Plagiarism and fabrication are serious offenses both in academia and in the professions of journalism and strategic communication. The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication will not tolerate any form of these transgressions. The School's position on plagiarism and fabrication complies with the Student Conduct Code adopted and amended by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, which lists those as scholastic dishonesty offenses subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Sanctions at the university level might involve a written reprimand for first-time offenders or, if repeated, more serious consequences, including removal from the major or expulsion from the university. Because plagiarism and fabrication destroy the trust – and ruin the careers – of journalists, strategic communication professional and scholars, the HSJMC takes a particularly strong position on these offenses.
We are resolved, therefore, to impose the following consequences in all HSJMC courses, other for-credit works (e.g., theses and dissertations) and exams regarding any instance of unambiguous and documented plagiarism, fabrication, or other academic dishonesty, or any instance of aiding another in such conduct, including a first-time offense:
- The student will receive, at the instructor’s discretion, one of two consequences: a grade of “F” on the assignment or a grade of “F” in the course (or a grade of N in the course, if the student is taking the course S/N.)
- The instructor will file a report on the incident with the HSJMC’s Director of Undergraduate Studies and/or Director of Graduate Studies as well as with the university’s Office for Community Standards. For more information on that university’s office’s handling of such reports, visit: https://communitystandards.umn.edu
View the Hubbard School's Canvas instructional site on Avoiding Plagiarism. Watch the full Canvas course on Avoiding Plagiarism and Fabrication. (You may need to "Enroll" to watch.)