The Senate of the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi has pardoned students involved in examination misconduct.
The institution’s Senate Chairman and Vice-Chancellor, Tor Iorapuu, announced the pardon at the end of its 315th Special Senate seating in Makurdi on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
Mr Iorapuu said that the university’s Senate, known for its firm stand on academic integrity, decided to offer pardon to the affected students.
The VC said that the pardon was part of a broader initiative aimed at reforming the nature of punishment for students involved in examination misconduct.
He explained that the pardon was only extended to students who erred during the second semester of 2020/2021 and the first semester of 2022/2023 academic sessions.
According to him, this particular pardon would not be extended to students who were either involved in violent conduct or physical assault, cult activities, theft, or rape.
Mr Iorapuu noted that the senate relied on sections 20 and 21 of the Examinations Regulations and Irregularities Committee of the University’s Law to arrive at its decision.
The VC said the decision was the university’s efforts and support to rehabilitate the affected students and reduce the number of young students thrown out of society without certificates.
He, however, added that the Senate took the decision as a one-time offer and urged students to embrace the opportunity and turn a new leaf.
The VC advised the affected students involved in the incidents to demonstrate good conduct going forward, adding that academic misconduct would not be tolerated in the future.
He said the pardon was expected to rekindle the students’ dedication to their studies and imbibe the importance of ethical behaviour in their academic pursuits.
He said the university had earlier revised its examination rules, irregularities, and conduct on expulsion of the students involved in examination misconduct, with the recommendation of community service for offenders.
“Students involved in examination misconduct will be required to carry out various forms of community service on campus,” he said.