It is assumed that a student is the author of all course work (quizzes, tests, papers, lab work, etc.) that he/she submits, whether for a grade or not, and that the work has not been submitted for credit in another class without the instructor's permission. Images, ideas, data, audio clips, or phrases borrowed from others should be fully identified by standard procedures for making such acknowledgment. Academic Honesty in the Writing of Essays and Other Papers, available in the Office of the Dean of the College, Laird 140, is one source for information on proper citation.

An act of academic dishonesty is a serious offense in a college community. By seeking credit for work that is not his or her own, a student takes unfair advantage of fellow students--who accept their limitations--and of their teachers--who trust their work. Dishonesty in academic work, particularly in the form of plagiarism or cheating, also defeats the process of self-discovery that is the heart of a liberal education. Persons establish their integrity and personality as they learn to distinguish what is significantly their own from what belongs to others, and as they learn to value their own work, including its limitations, in relation to the work of others. As a scholar, finally, one should be generous and welcoming in acknowledging the work of other scholars, for their work makes possible one's own.

At Carleton College, an act of academic dishonesty is therefore regarded as conflicting with the work and purpose of the entire College and not merely as a private matter between the student and an instructor; all cases involving such dishonesty are referred for appropriate action to the Academic Standing Committee (ASC) via the Associate Dean of Students or the Associate Dean of the College. This action can range from a grade of failure in the given piece of work to permanent dismissal from the College in cases of repeated or serious offenses.

See Community Policies and Standards