University of New South Wales - - Academic Misconduct

STUDENT PLAGIARISM - Staff Users' Shortcuts

Plagiarism policy
What happens when a student appears to have plagiarised?
Who Does What?

This provides some of the key information on the new plagiarism policy as it impacts on Schools, Faculties and staff. It should be read in conjunction with the Procedures for Dealing with Student Plagiarism - June 2006.

1) All Course Outlines should contain this Statement on Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one's own.*

Examples include:

direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying material, ideas or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document (whether published or unpublished), composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, web site, Internet, other electronic resource, or another person's assignment without appropriate acknowledgement;
paraphrasing another person's work with very minor changes keeping the meaning, form and/or progression of ideas of the original;
piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole;
presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion with other people, for example, another student or a tutor; and,
claiming credit for a proportion a work contributed to a group assessment item that is greater than that actually contributed. **

Submitting an assessment item that has already been submitted for academic credit elsewhere may also be considered plagiarism. Knowingly permitting your work to be copied by another student may also be considered to be plagiarism. An assessment item produced in oral, not written form, or involving live presentation, may similarly contain plagiarised material.

The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the academic discipline does not amount to plagiarism.

Students are reminded of their Rights and Responsibilities in respect of plagiarism, as set out in the University Undergraduate and Postgraduate Handbooks, and are encouraged to seek advice from academic staff whenever necessary to ensure they avoid plagiarism in all its forms.

The Learning Centre website is the central University online resource for staff and student information on plagiarism and academic honesty. It can be located at:

www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism

The Learning Centre also provides substantial educational written materials, workshops, and tutorials to aid students, for example, in:

correct referencing practices;
paraphrasing, summarising, essay writing, and time management;
appropriate use of, and attribution for, a range of materials including text, images, formulae and concepts.

Individual assistance is available on request from The Learning Centre.

Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting, and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items.

* Based on that proposed to the University of Newcastle by the St James Ethics Centre. Used with kind permission from the University of Newcastle.

** Adapted with kind permission from the University of Melbourne.

2) All assignments and assessment items should be submitted with a signed Assessment Cover Sheet which reads:

I declare that this assessment item is my own work, except where acknowledged, and has not been submitted for academic credit elsewhere, and acknowledge that the assessor of this item may, for the purpose of assessing this item:

Reproduce this assessment item and provide a copy to another member of the University; and/or,

Communicate a copy of this assessment item to a plagiarism checking service (which may then retain a copy of the assessment item on its database for the purpose of future plagiarism checking).

I certify that I have read and understood the University Rules in respect of Student Academic Misconduct.

Signed: ....................................................date:

3) All definitions of plagiarism in handouts, booklets, outlines and on line should be changed to the approved definition (see 1 above). In addition Faculties and Schools should provide supplementary material and discipline-specific examples of good and bad academic practice, but should not alter the approved statements of policy.

4) All Faculty and School web pages should have direct links to the Learning Centre - http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/index.html.

5) All Faculties must have a Faculty Student Ethics Officer [FSEO] who has the task of providing advice, dissemination information on plagiarism policy and prevention and undertaking Academic Misconduct investigations on referral from Schools.

6) Schools are advised to have a School Student Ethics Officer, but otherwise the Head of School is responsible for advice, support and promotion of the policy and also coordinating investigations of Academic Misconduct or undertaking investigations him/herself.

7) Students are provided with guidance and education in the ethical use of materials in the conduct of scholarly work. Thus students must receive adequate instruction in the ethical use of materials early in their degree program, to ensure that students are fully aware of the requirements of academic work.

8) Academic staff involved in the investigation of academic misconduct cannot impose penalties. Cases of alleged plagiarism must be referred to the School Student Ethics Office and/or the Head of School, or Faculty Student Ethics Officer as relevant.

9) All relevant information on cases of student plagiarism should be maintained. Information should be treated in a confidential manner.

What happens when a student appears to have plagiarised?

1. Two important things must be considered initially:

a) Is the plagiarism significant? (see point 2 below)

b) Has the student completed the ELISE online tutorial or other online tutorial?

Staff should contact your Special Library for information on completing students. All students should have completed ELISE by the end of their first semester of study. If they are beyond the first semester of study but havent completed ELISE, and notes about plagiarism are included in your Course Outline, then they can still be liable for plagiarism under the Student Misconduct Rules.

If the answer to the first consideration is NO, or the answer to the second is NO

and the student is in their first semester of study, then the student should be counselled on good referencing practice and how to avoid plagiarism.

2. How do you tell if the plagiarism is significant?

There is no one issue to consider, but the academic staff member should address a number of issues, including:

a) extentof the plagiarised material in proportion to the whole assessment;

b) importanceof the plagiarised material to the assessment item [e.g. is it the main argument, or a central example, or an important supporting argument];

c) Whether it appears that the student intended to deceive, and

d) previous warning of the student for plagiarism or been entered on the Faculty or Central Plagiarism Registers.

e) the year or stage of the student (e.g. a postgraduate or Upper Level student should meet higher expectations that a first year student)

In reaching a decision on significance the academic should also take into account and any relevant conventions of the discipline.

3. What happens if the plagiarism is significant?

Note: A matter may at any time be referred for action as a Formal Offence (i.e. Levels 3 or 4) where an Academic Staff member considers that a breach is serious or gross in nature. If so, the Academic Staff member should refer the matter to the relevant Head of School or FSEO for joint consideration.

A significant plagiarism must be treated according to one of 4 levels of plagiarism:

	Significant	Previous Offence	Response
Level 4	Yes	Serious significance and penalties for Level 3 insufficient	Punitive
Level 3	Yes	Yes 3 times Level 1 or 2, or once Level 3; or serious significance	Punitive
Level 2	Yes	Yes	Educative
Level 1	Yes	No	Educative

Level 1:

Where the plagiarism is significant, but the judgment is that an educative rather than punitive response is appropriate, and the student has not plagiarised before and is not on the Central Plagiarism Register, then Level 1 applies. The student should be:

a) counselled by Academic Staff member;

b) referred to the Learning Centre, and;

c) required to revise and resubmit plagiarised assessment item.

In addition the Head of School and FSEO should be informed in writing and a record placed in the Central Plagiarism Register.

Level 2:

Where the plagiarism is significant, and the judgment is that an educative rather than punitive response is appropriate, but the student has plagiarised before or is on the Central Plagiarism Register, then Level 2 applies. The student should be:

a) advised in writing of the potential penalties for plagiarism;

b) referred to the Head of School or FSEO for interview;

c) referred to the Learning Centre, and

d) required to revise and resubmit plagiarised assessment item.

In addition the Head of School and FSEO should be informed in writing and a record placed in the Central Plagiarism Register.

Level 3:

Where the plagiarism is significant, and of a serious enough nature to require a punitive response, or the student has plagiarised before at least 3 times at Level 1 or 2, or once at Level 3, then Level 3 applies.

This judgment is made jointly by the academic concerned and the Head of School or FSEO. The matter is then referred to the Head of School for consideration, and determination that the plagiarism has occurred, its seriousness, and the extent (if any) of penalty. The student can be:

a) warned in writing; or

b) have marks reduced with an offer of resubmission; or

c) have marks reduced without offer of resubmission; or

d) have marks reduced in the course, or

e) be failed in the course.

The outcome should be recorded in the Central Plagiarism Register.

Level 4:

Where the plagiarism is significant, and of a serious enough nature to require a punitive response, and the penalties for a Level 3 offence are insufficient, then Level 4 applies. This judgment is made jointly by the Head of School and the FSEO. The matter is then referred to the Vice-Chancellor for consideration under Student Misconduct Rules, and determination that the plagiarism has occurred, its seriousness, and the extent (if any) of penalty. The student can be:

a) excluded; or

b) expelled; or

c) have a fine imposed.

The outcome should be recorded in the Central Plagiarism Register.

4. How is Level 3 handled?

Student is contacted by School Student Ethics Officer, Head of School or FSEO within 5 working days of the determination that this is possibly a Level 3 offence, using standard form letter with marked-up assessment attached, and invited to a meeting with SSEO, Head of School or FSEO.
Meeting is held with student (who may bring a friend or advisor)
Student advised in writing of finding and penalty (if any)

Who Does What?

The Academic:

Determines if plagiarism, on approved definition, may have occurred.
Investigates alleged plagiarism [including Turnitin or other Similarity Detection Tool report, source material identification, extent of plagiarism and significance for assignment].
The whole assignment should be assessed.
Determines if plagiarism is Significant, and also whether student is already on Central Plagiarism Register (contact FSEO).
Determines if Level 1 response is appropriate, then:
- Counsels student,
- Remarks revised assignment
- Refers student to Learning Centre,
- Informs Head of School and FSEO
Determines if Level 2 response is appropriate, then:
- Counsels student,
- Remarks revised assignment
- Refers student to Learning Centre,
- Informs Head of School and FSEO
Determines if Level 3 response is appropriate in consultation with Head of School or FSEO, then:
- Passes onto Head of School or FSEO all information relevant to allegation of plagiarism.
Determines if Level 4 response is likely, then:
- Passes all information onto FSEO and Head of School.

The Head of School:

Writes to students accused of Level 2 plagiarism warning of potential penalties for plagiarism and organising interview, then Interviews students accused of Level 2 plagiarism
On the recommendation of the SSEO, determines if Level 3 response is appropriate (may also consult with Academic staff member), then;
Reviews the SSEO's investigation
Investigates alleged plagiarism (or delegates the investigation)
Determines if marks will be deducted in assignment or course and if student will be permitted to resubmit or if student will be failed in course. If a Head of School does undertake the investigation he or she should not also determine penalty, but should refer that decision to the FSEO.
Determines in consultation with FSEO if Level 4 response is appropriate and refers matter to VC.

The School Student Ethics Officer:

Writes to students accused of Level 2 plagiarism warning of potential penalties for plagiarism and organising interview, then
Interviews students accused of Level 2 plagiarism
Investigates alleged plagiarism (or delegates the investigation) where incident is likely to be Level 3 and above
Determines in consultation with HoS/FSEO if Level 4 response is appropriate and refers matter to VC.

The FSEO:

Notifies SEC of incidents that need to be lodged on the Central Plagiarism Register.
Can undertake investigations of allegations of plagiarism, assessments of appropriate level and determination of penalty in Levels 2 and 3, on the request of the Head of School.
Determines in consultation with Head of School if Level 4 response is appropriate and refers matter to VC.

The Central Plagiarism Register

To ensure a fair and consistent treatment of students and the effective management of plagiarism on an inter-Faculty and inter-School basis, a Central Plagiarism Register has been established which records all formal plagiarism offences. Access to the CPR is strictly controlled, and is administered by the SEC. Regular reports will be provided to FSEOs on cases lodged with the CPR.

Every case from Level 1 to Level 4 needs to be reported to the SEC for inclusion in the CPR. It should be noted that the details of all entries pertaining to individual students will be removed within six months of the graduation of a student.

Information to be provided to the SEC should include the following, and may be lodged by email to the SEC:

Student ID
Student Name
Academic Stage
Program
Course
Summary of incident of plagiarism
Level determined
Penalty applied (if any)
Action/Outcome (if any)

For example, student counseled by Academic Staff member & HOS, and also required to attend training provided by Learning Centre.