Student plagiarism is one of the most highly-charged academic topics both within and without the academy, causing distress and anxiety among students and faculty alike. The definition of plagiarism may seem to be self-evident, but that is not the case: there are widely divergent definitions even among disciplines within the same academic community. Our ongoing research project shows that there is a great deal of misunderstanding and misrepresentation about plagiarism among the groups most concerned: students, faculty, and administrators. The presenters (an instructor of first-year composition and an Associate Dean/Director for Student Conduct) will show how recent research by composition studies scholar Rebecca Moore Howard and by anthropologist Susan Blum (among others) has revealed huge gaps among these groups in the understanding of what plagiarism is, why it matters, and how it should be dealt with. We will also show that once a case of plagiarism has been made, the disciplinary procedure can enhance learning and uphold the University mission statement.
After participating in this presentation, audience members will have a nuanced understanding of what plagiarism is, why students have difficulty avoiding it, and how faculty and administrators can promote student learning, ethics, and full participation in the university community
