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Policy
All students registered in courses through the College of Continuing & Professional Studies (CCAPS) are governed by the University of Minnesota Student Conduct Code. Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment for others may be subject to disciplinary action under the code. In addition, CCAPS may require students responsible for such behavior to discontinue course activities and may cancel their registration.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism may range from improper citation of a source to presenting another's ideas as your own. The U of M Office for Community Standards has many resources for dealing with academic integrity issues.
Procedures
When you suspect a student of scholastic dishonesty, follow the steps outlined here by the Office for Community Standards and follow their reporting procedures Copy the uAPS director so that uAPS has a record of the incident.
Using Turnitin to Investigate Plagiarism
Turnitin can be used to identify incidents of plagiarism, including improperly used or cited resources. It is an originality checker and grading software suite available to University of Minnesota instructors who have a Canvas site. Using Turnitin, you can compare submissions to databases of student papers, periodicals, and Internet resources. You can also authorize students to upload their own papers to enhance instruction on correct citation and academic integrity. To find out more, visit the Turnitin Overview on the UMN IT website. For background information on Turnitin, see turnitin.com.
Preventing Plagiarism
Preventing plagiarism is much easier than dealing with suspected cases after the fact. The U of M Center for Writing website provides resources for preventing plagiarism, such as assignment design, classroom discussion, and handouts. The Center for Writing provides a great guide to preventing scholastic dishonesty and plagiarism. See also the Council of Writing Programs Administrators website for advice on defining and avoiding plagiarism.