Avoidance of Academic Offenses

Definition of Plagiarism from Policy #71: “...the act of presenting the ideas, words, or other intellectual property of another as one's own. The use of other people's work must be properly acknowledged and referenced in all written material....Use of [source material] without complete and unambiguous acknowledgment...is an offense under this policy.”

All students registered in courses at the University of Waterloo and its Federal University and Affiliated Colleges are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for their actions. Students who are unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who need help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g. plagiarism, cheating), or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, TA, academic advisor, or appropriate St. Jerome’s Department Chair, or ultimately the Appeals Officer (currently the Associate Dean) for St. Jerome’s University. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy #71, Student Academic Discipline, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm. Students who believe that they have been wrongfully or unjustly penalized have the right to grieve in accord with Policy #70, Student Grievance, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm.

Please visit the UW Faculty of Arts Website, How to Avoid Plagiarism and Other Written Offenses: A Guide for Students and Instructors, at http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~sager/plagiarism.html for more information. If you have questions or concerns regarding plagiarism, please feel free to ask the instructor for clarification. Otherwise, the instructor will pursue cases of academic misconduct to the full extent of the university’s regulations.