WMU Academic Policy: You are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the Student Rights and Responsibilities in the Undergraduate Catalogue (pp. 274-278) [Graduate Catalogue (pp. 26-31)] that pertain to Academic Integrity. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test. Students are also responsible for knowing the definition of dishonesty in the WMU Student Code in Prof. Berkhofer's classes.

Plagiarism and Cheating defined: Here are some basic definitions of plagiarism and cheating. These definitions are for your information only--they do not substitute for knowing the WMU Student Academic Conduct code, found in the Catalogue. Know your rights and responsibilities!

Plagiarism--To represent written work taken from another source as one's own is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The academic work of a student must be his/her own. One must give any author credit for source material borrowed from him/her. To lift content directly from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage without reference to the source after having changed a few words is also plagiarism.

Cheating--No student shall receive or give assistance not authorized by the instructor in taking an examination or in the preparation of a paper or other assignment which is submitted for purposes of grade determination.

Students who wish to avoid plagiarism should read the related pages of this site about citation and reading primary and secondary sources. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to use a system of notes and bibliography consistently in your papers that give credit to others for their ideas and which refer explicit to the sources used in constructing the paper.