Air Force Academy investigates possible cheating

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force Academy is investigating whether 40 freshman cadets cheated in a chemistry class.

Academy officials said Monday some cadets possibly copied portions of a lab report assignment.

The school says about 500 cadets are enrolled in the class.

Initial reports said 11 cadets were under investigation, but the academy said later it was 40.

Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, the academy superintendent, says she is disappointed by the allegations.

Cheating is forbidden by the academy's honor code. Cadets who break the code can be expelled, but the Colorado Springs Gazette reports freshmen violators are generally treated more leniently under current rules. They can be placed on honor probation instead.

Cadets on probation are generally confined to campus and assigned extra duty, including miles of marching.