Brown University economics professor Roberto Serrano recently criticized his university for its sluggish response to an AI cheating scandal affecting his class. In an opinion piece for The Free Press, he explained his decision to move an in-class midterm and final exam to an online format following a fatal shooting on campus in December. This change saw his course enrollment surge to 86 students, surpassing a previous record of 30 enrollments.

Serrano observed that the average grade for the online midterm reached 96, a significant increase from the usual average ranging between 65 and 80. Detecting perfect scores and answers similar to those generated by ChatGPT, he became concerned about academic dishonesty.

Brown University professor Roberto Serrano alleges that at least 50 of his students used AI to cheat on his midterm exam.

Responding to this, Serrano shifted the final exam back to an in-person format and warned that midterm scores would be invalidated if they didn’t match the average final results. The final exam saw participation from only 59 students, with an average grade of 48.6, a high of 95, and a low of zero. Among the 27 who withdrew, 22 had scored perfectly on the midterm.

Despite submitting this evidence to Brown’s Committee on the Academic Code and the student newspaper, The Brown Daily Herald, Serrano claimed he did not receive recognition from the university until his story gained widespread attention.

Serrano expressed that academia should uphold truth and not tolerate dishonest behaviors among students. He urged educational institutions to address AI-related cheating firmly to prevent its escalation.

Brown University responded by stating it maintained consistent communication with Serrano. In May 2026, academic leaders contacted him to explain the formal adjudication process. By July, Serrano provided detailed information to the Standing Committee on the Academic Code, allowing them to proceed with their investigation.

Serrano claimed that Brown University would not have responded to his concerns if his story had not gone public.

Serrano detailed that after sharing his experiences with El Pais on June 28, and subsequent coverage by Inside Higher Ed, the university committed to examining his claims and the students involved. He expressed gratitude for the action taken but believed it resulted from public exposure.

In his writings, Serrano addressed misconceptions about AI use for easing academic pressure, arguing that students had ample time for his midterm and he saw AI use as a deliberate choice to cheat. He stressed that environments have always been competitive, and AI simplifies cheating. He called for the implementation of appropriate incentives to discourage academic dishonesty.