Naval Academy reviewing inconsistent physics exam

All of the more than 600 midshipmen enrolled in Physics I have received incomplete grades after the Naval Academy leadership found “potential inconsistencies,” Naval Academy Provost Andrew Phillips announced Tuesday morning.

The inconsistencies were noted in the administration of the test, which was conducted in-person and on computers with a proctor in early December, according to Phillips’ announcement on the academy’s website. The academy is currently reviewing the inconsistencies and will post final grades once it is finished.

Physics I is primarily taken by the third- class midshipmen, or sophomores. There were 655 enrolled in the class in the fall semester, said Jennifer Erickson, a Naval Academy spokesperson. It is too early to say how spring classes will be affected. The academy cannot comment on a timeline for the review at this time.

The Board of Visitors is aware of the investigation into the exam, said Maryland Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat, who serves as chair of the board, in a statement released by his office.

“I amconfident that, once the results of the investigation are complete, they will be provided to the Board,” Ruppersberger said. “The Academy’s Honor Concept is clear and any violations would require appropriate remediation.”

The Naval Academy announcement comes as the U.S. Military Academy announced that at least 70 cadets are suspected of cheating. A West Point spokesman told NPR that 59 of the suspected 73 cadets admitted to sharing answers. Four cadets have resigned with eight opting for full hearings. Two cases were dropped due to lack of evidence.

Of the cadets who admitted to cheating, 55 were placed on probation for the remainder of their time at the academy and enrolled in a six-month rehabilitation program with a focus on ethics.

All but one of the 73 cadets accused of cheating are freshmen, also known as plebes at West Point, with the other one a sophomore.

“West Point honor code and character development program remains strong despite remote learning and the challenges brought by the pandemic,” spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Ophardt said. “Cadets are being held accountable for breaking the code.”

This is the largest cheating scandal at West Point since 1976. That year, 153 cadets resigned or were expelled after they cheated on an electrical engineering test. The cadets involved were upperclassmen, which made the cheating worse, Ophardt said.

The Naval Academy had its own cheating scandal in 1994 when 125 midshipmen cheated on an exam.