Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice
Texas A&M University-Commerce:
Policy # 1 - ACADEMIC HONESTY,This policy has been developed by the faculty of the Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice so as to communicate, establish and maintain a set of standards as they relate to academic honesty. The university and the faculty members within the department expect the students to subscribe and maintain high standards of integrity and honesty while pursuing their academic goal(s). Each faculty member not only holds the students to such a goal but employs this ideal himself or herself while teaching, and in varied relationships with students and colleagues.
This policy is based on the information set forth in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Procedures A13.12 Academic Honesty. Academic dishonesty is defined in the following manner within the mentioned procedure: "Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism (the appropriation or stealing of the ideas or words of another and passing them off as one's own), cheating on exams or other course assignments, collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with others in preparing course assignments), and abuse (destruction, defacing, or removal) of resource material."
Plagiarism-The specific act of plagiarism is defined as:
".when a writer deliberately uses someone else's language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source." http://www.ilstu.edu/~ddhesse/wpa/positions/WPAplagiarism.pdf
".using others' ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information."
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html
• Plagiarism can occur in many forms other than just copying someone's words or ideas. Plagiarism can occur in many professional fields, such as art, music, computer programming and scientific research.
• Plagiarism can occur unintentionally, failure to properly cite another's work, words, or ideas. Even though this may happen it is not a good practice and therefore a writer must be extra careful in following the proper procedure of citation regardless of the method of writing being employed.
• Each instructor is required to have some statement or reference to plagiarism in his or her class syllabus, and attention should be directed toward this statement during the initial meeting of the class and as often as necessary. If the instructor's syllabus has already been reproduced without such a statement then he or she must mention or discuss this topic (Academic Honesty) with his or her class the first day. It may be beneficial to hand out a separate page addressing this idea.
Examples of instructor's statements:
Dr. William Thompson - "Departmental policy provides that anyone caught cheating in any form or fashion will receive an 'F' for the course and may be subjected to further disciplinary action by the university. Plagiarism . is a form of cheating and not only violates academic ethical standards, but is against the law."
Dr. Yvonne Villanueva-Russell - " ALL
instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to
both the Department Head as well as the Dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. These offices may also
wish to evaluate the case and decide punishment
independent of this professor's actions. In short,
cheating, plagiarizing and engaging in unethical
behavior carries a high price for such short term
rewards-don't do it! "
Statement used the by Department of Literature and Languages - "Instructors in the Department of Literature and Languages do not tolerate plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Instructors uphold and support the highest academic standards, and students are expected to do likewise. Penalties for students guilty of academic dishonesty include disciplinary probation, suspension, and expulsion (Texas A&M University-Commerce Code of Student Conduct 5.b[1.2.3])."
• Faculty should make the students aware that the procedure for handling students who do plagiarize is outlined within Texas A&M University-Commerce Procedures, A13.04 Plagiarism.
a. It is the faculty member's responsibility to initially handle any type of dishonesty. The faculty member may decide to involve the Department Head if the act of dishonesty is serious enough. If both the instructor and Department Head or one of them deems that the act is serious enough to be passed on to the Dean of the college then they or he/she may do so, according to the procedure (A13.04 Plagiarism). The instructor may decide to refer the case (situation) directly to the University Discipline Committee.
Other Forms of Dishonesty:
• Cheating on exams or other course assignments
• Collusion (unauthorized collaboration with others in preparing course assignments)
• Abuse (destruction, defacing, or removal) of resource material
These forms of academic dishonesty are discussed in the Texas A&M University-Commerce Procedures A13.12 Academic Honesty.
