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The purpose of a university education is to learn. Cheating, plagiarizing, and other acts of dishonesty do not contribute to learning. They are, rather, attempts to avoid learning that defeat the very purpose of education. They are rightly regarded as both unethical and illegal under the academic standards of The University of Memphis.

You owe it to yourself and your reputation as a student to be well informed as to what constitutes plagiarism and to avoid even the suspicion that you are guilty of it. In addition to the policy statements given below, you should become thoroughly familiar with the document “Advice about plagiarism and using sources.”

Definitions, procedures, and sanctions

The Department of History at The University of Memphis bases its policy about academic misconduct on the following statements from the Office of Judicial and Ethical Programs (http://saweb.memphis.edu/judicialaffairs/). These statements are in turn based on more detailed statements in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (http://saweb.memphis.edu/judicialaffairs/pdf/CSRR.PDF (pdf)), popularly known as the Student Handbook.

Definitions

[These definitions are from http://saweb.memphis.edu/judicialaffairs/dishonesty/definitions.htm]

The University of Memphis Code of Student Conduct defines academic misconduct as all acts of cheating, plagiarism, forgery and falsification.

The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to:

• using any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes or tests
• using sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments
• acquiring tests or other academic material before such material is revealed or distributed by the instructor
• misrepresenting papers, reports, assignments or other materials as the product of a student’s sole independent effort
• failing to abide by the instructions of the proctor concerning test-taking procedures
• influencing, or attempting to influence, any University employee in order to affect a student’s grade or evaluation
• any forgery, alteration, unauthorized possession, or misuse of University documents

The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full or clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.

Academic dishonesty also includes:

• furnishing false information to any University official, faculty member or office
• forgery, alteration, or misuse of any University document, record, or instrument of identification

Academic discipline procedures

[These procedures are from http://saweb.memphis.edu/judicialaffairs/dishonesty/discipline.htm]

Request for hearing: A faculty member who has good cause to believe that a student has engaged in academic misconduct may request a hearing of the allegation of academic misconduct. A student found guilty of academic misconduct by the Academic Discipline Committee may be awarded a grade of “F” for the course, assignment, or examination at issue and is also subject to additional disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or expulsion. A hearing before the Academic Discipline Committee is conducted under the procedures provided in the Code of Student Conduct. The Committee members are faculty and students appointed annually by the President.

Summary discipline: A faculty member who has good cause to believe that a student has engaged in academic misconduct may choose to exercise summary discipline as outlined below.

A student’s grade in the course or the assignment or examination affected by the alleged academic misconduct may be lowered to any extent, including a grade of “F.” If a faculty member exercises summary discipline, the faculty member shall notify the appropriate department chairperson of the action. The department chairperson shall notify the student in writing of the faculty member’s exercise of summary discipline and advise the student of his or her right to appeal the summary discipline to the Academic Discipline Committee. A student may appeal an exercise of summary discipline by a faculty member to the Academic Discipline Committee.

Multiple acts of academic misconduct: A student who receives more than one “F” as a result of summary discipline by a faculty member may be summoned to appear before the Academic Discipline Committee and may be subject to additional disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or expulsion.

A decision of the Academic Discipline Committee may be appealed by the student to the University Appeals Committee.

Sanctions

[These sanctions are from http://saweb.memphis.edu/judicialaffairs/dishonesty/sanctions.htm]

In addition to receiving a lower grade on an assignment or in the course, including failing the course, the following sanctions may be imposed by the Academic Discipline Committee upon any student found to have engaged in academic dishonesty.

1. Probation - Probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe disciplinary sanctions if the student is found to be violating any institutional regulations(s) during the probationary period.
2. Loss of privileges - Denial of specified privileges for a designated period of time.
3. Discretionary sanctions - Work assignments, service to the University, personal or career counseling, tutoring and study skills, essays, or other related discretionary assignments.
4. University suspension - Separation of the student from the University for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified.
5. University expulsion - Permanent separation of the student from the University.

Submission of work submitted in other classes

Papers, reviews, projects, and other written work submitted for credit in another class either at The University of Memphis or elsewhere may not be submitted for credit in any class within the Department of History. The Department regards the submission of such work as academic misconduct, an attempt to earn credit for work that was not actually done for the class, and it will result in the same sanctions as prescribed for other academic misconduct.

TurnItIn.com

The University of Memphis has secured a site license to use TurnItIn to maintain a high level of academic integrity in written work by students. Your instructor may require that you submit written work to TurnItIn.com, which will evaluate that work for originality (or unoriginality), using an extensive database of online documents and previously submitted papers.