University of Wisconsin-Parkside Professor Resigns Amid Allegations of Grade Falsification

A tenured professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside quietly resigned after being accused of “engaging in fraudulent grading” over a six-year period. Following her resignation, Sahar Bahmani went on to teach at UW-Milwaukee during the summer. However, she resigned from this position in early August after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel requested records related to her case.

The allegations against Bahmani were initially brought to light when a student, Casey Warning, noticed discrepancies in his grades, which led to an extensive investigation into Bahmani’s grading patterns. The investigation revealed that she had given many students the highest possible grade, even when they had submitted partial or no work. The university’s business department feared that her actions could damage the school’s reputation, threaten accreditation, and compromise the institution’s integrity.

In November 2022, the department submitted a complaint to Chancellor Deborah Ford, accusing Bahmani of grade fraud, assigning herself to courses she was not qualified to teach, and abusing her power for financial gain. Ford, who is no longer at UW-Parkside and is now at Indiana University Southeast, accepted Bahmani’s resignation.

Bahmani’s departure from UW-Milwaukee came after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s inquiry into the case, but university officials claimed they were unaware of the UW-Parkside investigation when they offered her a teaching position. Bahmani declined to provide information about her references or her future plans in academia.

Bahmani contested the allegations, citing medical issues and confusion with the grading system as reasons for her grading errors. She argued that her actions did not amount to “grade fraud” because they were unintentional.

The University of Wisconsin system is reviewing her grades in other courses at both UW-Parkside and UWM. The system is also planning to update its hiring policies to prevent the hiring of employees with a history of misconduct.

While Bahmani maintained her innocence, the UW-Parkside business department characterized her actions as a “scam operation” that defrauded students. Despite her denial, the department found that Bahmani had awarded the highest grade to all 75 students in three of her courses, even when 18 students submitted partial or no work. The university estimates that her grading practices resulted in $202,500 in lost tuition revenue.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, UW-Parkside’s business school accreditor, expressed concern about the lack of oversight in the program but did not revoke accreditation. The university has outlined corrective measures to address the issue.

Bahmani’s case has raised questions about oversight, academic integrity, and faculty accountability within the University of Wisconsin system.