I take Academic Dishonesty very, very seriously. I’ve posted the UO Policy on Academic Dishonesty here for your review. This policy applies to every class I teach and reflects not only the UO, but my own philosophy.

The short answer is do your best work and do your own work. Don’t take shortcuts.

University of Oregon Policy on Academic Dishonesty

Forms of Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else’s product, words, ideas, or data as one’s own work. When a student submits work for credit that includes the product, words, ideas, or data of others, the source must be acknowledged by the use of complete, accurate, and specific references, such as footnotes. Expectations may vary slightly among disciplines. By placing one’s name on work submitted for credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgements. On written assignments, if verbatim statements are included, the statements must be enclosed by quotation marks or set off from regular text as indented extracts.

A student will avoid being charged with plagiarism if there is an acknowledgement of indebtedness. Indebtedness must be acknowledged whenever:

• one quotes another person’s actual words or replicates all or part of another’s product;
• one uses another person’s ideas, opinions, work, data, or theories, even if they are completely paraphrased in one’s own words;
• one borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials–unless the information is common knowledge.

Unauthorized collaboration with others on papers or projects can inadvertently lead to a charge of plagiarism. If in doubt, consult the instructor or seek assistance from the staff of Academic Learning Services (68 PLC, 346-3226). In addition, it is plagiarism to submit as your own any academic exercise (for example, written work, printing, computer program, art or design work, musical composition, and choreography) prepared totally or in part by another.

Plagiarism also includes submitting work in which portions were substantially produced by someone acting as a tutor or editor.

Fabrication
Fabrication is the intentional use of information that the author has invented when he or she states or implies otherwise, or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent to deceive.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• citing information not taken from the source indicated;
• listing sources in a reference not used in the academic exercise;
• inventing data or source information for research or other academic exercises.

Cheating
Cheating is an act of deception by which a student misrepresents or misleadingly demonstrates that he or she has mastered information on an academic exercise that he or she has not mastered, including the giving or receiving of unauthorized help in an academic exercise.
Examples include, but are not limited to:

• copying from another student’s test paper, computer program, project, product, or performance;
• collaborating without authority or allowing another student to copy one’s work in a test situation;
• using the course textbook or other material not authorized for use during a test;
• using unauthorized materials during a test; for example, notes, formula lists, cues on a computer, photographs, symbolic representations, and notes written on clothing;
• resubmitting substantially the same work that was produced for another assignment without the knowledge and permission of the instructor;
• taking a test for someone else or permitting someone else to take a test for you.

Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct is the intentional violation of university policies, such as tampering with grades, or taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of an unadministered test or any information about the test.
Examples include, but are not limited to:

• stealing, buying, or obtaining in any other unauthorized manner all or part of an unadministered test;
• selling, trading, or giving away all or part of an unadministered test, including answers to an unadministered test;
• attempting to change or changing, altering, or being an accessory to changing or altering a grade in a grade book, work submitted on a test or a final project, a “supplementary grade report” form, or other official academic records of the university which relate to grades;
• entering a building or office for the purpose of obtaining an unadministered test.

What can students do to protect themselves from being charged with academic dishonesty?

• Prepare thoroughly for examinations and assignments.
• Take the initiative to prevent other students from copying exams or assignments; for example, shield answer sheets during examinations, and do not loan completed assignments to other students.
• Check the course syllabus for a section dealing with academic dishonesty for that course. There may be special requirements. If there is no written section in the syllabus, ask the instructor what his or her expectations are, particularly concerning collaboration and citation.
• Do not look in the direction of other students’ papers during examinations.
• Utilize a recognized handbook for instruction on citing source materials in papers. Consult with instructors or academic departments when in doubt.
• Utilize the services of Academic Learning Services (68 PLC 346-3226) for assistance in preparing papers.
• Discourage dishonesty among other students.
• Refuse to assist students who cheat.
• If extraordinary circumstances cause anxiety over taking an exam or getting an assignment in on time, talk to the instructor in advance. It is better to request special arrangements rather than resort to dishonesty.
• Inform the instructor if you are aware of other students cheating.