This blog post follows a conversation about IU policy and procedure for reporting plagiarism with Larry Serfozo, Office of Student Ethics (OSE) Coordinator for Student Conduct.
Why is it important to report plagiarism at IU?
IUB recorded about 250 cases of plagiarism for academic years 2014/15 and 2015/16. Properly handling academic misconduct is critical to
- ensure the intellectual and ethical growth of the student
- uphold students’ rights
- help assure the quality of scholarship and research at Indiana University
- uphold the credibility of a degree from IU.
When the instructor determines plagiarism, what procedures follow?
If, after meeting with and hearing the student’s perspective, the instructor still believes that plagiarism occurred, a specific process follows, including filing the report online. The academic unit handles appeals, and OSE supports and enforces that decision. Instructors should review the academic unit’s procedure for reporting misconduct.
What happens to the student?
When the misconduct decision is upheld, the student meets with an OSE staff member, who builds on the faculty conversation with a twofold goal:
- individual student development, to better align their actions and values and build skills to avoid future misconduct
- promoting and ensuring the academic integrity of Indiana University.
OSE wants students to gain a better understanding of IU’s policies and how their individual actions impact the IU academic community. To this end, the action plan for each incidence of plagiarism includes an academic integrity seminar.
How does plagiarism affect a student’s status?
Academic misconduct stays on a student’s disciplinary record, and may be retained for five years after separation from IU. IU policy on disciplinary records states those records are confidential and can be released only under certain conditions and in compliance with federal law. If, as a direct result of misconduct, a student receives an “F” for the course, that is noted on the transcript.
Dealing with academic misconduct can help the student move forward with the understanding and skills necessary to meet IU’s expectations. Through this process, students can become more prepared to succeed in research, in their careers, and as community members.
Would you like to find out more about plagiarism? This post is fourth in a series that addresses plagiarism and how to prevent it. Previous posts are listed below. The fifth and last post will cover additional resources to share with your students. Interested in talking with someone about plagiarism-related topics? Contact citl@indiana.edu for a consultation.
Plagiarism Blog Series:
- Designing Assignments to Promote Academic Honesty
- Collaborate with Librarians to Help Your Students Develop Their Research Workflow
- What is Plagiarism and How Do I Talk with Students about It?
- Truth, Then Consequences: When Plagiarism Is Reported at IU
- Resources to Help Minimize Plagiarism in Your Course
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