2008 Woodie Awards
Smith clarifies school policy on plagiarism
Kelly McGee
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News
When Victor Kane, professor of marketing, was placed on administrative leave for allegedly violating the university's plagiarism policy, everyone was reminded how serious Pacific University treats academic dishonesty.
Although Kane's departure was the most prominent occurrence, it was not an isolated incident.
According to Steve Smith, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, nine cases of misconduct were submitted in fall 2007, five of which were for acts of plagiarism.
The act of copying another's work or original idea and claiming it as your own is the most common definition for plagiarism given by Pacific students, and it is this mistake that could be causing many students to be cited for academic misconduct.
Failing to place quotations around a quote or inaccurately citing a source in a piece of work are examples of what constitute as plagiarism, even if it is an obvious mistake.
Submitting the same paper for two separate classes classifies as self-plagiarism.
"Plagiarism is possible to commit and not do so intentionally," said Smith.
Using the wrong format of citation is considered plagiarism if it does not agree with the form required by the professor.
Smith advises paying close attention, because even using Modern Language Association style (MLA) correctly when the professor requires American Psychological Association style (APA) qualifies as plagiarism.
Anything submitted to the hands of the professor is subject to be submitted for plagiarism, including rough drafts.
While most professors may be lenient, as the point of rough drafts is often for the professor to correct mistakes that have been made, they have the option of reporting the act if they wish to do so.
However, a professor cannot punish a student for plagiarism without reporting the act. "If that does happen the student should come to me," said Smith. "Professors are not allowed to do that."
Although Kane's departure was the most prominent occurrence, it was not an isolated incident.
According to Steve Smith, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, nine cases of misconduct were submitted in fall 2007, five of which were for acts of plagiarism.
The act of copying another's work or original idea and claiming it as your own is the most common definition for plagiarism given by Pacific students, and it is this mistake that could be causing many students to be cited for academic misconduct.
Failing to place quotations around a quote or inaccurately citing a source in a piece of work are examples of what constitute as plagiarism, even if it is an obvious mistake.
Submitting the same paper for two separate classes classifies as self-plagiarism.
"Plagiarism is possible to commit and not do so intentionally," said Smith.
Using the wrong format of citation is considered plagiarism if it does not agree with the form required by the professor.
Smith advises paying close attention, because even using Modern Language Association style (MLA) correctly when the professor requires American Psychological Association style (APA) qualifies as plagiarism.
Anything submitted to the hands of the professor is subject to be submitted for plagiarism, including rough drafts.
While most professors may be lenient, as the point of rough drafts is often for the professor to correct mistakes that have been made, they have the option of reporting the act if they wish to do so.
However, a professor cannot punish a student for plagiarism without reporting the act. "If that does happen the student should come to me," said Smith. "Professors are not allowed to do that."
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