Acts of plagiarism are violations of academic policy and will not be tolerated.  The Division of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Media defines plagiarism in accordance with the University guidelines found in the current edition of Students Rights and Responsibilities, Section 6.3.1, which state: 

All academic work‚ written or otherwise‚ submitted by students to their instructors or other academic supervisors‚ is expected to be the result of their own thought‚ research‚ or self–expression. In cases where students feel unsure about a question of plagiarism involving their work‚ they are obliged to consult their instructors on the matter before submission.

When students submit work purporting to be their own‚ but which in any way borrows ideas‚ organization‚ wording or anything else from another source without appropriate acknowledgment of the fact‚ the students are guilty of plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes reproducing someone else’s work‚ whether it be published article‚ chapter of a book‚ a paper from a friend or some file‚ or whatever. Plagiarism also includes the practice of employing or allowing another person to alter or revise the work which a student submits as his/her own‚ whoever that other person may be. Students may discuss assignments among themselves or with an instructor or tutor‚ but when the actual work is done‚ it must be done by the student‚ and the student alone.

When a student’s assignment involves research in outside sources or information‚ the student must carefully acknowledge exactly what‚ where and how he/she has employed them. If the words of someone else are used‚ the student must put quotation marks around the passage in question and add an appropriate indication of its origin. Making simple changes while leaving the organization‚ content and phraseology intact is plagiaristic. However‚ nothing in these Rules shall apply to those ideas which are so generally and freely circulated as to be a part of the public domain.

Turning in work completed in sum or in part for another class is a form of self-plagiarism and is not acceptable in Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Media courses.  Students wishing to pursue an area of inquiry from their prior studies must first seek the approval of their instructor, submit any previous written projects along with their request, and outline the new research questions or issues they wish to investigate.

NOTE:  The minimum penalty for plagiarism is a zero on the assignment for a first, “minor offence”; more severe penalties may be recommended and are mandated by the faculty senate for “major” and subsequent offences.  Students should also be aware that according to faculty senate rules, those charged with plagiarism may not withdraw from the course in which the offense occurred for any reason.

The Division of Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Media's plagiarism policies are in accordance to the academic offense policies set by the University of Kentucky Academic Ombud.