The following information may be additionally helpful in developing strategies in your course to prevent plagiarism.

Academic Dishonesty and the Student Handbook

Please note that it is also important to review the LWTech Student Handbook and be aware of the section on "academic dishonesty":

LWTech regards acts of academic dishonesty, including such activities as plagiarism or cheating, as serious offenses. In the event that cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty on the part of student is discovered, each incident will be handled on an individual basis as deemed appropriate. Care will be taken that students’ rights are not violated and that punitive measures are instituted only in cases where documentation or other evidence of the offenses meets the “preponderance of evidence” standard. A description of all such incidents shall be forwarded to the Vice President of Instruction where a file of such occurrences will be maintained. The Vice President of Instruction or designee may institute academic action against a student according to college policy and the Student Handbook. (page 28)

Academic Dishonesty and the Student Code of Conduct

Additionally, please review the 2022-2023 LWTech Student Code of Conduct:

5.P.91 Student Conduct Code—Academic Dishonesty and Classroom/Lab/Clinic Conduct (WAC 495D-121-540)

1. Honest assessment of student performance is of crucial importance to all members of the academic community. The college views acts of dishonesty as serious breaches of honor and will deal with them using the following:
2. College administration and faculty will provide reasonable and prudent security measures designed to minimize opportunities for acts of academic dishonesty.
3. Any student who, for the purpose of fulfilling any assignment or task required by a faculty member as part of the student's program of instruction, shall knowingly tender any work product that the student fraudulently represents to the faculty member as the student’s work product, shall be deemed to have committed an act of academic dishonesty. Acts of academic dishonesty are cause for disciplinary action.
4. Any student who aids or abets an act of academic dishonesty, as described in B of this subsection, may be subject to disciplinary action.
5. Faculty may adjust the student's grade on a particular project, paper, test, or class for academic dishonesty. This section shall not be construed as preventing a faculty from taking immediate disciplinary action when they must act upon such breach of academic dishonesty to preserve order and prevent disruptive conduct in the classroom. (p. 15)

Academic Integrity Language for the Syllabus

The following language is included in the college's syllabus template.

Academic Integrity

Students should review the Academic Dishonesty Program Dismissal/Appeal and Final Grade Appeal policy. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication.

Cheating includes any attempt to give or obtain unauthorized assistance relating to the completion of an academic assignment.
Plagiarism includes taking and using as one’s own, without proper attribution, the ideas, writings, or work of another person in completing an academic assignment. Prohibited conduct may also include the unauthorized submission for credit of academic work that has been submitted for credit in another course.
Fabrication includes falsifying data, information, or citations in completing an academic assignment and also includes providing false or deceptive information to an instructor concerning the completion of an assignment.

Violations of academic honesty, including plagiarism, may result in [state maximum penalty here] on the assignment or assessment in question. A second violation of academic integrity may result in [state maximum penalty here] in the course. All violations of academic integrity shall be reported to the college's confidential database, which may result in additional investigation and corrective action through the student conduct process.

Policy in Practice

At the first instance of plagiarism (or cheating), please meet with the student to discuss what occurred and how it can be addressed. If you think it appropriate, provide the opportunity to resubmit the assignment for a grade other than 0. Email your dean to alert them of the situation.

If there is a subsequent issue, please use the Academic Dishonesty Documentation form and include how the first instance was discussed and addressed in addition to the ongoing concern.