and conditions of online courses. A breach of these agreements may result in legal action. However, this is not common. Fraud or identity theft may be the immediate legal concern if someone impersonates a student during an online test.

Outsourcing academic work can cause privacy issues. Online, sharing logins and data can lead to privacy and identity theft. Sharing personal data reduces the control of its use and abuse, which can lead to legal issues in case it is mismanaged.

The hiring of academic tutors raises issues of fairness and equity. Outsourced tutoring can give wealthy students unfair advantages. Money can have a greater impact on grades and results than academic merit or efforts, resulting in an unfair playing field.