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Union University

Political Science

Department of Political Science at Union

Plagiarism/Misrepresentation/Test Cheating Policy

Plagiarism, writing (or delivering information from a speech) that has been copied directly from another source or another individual and is being presented as being your own work; or to present as new an idea derived from an existing source, is a violation of honesty and academic integrity standards and policies of Union University and the Department of Political Science.

Misrepresentation, an intentionally or sometimes negligently false representation of academic work, such as presenting fictional material in a speech or paper while failing to tell the audience or reader the material is not true; or the citing of non-existent sources in an academic paper, is a violation of honesty and academic integrity standards of Union University and the Department of Political Science.

A single instance in any paper or presentation of any of the above is characterized as plagiarism or misrepresentation by the Department of Political Science.

The Department of Political Science will impose the following penalties for confirmed cases of plagiarism, misrepresentation and cheating on tests.

  • First Offense: The professor may choose from a 0 on the project to an F in the course. The offense will be reported to the Provost, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the department chair, and other members of the department. The student may also be referred to the Student Judicial Committee for action.
  • Second Offense: The professor, having found a student guilty of plagiarism, misrepresentation or cheating on a test for the second time in a single class, within the department (two offenses in separate classes), or within the University (as determined by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or the Provost) will give that student an F in the course and may take additional action up to a recommendation that the student be dismissed from the university.
  • Third Offense: A student guilty of plagiarism, misrepresentation or cheating on a test for the third time, within the department, or within the university, will automatically receive an F in the course and be turned over to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Provost with a recommendation of dismissal from the university.

All confirmed cases of plagiarism and misrepresentation will be shared with the department chair and all political science professors (per departmental policy), and reported to the Dean of Arts and Sciences and Provost (as required by Union University).