Lecturer colleague involved in essay mill...

[Itsoundsabitdodgy]

I’ve posted here for help as I’m not sure what to do, if indeed anything.
I’m a lecturer as is the colleague I’m referring to who is in the same department although different specialty.
Just found out colleague set up and ran an essay writing mill. Without giving too many details they knew it would be used for cheating as opposed to providing exemplar essays for study help.
They were exposed by national newspaper. They resigned from directorship of essay mill. It is still in operation though; run by their husband. Still churning out essays for students to cheat.
No one in department apart from me knows. Colleague looks very different now so you wouldn’t immediately associate her with the lady in the newspaper articles. I have worked closely with her though so even with different hair colour/style/makeup she stood out like a shot.
I have been doing some research into essay mills due to concerns that quite a few students have been using them. I was surprised to come across a locally based one as I thought most were foreign given the language encountered in said essays.
I’m pretty shocked to be honest, and surprised it’s still going. I mean we all make mistakes, I just would have thought it would be closed down after she was exposed, not carried on by her DH.
It makes me feel uncomfortable morally but that’s my problem; do I keep schtum or not?
Would really appreciate some advice.

Yes I’ll definitely update. Actually the more I think about it the angrier I’m getting. Even if she is not part of its operation anymore she is still profiting from cheating. Entire PhD theses amongst other things. Profiting from student distress or desperation.
I’ve managed to get an appt before the end of term surprisingly.
I don’t expect to hear back about investigation, as long as it’s out of my hands. I’m concerned that colleague may lose their job though. Is that a possibility? Because I really don’t want that to happen.

I’m concerned that colleague may lose their job though. Is that a possibility? Because I really don’t want that to happen

To be honest I doubt it very much, particularly if she says she's not involved in her DH's business and isn't in any way formally associated with it. I don't see how they could sack her.

If she loses her employment that’s due to her actions being wrong. That’s in her control. It could be others know and are reporting her. Her loss of employment is up to her employer and her, it’s nothing to do with you. I mean that kindly, but also want you to realise you’re not responsible for that.

If that’s a concern that she’ll make life awkward or your other colleagues might behave towards you differently, one they shouldn’t know about it anyway, but two make it very clear you wish to keep your name out of it and are reporting anonymously.

She does have a conflict of interest. (Her husband is involved in a company that provides essays to students for fees; she set up the company). That conflict would have to be declared to her employer and cleared by them. That might not be public, but some organisations do publish vested interests.

I would raise it to the part of the organisation that deals with conflicts of interest - HR? a Board? I wouldnt do it anonymously. It is absolutely OK for you to raise a possible conflict about another member of staff.

Not being nasty, but I think an academic involved in essay mills absolutely should lose their job and not be employed in academia again. I have three kids who have gone/going through the whole degree process, struggling to do essays when juggling other commitments, work, family crises etc. It’s totally unfair that some unscrupulous rich kid just buys their way past all that.

I would have no scruples about seeing her sacked, no matter how apparently nice she is. She obviously has no morals.

I am just going through an Integrity training and the following article should offer you the proper guidance in your situation: epigeum.com/downloads/ri_accessible/uk/03_engineering/html/course_files/en_1_40.html

I hope that the above link is accessible. Take care!

Thanks @JasminaPashmina and @Rainbowshine, you’ve both been very helpful. I’ll update when I’ve seen the HoD.

Ach, thread moved on!
@Research34 very helpful, thank you.
@TinklyLittleLaugh, I know Tinkly, and I agree in principle but it’s very hard when it’s a real life person you know. But morality wise, I get it . You’re right; lt lacks integrity and devalues others hard work.
The fact they offer entire PhD theses is what gets me. It’s shameful.

@spongedog in principle I’m sure it’s ok to raise others’ conflicts of interest, but I would rather do it anonymously. It shouldn’t matter but sometimes these things do. At the very least she could try and make life difficult for me.

No worries, I work in HR in a semi-academic organisation and I would welcome this being raised to my attention. The organisation is at massive risk if she is involved, especially given the history. Hope it goes well, maybe prepare some bullet points of what you need to say for the meeting, not just the stuff about her but if you want to be kept anonymous too.

....they offer entire PhD theses...

How on earth do they do this? I presume they don't research and write a whole thesis - three years work or more? And how does the student pass it off as his/her own work at the viva? A properly done viva should catch out a student who didn't actually do the work.

Well quite. At the university I did my PhD at someone apparently attempted this. It was obvious before viva I think. Student lost out; no PhD granted.
I was nervous enough at my viva and I wrote the thesis. How you defend something you haven’t written I have no idea.

I just looked on their website and it was over 10,000 grand for a PhD thesis. I didn’t realise there was such big money involved. Feel very naive.

I agree with Tinklylittlelaugh. She is actively working against the ethos of the university. What exactly is the point of a degree if you can just buy one? I don't think you should approach her directly but I also don't think you should feel at all guilty if she is sacked.

Good, let them know after all if they've already been in the papers over this very issue it would be major embarrassment for the uni/college. Best give them the option of taking what action they deem appropriate.

Sorry should have said major embarrassment if it came out it was still going on.

Yes, good point @BigFatLiar, I’ll add that to my bullet points, thank you.
Just a bit scared as being seen as malicious or a trouble maker, but if it did end up in the papers then institution will be discredited.
What a mess.

Theoretically, she could end up marking an essay her husband has written for money for someone.

£10k though, for a PhD. Some people will be getting a whole career off the back of that. No wonder DS reckons some of the very well qualified, wealthy young grads he works alongside seem as thick as mince.

Ok to avoid the trouble maker approach make it all about the university and the risk to them. Depersonalise it, it’s not your opinion you’re expressing but a situation that poses a risk to your employer. Try to avoid emotive language. Be objective. Imagine it’s a report you’re giving that has to be backed by evidence. You could include the articles from the press about her. Once you’ve prepared it walk away for a bit and then scrutinise it with fresh eyes. PM me with the list if you want to.

@Rainbowshine thank you so much, what a very kind offer. I’m afraid I didn’t check thread over weekend, I felt I’d been worrying far too much about this issue so tried to forget about colleague for a bit. And have a nice bottle of wine, ‘tis the season so that seemed a good excuse.
I have a meeting with HoD today. Very nervous. Armed with my list, and taking Rainbow’s advice; this is like presenting a research article, objective, with evidence. That I can do so we’ll see how it goes.

@Itsoundsabitdodgy you’ll be fine, let us know how it goes.

Wow. I don’t quite understand how it’s been kept under the radar when it was exposed in the media. How much can someone change their appearance in 5 years? Don’t people talk? If something like that happened where I worked, there would be so much gossip and I am sure it would spread to other places.

Essay writing mills are immoral and they are cheating. I cannot believe that she can be impartial, especially when she used to be involved in it herself. I think you need to tell your HoD and let them deal with it. These places need shutting down ASAP.

@Itsoundsabitdodgy - how did the meeting go?

Back to update after meeting. I was very nervous but took Rainbow’s advice and went with the angle that it could discredit the university. My HoD could tell I was worried about taking to them and was lovely actually.
I think I mentioned in my OP that I had been doing some research into essay mills because we are concerned about students using them as it seems to be a growing issue in universities. I said that my preliminary research had thrown up some worrying information regarding a member of staff. I gave them the details I gave you but with evidence (printed old news articles, website page, companies house info).
HoD visibly paled. Told me I was right to come to them and not to fear any repercussions. Also thanked me for keeping it to myself as it needs to be fully investigated. They said they were now going to go straight to senior management with it and expected it to be escalated given the nature of it.
That’s all I know now. They said from here that an investigation would take place but probably not involving me and I will obviously not be kept informed. Although the outcome will probably be obvious. I’m assuming they mean sacking colleague here. They didn’t spell it out but made it clear that this could be considered gross misconduct and a sackable offence.
Also told me not to worry as it is somebody else’s problem now. We ended the meeting quite chummily really. They congratulated me on some recent research I’d had published, pointedly saying that that was the kind of publicity the university needed and mentioned some upcoming senior roles and suggested I should apply for them .
It’s funny, I anticipated facing a very cold reception and branded a troublemaker but it couldn’t have been more different. I can’t imagine much will happen now as we close for Christmas soon, but we’ll see what the new year brings.
Really appreciated everyone’s input on this thread. It really helped to crystallise my thoughts and separate my feelings from the facts. And I’m really glad I went to HoD!
They were shocked at colleagues ‘audacity’ as the newspaper articles not only had her picture in but of course used her name which is very unusual.
Weirdly, I do feel a bit sorry for colleague but wtf was she thinking? I hope essay mill will be shut down now, but you know what? I very much doubt it will.

@Pota2 I think the reason for lack of gossip is because she founded essay mill before working for uni. She then resigned as director and came to uni.