Interesting issues arise here about the burden of proof. You mention
"balance of probabilities". Many institutions would prefer "beyond
reasonable doubt" for such an important issue as whether or not to award
a degree.
I'm not saying who is right or wrong, (or even if there is a right and
wrong), but I think it raises interesting issues.
Derek.
_________________________________
Derek Ord
Head of Student Administrative Services
University of Hull
(01482) 465980
-----Original Message-----
From: Plagiarism [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jon
Appleton
Sent: 22 May 2007 12:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Question about penalties for proven cases
Sorry it's a Tuesday lunchtime response to a Friday afternoon question
but:
1) I think your institution would be in considerable difficulty if it
does not have an ability to remove an award once conferred and the
willingness to do so for due cause.
Suppose you awarded a PhD and found out some years later that the thesis
had been 100% copied from elsewhere. Do you simply shrug and say, "We
didn't spot this at the time, so he/she can carry on calling themself Dr
X"? If you accept that that is not an appropriate response, how can you
justify treating an undergraduate award differently?
2) I agree absolutely with your views on the correct way to respond to
such a situation (and it is not an infrequent one, given the growing
prevalence of essay mills). If the tutor is satisfied on the balance of
probabilities that, in their academic judgement, the work is not that of
the student submitting it and if that academic judgement is tested in
the appropriate disciplinary procedures and upheld, also on the balance
of probabilities, then the student should be deemed to have committed
plagiarism and the appropriate penalty imposed at that point.
All the best,
Jon Appleton
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