Things not to do while at TAPMI

Word Count: 480 | Estimated time to read blog: 5 min

To the uninitiated, it might look like starting on the wrong foot – to talk about what not to do before even knowing what to do. But all the alumni know otherwise. So yet-to-be’s, read on and remember to remember a few of these if not all.

Click on the snap above to see a pic of the classroom

• Forget the cell-phones: If you are addicted to cell phones, TAPMI will be a great de-addiction center for you. Usage of cell phones is banned in classrooms, labs and other academic centers. And the microphones in the classrooms are very sensitive and can pick up even the faintest vibrations. So try not to risk it as the penalty could be as grave as immediate termination of admission. Switch them off for good while in class, library or lab.

• Cite or Die: Don’t forget to cite exact sources when you turn in your assignments. You will undergo a course on citations and referencing to help you understand the intricacies. You are not expected to generate the brainiest stuff all by yourself but do give appropriate credit to the one who actually does, if you use that in some way. The bottom line is, never pass of any intellectual output as your own, when it isn’t actually so.

• Copying isn’t cool: This could be considered an extension of the plagiarism tenet explained above because when you are copying, you are passing someone else’s intellectual output as your own for personal benefit. Better get an F in the course than risk the consequences of copying. And no, you can’t copy the entire answer from your neighbor, cite his name in full, roll no etc at the end of it and expect to get away. Seven people in my batch were on the brink of expulsion for copying but the management took a ‘lenient’ stance after repeated requests from the batch – they barred the seven from placements!

• Cheat and you face the heat: You might think you are smart enough to beat the system because you flicked a library book and no one detected or you faked the gym pass and went unnoticed. Fine, you are smart but only for a while. And when lady luck says goodbye it will be your turn to say goodbye and catch the next train home.

Rationale: You might think these punishments are grossly incommensurate to the degree of default but TAPMI’s stance on this is simple: Misappropriating a rupee is equivalent to misappropriating a million dollars because it is not the amount that is of concern but the tendency. The institute doesn’t want to send fraudsters into the corporate world.

Statutory warning: Your voluntary confession of any of your sins to the authorities doesn’t mitigate the penalty and will be held against you.

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PS: My ‘more experienced batch mates’ or any others from the TAPMI alumni fraternity might want to add on to this list. Feel free to post them as comments. 😉