Widener University strongly supports the concepts of academic freedom and academic integrity and expects students and all other members of the Widener University community to be honest in all academic endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism, and all other forms of academic fraud are serious and unacceptable violations of university policy, as specified in the Student Handbook. Widener University expects all students to be familiar with university policies on academic honesty, and will not accept a claim of ignorance - either of the policy itself or of what constitutes academic fraud - as a valid defense against such a charge.

This statement was adopted by the University Council in 1998 upon recommendation of the Academic Affairs Committee.

1. Definition of violations of the standards of academic integrity
   
   • violations of the Standards of Academic Integrity consists of any actions that serve to undermine the integrity of the academic process, including:
   • unauthorized inspection or duplication of test materials;
   • Cheating, attempting to cheat, or assisting others to cheat in a classroom test, take-home examination, or final examination;
   • Posttest alteration of examination responses;
   • Plagiarism;
   • Electronic or computer fraud.
     
   
   
   
2. Definition of Plagiarism. One of the most common violations of the Academic Standards for Academic Integrity is plagiarism. Plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional. However, since each student is responsible for knowing what constitutes plagiarism, unintentional plagiarism is as unacceptable as intentional plagiarism and commission of it will bring the same penalties. In many classes faculty members will provide their definitions of plagiarism. In classes where a definition is not provided, students should follow the standards articulated in the following statement written by Professor Michael Clark.
   • Statement on Plagiarism

     Plagiarism is a serious offense. Every part of the written work you hand in should be your own - unless credit is given by way of a specific footnote.

     The New world Dictionary defines "to plagiarize" as "to take (ideas, writings, etc.) from (another) and pass them off as one's own." (New York: World Publishing Co., Inc., 1974), p. 1087. Please note that the important idea here is taking someone else's ideas.

     To cite another source, the Harbrace College Handbook relates the following: "If you fail to acknowledge borrowed material, then you are plagiarizing. Plagiarism is literary theft. When you copy the words of anther, be sure to put those words inside quotation marks and to acknowledge the source with a footnote. When you paraphrase the words of another, use your own words and your own sentence structure, and be sure to give a footnote citing the source of the idea. A plagiarist often merely changes a few words or rearranges the words in the source." (Harbrace College Handbook, edited by John c. hodges, 7th edition [New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1972], p. 421.)

     I would particularly emphasize that simply changing words to clothe someone else's idea(s) is still plagiarism - unless an acknowledging footnote is used.

     One final clarification: oftentimes students discuss assignments among themselves, discussing, say, the theme of a poem or its imagery. This is healthy activity, and I encourage the practice. However, in no case should a student who is writing a paper to use the paper (or notes, etc.) of another student in order to write his/her own essay. The interpretation of the piece of literature, the wording of your analysis, and the organization of your arguments should be solely your own.

     In interpreting the above, follow this rule: If you should have any doubts, use a footnote.

     Michael Clark, Humanities Division, January 1991