Group messaging has become the virtual version of meeting in the library to collaborate on an assignment. Many professors approve of collaboration, so when does group messaging become academic misconduct?

Our advice?

First, make sure you have a clear understanding of if collaborating and/or discussing any assignment with other students is OK with your professor. Each professor defines collaboration differently and has different expectations.

Second, make sure that the discussions going on are actual discussions, not sharing of test answers and asking for quiz answers. Collaboration might be acceptable by your professor, but sharing direct answers without any discussion is most likely not.

Third, don’t just join the group to join the group. If academic misconduct occurs and your name is in the group, you can become guilty by association.
Fundamentally, if you are receiving a grade, usually the expectation is for students to complete a quiz or test on their own.