Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that can lead to severe consequences for students at all levels of education. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, plagiarism undermines the fundamental principles of academic integrity and can result in disciplinary action, including failing grades, suspension, or even expulsion from school.
Based on the severity and extent of the offense, plagiarism can be categorized into three levels: mild, moderate, and severe. Each level of plagiarism carries its own set of potential consequences, which may vary depending on the institution and the case’s specific circumstances.
| Level of Plagiarism | Examples | Likely Consequence |
| Mild | – Forgetting to include an in-text citation for a paraphrased idea – Improperly formatting a citation – Using a small portion of someone else’s work without attribution | – Warning – Required revision of the assignment – Minor grade deduction |
| Moderate | – Copying a significant portion of someone else’s work without attribution – Paraphrasing extensively without proper citation – Submitting work that has been partially written by someone else | – Failing grade on the assignment – Failing grade in the course – Disciplinary probation |
| Severe | – Submitting an entire paper written by someone else – Copying large portions of text verbatim without attribution – Fabricating sources or data – Repeated incidents of moderate plagiarism | – Failing grade in the course – Suspension from the institution – Expulsion from the institution – Revocation of degree (in extreme cases) |
What colleges say about the consequences of plagiarism
To understand the severity of plagiarism and its consequences in higher education, let’s examine what some colleges and universities have to say about their policies on academic dishonesty.
American University
American University takes a strong stance against plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. According to their Academic Integrity Code, “Plagiarism is the representation of someone else’s words, ideas, or work as one’s own without attribution. Plagiarism may involve using someone else’s wording without quotation marks—a distinctive name, a phrase, a sentence, or an entire passage or essay.” The consequences of plagiarism at American University may include a failing grade for the assignment or course, suspension, or expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense and any prior violations.
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary considers plagiarism a serious academic offense and defines it as “presenting the ideas, expression of ideas or work of others as one’s own.” Their academic misconduct policy outlines the following potential consequences for plagiarism:
- A failing grade for the assignment or course
- Suspension from the university for a specified period
- Expulsion from the university
- Notation of academic dishonesty on the student’s transcript
The severity of the penalty depends on factors such as the nature of the offense, the student’s year of study, and any previous incidents of academic misconduct.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan’s academic integrity policy states that plagiarism “occurs when a student knowingly, or with disregard for proper scholarly procedure, presents the work of someone else as their own.” The consequences for plagiarism at the University of Michigan may include:
- A reduced or failing grade for the assignment or course
- Disciplinary probation
- Suspension from the university
- Expulsion from the university
The specific penalty is determined by the instructor and the department, considering the severity of the offense and any prior incidents of academic dishonesty.
Cerro Coso Community College
Cerro Coso Community College, a two-year institution in California, defines plagiarism as “the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the original source.” The college’s policy on academic dishonesty outlines the following potential consequences for plagiarism:
- A warning and required resubmission of the assignment
- A reduced or failing grade for the assignment or course
- Disciplinary probation
- Suspension from the college
- Expulsion from the college
The instructor and the college administration determine the specific penalty, considering the nature and severity of the offense and any prior violations.
Why is plagiarism so serious?
Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense because it:
- Undermines Academic Integrity: Plagiarism violates the fundamental principles of academic honesty, originality, and ethical conduct in pursuing knowledge.
- Unfair Advantage: Students who plagiarize gain an unfair advantage over their peers who put in the effort to produce original work, compromising the fairness of the academic system.
- Devalues Original Work: By presenting someone else’s ideas or words as their own, plagiarists devalue the original authors’ intellectual property and hard work.
- Damages Credibility and Reputation: Plagiarism can severely affect an individual’s credibility, professional reputation, and future prospects in academia and the professional world.
- Hinders Personal Growth: Engaging in plagiarism deprives students of the opportunity to develop critical thinking, writing, and research skills essential for academic and career success.
- Legal Consequences: In some cases, plagiarism can constitute copyright infringement, potentially leading to legal repercussions and lawsuits.
- Erodes Trust: Academic dishonesty erodes the trust between students, faculty, and the broader academic community, undermining the collaborative and supportive nature of the learning environment.
- Missed Learning Opportunities: By relying on others’ work, students miss out on valuable learning experiences, making it harder to meet the demands of higher-level coursework and future careers.
- Ethical Violation: Plagiarism is a breach of ethical conduct, as it involves misrepresenting someone else’s work as one’s own, which goes against the principles of honesty and integrity.
- Diminishes Academic Standards: Widespread plagiarism can undermine the value of academic degrees and the overall integrity of the educational system.