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197 │COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2017-2018 │ACADEMIC POLICY
Complete plagiarism is defined as doing any of the following without attribution:
Submitting or presenting someone's complete published or unpublished work (paper, article, or chapter).
Submitting another student's work for an assignment, with or without that person's knowledge or consent.
Downloading or purchasing a term paper from a web site or other source.
Reusing or modifying a previously submitted paper (e.g., from another course) for a present assignment without
obtaining prior approval from the instructors involved.
Consequences of Plagiarism
Intent is not a factor in determining whether plagiarism has occurred. A writer is responsible for knowing and using the rules
for accurate and honest writing and pleading ignorance of the rules does not prevent receiving consequences for breaking
them.
Assumptions
Information about plagiarism, why it is unacceptable, and how to avoid it through proper handling and
acknowledgement of others' ideas is available to students via multiple means.
Any offense which results in a failing grade is reported to the relevant dean’s office (i.e., the dean of the school in
which the course resides).
When determining a consequence for plagiarism, previous offenses in other courses by the student are relevant.
Minimal Plagiarism
An instructor may use an instance of minimal plagiarism as an educational opportunity to discuss with the student the nature
of plagiarism and the values of a scholarly Christian community. The assignment should be rewritten and resubmitted, with
or without a grade penalty, at the discretion of the instructor. Repeated instances of minimal plagiarism in a course should
be treated as substantial plagiarism.
Substantial Plagiarism
First offense: Ordinarily, the student receives a failing grade on the assignment that has been plagiarized, and a Report of
Plagiarism is submitted to the relevant dean’s office (i.e., the dean of the school in which the course resides). Students who
are in their first year at CIU may be allowed to rewrite an assignment that is the first instance of substantial plagiarism. They
would receive a reduced grade on the assignment.
Second offense: Ordinarily, the student receives a failing grade in the course, and a Report of Plagiarism is submitted to
the dean of the school in which the course resides.
Third offense: The student may be recommended for expulsion from the university. Action is taken at the discretion of the
Provost.
Complete Plagiarism
First offense: The student receives a failing grade in the course, and a report is submitted to the dean of the school in which
the course resides.
Second offense: The student is expelled from the university. Action is taken at the discretion of the Provost.
Delay in Detection of Plagiarism
If plagiarism is discovered after a course or degree is completed, the level and frequency of plagiarism will be evaluated by
the Provost in consultation with relevant deans and faculty members. Consequences may include changing the grade
awarded in a course or courses, delaying the awarding of the degree, withholding the degree, or rescinding the degree.
Procedures for Dealing with Plagiarism
An instructor who believes plagiarism has occurred should document it to the degree possible, including citations for or
copies of the sources that were plagiarized. The instructor should then meet with the student to discuss the incident. In this
meeting, the instructor should describe the evidence for the plagiarism, allow the student to respond, review what plagiarism
is, why it is unacceptable in a scholarly community, and how to cite sources properly and then review the university's
plagiarism policy and procedures.
If the plagiarism cannot be firmly established, the instructor should meet with the student to obtain sources or to determine
the student's familiarity with the assignment that was submitted.
After meeting with the student, the instructor should determine the consequences with the assumption that this is the
student’s first offense. The instructor should then inform the student of the consequences and, in cases of substantial or
complete plagiarism, submit a Report of Plagiarism form to the dean of the school in which the course resides, including
the assignment and the plagiarized sources. The student should also receive a copy of the report. After receiving a copy of