Winter 2008 Graduate Calendar


POLICY ON AUTHORSHIP AND PLAGIARISM

The University expects that all researchers will adhere to the proper standards of intellectual honesty in the written or spoken presentation of their work, and will at all times acknowledge in a suitable manner the contribution made by other researchers to their work, as outlined in the Senate Policy on Authorship (available from the Senate Office) and the Policy Statement on Research Personnel (available from the Office of Research Services).

Plagiarism is defined as: "The act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts of passages of his/her writing, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the products of one's own mind." (Black's Law Dictionary)

It is expected that all graduate students will be evaluated and graded on their individual merit, and all work submitted for evaluation should clearly indicate that it is the student's own contribution.

Graduate students often have to use the ideas of others as expressed in written or published work in preparing essays, papers, reports, theses and publications. It is imperative that both the data and ideas obtained from any and all published or unpublished material be properly acknowledged and their sources disclosed. Failure to follow this practice constitutes plagiarism and is considered to be a serious offence by the University. Thus, anyone who knowingly or recklessly uses the work of another person and creates an impression that it is his or her own is guilty of plagiarism.

It is not permissible for an essay or other paper to be submitted twice. It is expected that a thesis, essay, paper or report has not been, and is not concurrently being, submitted to any other Faculty or University for credit toward any degree, or to this University for any other course. In exceptional circumstances and with the prior agreement of the instructor, a student may use research completed for one course as part of his or her written work for a second course.

Where plagiarized work has been submitted, or where a student has submitted a paper for double credit, a failing grade may be assigned by the instructor to that assignment. The student has the right to appeal this grade to the Dean of Graduate Studies, in accordance with the Graduate Senate Bylaw 51. Disciplinary action may be taken, as set out in Senate Bylaw 31.

In case of any doubt, students are strongly urged to consult with the instructor or thesis supervisor. In cases where students feel that their intellectual property or copyrighted material has been plagiarized, complaints should be made in writing to the Dean of Graduate Studies.