By Michael Haines, Dean of Arts & Humanities

Q. What's the first thing I should do if I suspect a student has plagiarized?
A. Obviously, the very first thing is to try to locate the source. This is often difficult, if not nearly impossible. There are web sites available which can be of some help, but they're not all free. (Students often have to pay to download papers, and I guess it's only fair that we might have to pay to catch them.) There are some "freebies" out there for us to try (www.findsame.com is one). But check the "obvious" sources first: most plagiarizers are not clever.

Q. If I don't find a source, what do I do?
A. Often confronting a student with your suspicions is enough to get them to " 'fess up." Something like, "I don't recognize your source here. Where did you get this information?"

Q. If I don't find the source and the student denies the charge, do I still file the charge with my Dean?
A. That's a judgment call. You can let the Dean sort it out. We're not bound by the same rules of evidence as the courts (but, yes, in case you're wondering, a student could sue us-which is why it's always better to file, so that you have the full legal protection of the institution).

Q. If I do find the source or the student admits plagiarism?
A. File the Academic Dishonesty Form (in Faculty and Adjunct Handbooks or available in Deans' Offices) with your Dean. The form needs to explain the situation, and it needs a signature from the student (affirming that the student has been notified of the filing of the charge).

Q. What if I find the source or the student admits plagiarizing, but it was clearly done out of ignorance?
A. You could work with the student on your own, or you could file the charge. We're going to experiment next year with a 3- or 6-hour CD ROM program that educates students about academic dishonesty but will also serve a punitive function (like going to traffic school)-the Deans can remand students to this program and not file the first charge with the VPAA.

Q. What happens next, after a charge has been filed with my Dean?
A. The Dean meets with the student and explains (1) the implications of the charge (the current "two strikes and you're out" policy) and (2) the student's right to appeal (either the charge or the sanction). If there is no appeal or the Dean denies the appeal, the charge is filed with the VPAA. If there is a prior charge, the student is liable for dismissal (there is an automatic appeals hearing at this stage).

Q. Who decides the original sanction for the offense?
A. The faculty member imposes the sanction on the student (ranging anywhere from doing the assignment over to failure for the course, depending on the severity of the offense).

Q. Who do I talk to if I have questions?
A. Faculty colleagues, your Chair, or your Dean.