Academic Integrity

The following is Koç University's official policy on academic honesty:

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty in the form of cheating, plagiarism, or collusion are serious offenses and are not tolerated at Koç University. University Academic Regulations and the Regulations for Student Disciplinary Matters clearly define the policy and the disciplinary action to be taken in case of academic dishonesty. Failure in academic integrity may lead to suspension and expulsion from the University.

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, copying from a classmate or providing answers or information, either written or oral, to others. Plagiarism is borrowing or using someone else’s writing or ideas without giving written acknowledgment to the author. This includes copying from a fellow student’s paper or from a text (whether printed or electronic) without properly citing the source. Collusion is getting unauthorized help from another person or having someone else write a paper or assignment.
    

http://www1.ku.edu.tr/main/home.php?i=620&m=617&c=206&p=1&s=1         Retrieved 23rd September 2003

Don't Panic : There is very little danger that you will plagiarise accidently or that you will be dismissed from university without you, in effect, choosing it.  At the very beginning of your course it will be made very clear to you what exactly plagiarism and collusion is, and how they can be avoided.

A Personal Note from your Teacher
From the above you can see that the institution that you are attending takes academic honesty very seriously. I, as your teacher will also take it very seriously. Not only will I take it seriously but I will also take it personally.

Plagiarism works on many different levels.  On the one hand it is an offence against the person from whom you have stolen language or ideas. Students are not likely to be confronted by this person and so may feel that the risk is justified. Unfortunately this is often the only thing that students consider when they are tempted to plagiarise.

If you plagiarise at university you are threatening the reputation of the institution you attend. If students are awarded degrees for work they did not do, then obviously these degrees mean nothing. You may be happy with a degree you attained under false pretences but there are lots of students who work really hard and deserve their degrees. The value of their degree is very much determined by the reputation of the institution that awarded it. Plagiarists will not be permitted to destroy the reputation of the university. I, as a member of the teaching staff, will do everything I can to preserve and improve the reputation of the university.

A writer living on the far side of the planet or the reputation of the university may not be things you are very concerned about. However, any plagiarism on your part will also be considered an offence against me, as your teacher, and there will be no escaping me. So, if you are still contemplating plagiarising then consider very carefully the following:

During the course we will get to know each other quite well. I will relate to you as a human being with needs, desires, emotions etc. I expect the same from you.  Some of you will need to discuss personal problems with me and trust me to deal with them appropriately.  I will also need to entrust you with some responsibilities.  We will build a personal relationship based on trust and honesty.  Your biggest responsibility therefore is to be honest. If we are honest with each other, then all difficulties can be overcome. 

I take any student's attempt at plagiarism in my class very personally.  It is a violation of trust. If you plagiarise in my class, I will draw the following conclusions:

 

          Plagiarizing is Academic Suicide

• You have demonstrated yourself to be a dishonest person.  You tell lies and anything else you tell me in any other context should be questioned
• You do not value honesty nor my respect for you
  
• You are happy to waste my time giving feedback on someone else's work or checking sources for plagiarism
  
• You do not appreciate the efforts I am making to inform and guide you
• Your primary concern in attending university is not to learn and any  effort on my part to help you could be a waste of time
• You have no respect for me as a person and believe I do not deserve your honesty
• If I were to publish any work or make it available on the internet, you would be prepared to steal from me and pass it off as yours
• You think I'm stupid and won't realise your work is plagiarised

This may not be the message you intend to send when you plagiarise but it is definitely the message I receive and most importantly for you, it is the message I will respond to.  After receiving such a message how do you think I feel about you?  Don't expect any mercy!

Why Do Student's Plagiarise?
We will discuss this issue in class but for the moment the one thing you need to note is that no matter what difficulties you are experiencing, plagiarism is not the answer.  If you cannot hand in your work by the specified deadline then come to me and explain why.  I would much rather correct your essay a few days later than waste an hour giving feedback on an essay that is not yours. Submitting an essay late, submitting a poor quality piece of work, not submitting any work, are all preferable to submitting plagiarised work.

If you plagiarise - expect to get caught and be prepared to accept the consequences.