Plagiarism

Part of the college experience is the discovery of one's own voice. The Virginia State University teaching community is committed to helping each student find their voice. Plagiarism contradicts this end.

Plagiarism is the presentation of others' ideas or written works as one's own. Written works can take the form of electronic or print media and could include - among other items - opinions, facts, and statistics. The following guidelines may be applied to reduce the likelihood of plagiarism:

1. Citing a source is necessary when an idea or written work can be attributed in any way to someone else.
2. Direct copying requires a very specific acknowledgment, either using quotation marks or a clear statement describing how that material was reproduced.
3. An indication of how a source is used is necessary if unique words or phrases from the source are one's work. Words or phrases are considered unique if they would not be spoken or expressed the same way coincidentally. The use of unique language requires the incorporation of quotation marks or a direct statement about who is responsible for the word, phrase, sentence, or group of sentences.
4. Finally, one should always acknowledge the contribution of any person who is a significant contributor to a work through discussion or any other such collaboration. Although common knowledge does not require a reference, one may not be aware of what constitutes common knowledge. The golden rule is, when in doubt, cite.

Classroom Conduct

Each instructor is responsible for maintaining a classroom environment that facilitates effective teaching and learning. The classroom environment should be such that it prepares students for behavior that is expected in a civil society.

Disruptive and disrespectful behavior on the part of any student should not be tolerated by the instructor. Instructors may evict students who disrupt the class, and, when students are consistently disruptive, instructors may recommend to the chair that the student be dropped from the course. The

instructor should always be in charge and has the right to determine appropriate standards of behavior in the classroom if the requirement does not infringe upon the individual's rights. Appropriate classroom decorum should be described in the course syllabus.