What is Plagiarism?

• "To steal and pass off [the ideas or words of another] as one's own : use [another's production] without crediting the source." --Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary
• Submitting someone else's work (in whole, part, or paraphrase) as one's own without fully and properly crediting the author.
• Submitting as one's original work materials obtained from an individual or agency.
• Submitting as one's own original work material that has been produced through unacknowledged collaboration with others.

What is Cybercheating? (Hint: It's another form of Plagiarism)

• Cutting and pasting someone else's webwork and submitting it as your own.
• Downloading essays, papers, speeches, etc. from the Web and turning them in as your own.
• Buying essays, papers, speeches, etc. from the Web and turning them in as your own.

UA Policy on Academic Misconduct

CODE OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academic or related matter and any knowing or intentional help, attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following acts, when performed in any type of academic or academically related matter, exercise, or activity:

• Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, study aids, or computer-related information
• Plagiarism: representing the words, data, works, ideas, computer programs or output, or anything not generated in an authorized fashion, as one's own
• Fabrication: presenting as genuine any invented or falsified citation or material
• Misrepresentation: falsifying, altering, or misstating the contents of documents or other materials related to academic matters, including schedules, prerequisites, and transcripts

Except in divisions that have alternate academic misconduct policies that have been approved by the academic vice president, academic misconduct cases shall be resolved by the divisional academic misconduct monitor or the academic dean of the division in which the alleged action took place after consultation with the academic dean or monitor in the division where the student is enrolled. However, with the concurrence of both deans, the responsibility for resolving an academic misconduct case can be transferred to the dean of the division in which the student is enrolled. Appeals from the monitor's decisions may be made to the academic dean; appeals from the academic dean's decisions may be made to the Office for Academic Affairs.

The penalties for academic misconduct can range from a reprimand to a penalty as severe as suspension for a designated length of time or even indefinite suspension. Academic deans have the authority to impose the full range of penalties. Divisional academic misconduct monitors may impose penalties only after receiving a voluntary written confession. Misconduct monitors are authorized to impose penalties up to but not including suspension, and may impose penalties of suspension or indefinite suspension if authority to do so has been delegated by the academic dean. Any person who admits to or is found guilty of an academic offense for which a penalty less than an indefinite suspension is imposed will receive a penalty of indefinite suspension if he or she admits to or is found guilty of a second offense of academic misconduct.

Academic Honor Code

All students in attendance at The University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University of Alabama expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. At the beginning of each semester and on tests and projects at the discretion of the professor, each student will be expected to sign an Academic Honor Pledge. The pledge reads as follows:

I promise or affirm that I will not at any time be involved with cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or misrepresentation while enrolled as a student at The University of Alabama. I have read the Academic Honor Code, which explains disciplinary procedures that will result from the aforementioned. I understand that violation of this code will result in penalties as severe as indefinite suspension from the University.

The Academic Honor Code appears on the back page of the registration worksheet used by each student during registration periods. Students are required to read and sign the honor code.