The Consequences of Plagiarism

Provided by the University of Texas, Perry Castaneda Library

Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism can lead to serious consequences. Let's look at some real-life examples of people who had their professional or academic lives seriously affected by accusations of plagiarism.

In 2006, first-time author and Harvard sophomore Kaavya Viswanathan acknowledged that she plagiarized portions of her novel How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life from several other sources, including the works of authors Sophie Kinsella and Megan McCafferty. The book was pulled from shelves and the author lost both a two-book deal with Little, Brown and Company worth half a million dollars and a movie deal with DreamWorks. Viswanathan acknowledged that she had read the books that she was accused of plagiarizing, but claimed that the cases of plagiarism found in her book were unintentional and accidental.

In 2005, Thomas Matrka, a mechanical engineer who had earned his master's degree from Ohio University uncovered 55 master's theses from the school's Russ College of Engineering and Technology that appeared to include plagiarized work. Many of the theses contained almost identical paragraphs and drawings. The university responded by revisiting more than 200 engineering papers written since 1980 in search of duplication and plagiarism. After review by multiple university committees, the decision was made to revoke the master's degree of one of the accused in 2007. The university also recommended that 12 other theses be rewritten. In response to the scandal, the engineering school now uses software to check submitted theses and dissertation for duplication of content.

In 2004, playwright Bryony Lavery was accused of plagiarizing psychiatrist Dorothy Lewis' book Guilty by Reason of Insanity and Malcolm Gladwell's 1997 New Yorker profile of Lewis. Lavery's play, Frozen, is the story of a psychiatrist who works with serial killers. Dorothy Lewis' book chronicles her own work with serial killers. Malcolm Gladwell himself recounted the story in a 2004 New Yorker article where he details his confrontation with the playwright, who said she didn't think she needed to credit his story because it was "in the news." The play includes 12 verbatim passages from Malcolm Gladwell's article. While the play uses Dorothy Lewis' life as the basis for its character, it also adds embellishments, like an affair with a collaborator modeled on Lewis' real-life collaborator. These embellishments caused many to claim that the plagiarism was also a form of defamation.

Each of these stories can help us to understand why you should care about the effects and consequences of plagiarism.

Your individual professional and academic integrity are at stake. While there are certain to be immediate consequences tied to accusations of plagiarism, such as failing a course, you are also devaluing your original work and bringing into question the legitimacy of your other accomplishments.

The academic integrity of your school and the value of your degree are also at stake. Widespread accusations of plagiarism at a university hurt the reputation of that school and its graduates and can affect the value of your degree from that institution in the marketplace when you are looking for a job after graduation.

Your future professional and personal integrity can also be harmed. As the Ohio University story shows us, plagiarized work you submit now can come back to haunt you. Additionally, once you've graduated and entered the workforce, there can be legal and long-lasting professional consequences for representing the work of others as your own in a situation where you're being financially compensated for that work.

For information on Union Institute & University Writing Center.

The Consequences of Plagiarism article is property of the University of Texas, Perry Castaneda Library and is used by UI&U with written permission.

Cincinnati Academic Center Hires Admissions Director

Ken Fritz

CINCINNATI, OH – Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university that since 1964 has provided higher education opportunities for adults, today announced that Ken Fritz has been hired as admissions director for the Cincinnati Academic Center.

Fritz brings a wealth of successful enrollment management experience to UI&U. Most recently, he worked for the Apollo Group’s Institute for Professional Development (IDP), which contracts with colleges and universities to provide enrollment management and educational consulting services.

Fritz also served in various admissions, recruiting, and enrollment management capacities with Thomas More College’s TAP program and Ohio Dominican University’s business programs. He is also a past president of the Regional Association for Adult Higher Education (RAAHE), a consortium of regionally accredited local colleges and universities, of which UI&U is a member.

Fritz has a master of business administration and a master of management with a concentration in human resources management, both from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Union College in Kentucky.

Union Hosts Second Brattleboro Higher Education Fair September 29

The Brattleboro Academic Center at VABEC

Fair will feature experts from eight regional colleges and universities

BRATTLEBORO – Union Institute & University, a private, non-profit university in Brattleboro, will host the second annual Brattleboro Area Higher Education Fair, Thursday, September 29th, from 5:30 -7 p.m. at VABEC on Old Guilford Road in Brattleboro. The free event is co-sponsored by the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce and will feature representatives from eight Brattleboro-area colleges and universities including: Community College of Vermont, Marlboro College, SIT Graduate Institute, Greenfield Community College, Union Institute & University, Keene State College, Vermont Technical College, and River Valley Community College.

Attendees can learn about graduate degree programs in areas including: business, psychology, international education, sustainability, health care administration, education, and interdisciplinary studies. In addition, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees are offered at several of the participating higher education institutions in a number of disciplines and delivery models. Michele Delhaye from VSAC will also be present to answer questions about financing education.

Key representatives will be on hand to answer questions about a number of important topics including graduate education, low-residency and online degree programs, study abroad, and choosing between a two-year specialized or community college.

The Higher Education Fair is ideal for students and parents, working adults looking to return to college, employees of local organizations, as well as faculty and staff from local schools who want to learn more about the colleges and universities located in the greater Brattleboro area, or who may be interested in an advanced degree. The event will feature light refreshments. Donations will be accepted on behalf of the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce “Skills for Success” scholarship.

For more information contact the Brattleboro Academic Center at brattleborocenter@myunion.edu, or at 802-257-9411.

California Commencement Honors Fallen Officer; Mayor Quan to Speak

Union will present a new graduate with the Sergeant Mark Dunakin Award for Extraordinary Achievement

SACRAMENTO, CA – Students from Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) Sacramento and Los Angeles Academic Centers will converge July 24th at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Sacramento to participate in the Union Institute & University California Commencement. The new graduates have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees from the private, non-profit university that, since 1964, has provided higher education opportunities for adult learners. The Honorable Mayor Jean Quan, the first woman and first Asian-American to be elected mayor of Oakland, will deliver the keynote address.

The commencement also marks the inauguration of the Mark Dunakin Award for Extraordinary Achievement, to be presented at the California Commencement each year to a law enforcement officer and graduate of the university’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management program. The award, given to an officer who represents the best in his or her field, was established in honor of Mark Dunakin, a sergeant with the Oakland Police Department and graduate of the Sacramento Academic Center’s CJM program, who was killed in the line of duty in Oakland in March of 2009.

Mayor Quan was elected to her current position after serving for eight years and two terms on Oakland's City Council. Throughout her public service career, she has championed several public safety initiatives. As a city council member she expanded neighborhood crime prevention programs, CORE (Citizens Organized to Respond to Emergencies) training, and added new services for sexually exploited minors and victims of domestic violence.

“As an advocate for public safety and higher education in Oakland and beyond, Mayor Quan’s participation at our California commencement is a testament to Sergeant Dunakin and the valuable work our students and alumni in California do every day to uplift and improve their neighborhoods and to keep residents safe,” said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University. “Mayor Quan shares Union’s commitment to empowering lives and communities. We are deeply honored that she will serve as our commencement speaker.”

Union Institute & University’s California Commencement will begin at 11 a.m., July 24, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, 6151 H Street, in Sacramento. For more information contact Nicole Hamilton, PR Manager, at Nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu, or at 513-487-1194.

Partnership With Columbus State Community College Grows

Union is the only outside university that offers a “3+1” opportunity on-site at the community college

CINCINNATI – Union Institute & University (UI&U) today announced that it will bring four additional bachelor of science programs to Columbus State Community College (CCSC), providing more opportunities for Columbus State students with an associate degree to earn a bachelor of science degree from UI&U, the private, non-profit university headquartered in Cincinnati.

In September 2010, UI&U faculty began teaching courses on-site at Columbus State’s downtown campus to CSCC students who are enrolled in UI&U’s sport management concentration with a goal to earn a UI&U BS in leadership. The first class exceeded the enrollment goals, and prompted the two higher learning institutions to add additional BS degree programs in criminal justice, early childhood studies, emergency services management, and business management.

“We are pleased to be able to create structured learning experiences that meet the specific needs and career objectives of Columbus State graduates,” said Dr. Carolyn Turner, UI&U undergraduate dean. “By working closely with Columbus State faculty, we were able to design degree programs that are not only in line with the goals of the Columbus State student, but also reinforce UI&U’s dedication to providing relevant and academically-challenging undergraduate programs that fit the lifestyle of today’s busy students.”

While Columbus State has many agreements with nearby colleges and universities, UI&U is the only outside college that offers a “3+1” opportunity onsite at CSCC. Students can take all four years of their bachelor’s degree at Columbus State with the first three years offered by CSCC and the last through classes offered by Union. This offers students a substantial savings on their tuition, and provides a convenient and accelerated path to attain a bachelor’s degree.

"Columbus State has a history of working with other institutions to offer a variety of options for our graduates to continue their education," says Will Kopp, vice president for Institutional Advancement. "Union Institute & University offers a fresh option by providing instructors and classes for CCSC students directly on the Columbus State downtown campus. That arrangement is a very convenient option for our students."

An articulation agreement recently established between UI&U and Columbus State allows Columbus State students from selected programs to transfer appropriate course work toward their bachelor’s degree at UI&U. In addition, graduates of Columbus State’s associate degree programs who transfer into UI&U’s undergraduate program receive a 10 percent discount on the tuition rate. They also receive a tuition scholarship for the last four credits if they maintain continuous enrollment in good standing with UI&U.

Courses in criminal justice management begin in late June and business management, emergency services management, and early childhood studies courses, all leading to bachelor’s degree with these specific majors, will start in September 2011.

For more information about the new programs please contact Nicole Hamilton, UI&U public relations manager at 513-487-1194 or nicole.hamilton@myunion.edu.

Cincinnati Center Hosts Degree Completion Open House June 8

CINCINNATI, OH - Union Institute & University (UI&U), a private, non-profit university headquartered in Walnut Hills, will host an Undergraduate Open House for those interested in learning more about the university’s undergraduate degree completion programs, from 2-7 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, at the Cincinnati Academic Center located at 440 East McMillan Street. Faculty will be on hand at the open house to talk to potential students, and enrollment counselors will be available to evaluate transcripts on-the-spot.

Since 1964, Union has offered degree completion programs designed for adults who seek a customized, faculty-directed degree program that fits their busy schedule. The university offers B.A. and B.S. degree programs in a variety of majors including liberal studies (with five areas of concentration including writing, psychology, and sustainability), as well as business management, business administration, criminal justice management, leadership, early childhood studies, emergency service management, and social work. In addition, Union is one of the only higher education institutions in the country to offer a BS in maternal child health: lactation consulting.

Union’s accelerated undergraduate degree programs incorporate the students’ prior transfer credits earned at other universities or colleges, consider the students’ relevant professional experience and knowledge, and identify a set of remaining courses that reflect the students’ personal goals and satisfies UI&U degree requirements. Unlike most universities, Union does not put a time limit on transferring in credits earned at other higher learning institutions.

Reservations for the June 8 open house are not required, but recommended. For more information contact Union Institute & University’s Cincinnati Academic Center admissions personnel at admissions@myunion.edu or at 513-487-1219.

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Union Institute & University Announces 8-Week Sessions for Continuing Adult Education

WALNUT HILLS - Union Institute & University (UI&U), an accredited university since 1964 offering interdisciplinary plans of study for adult learners, will begin offering eight-week summer courses June 24. The classes, held at UI&U’s headquarters in Walnut Hills, are designed for working adults who want to enhance skills and continue their education to further their careers. UI&U undergraduate learners may also earn college credits for the courses.

Featured Classes Are:

Grant/Proposal Writing - 4 credits - Deborah Wilcox, Ph.D.
Saturdays June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16
9 a.m. - noon

Human Resources Management - 4 credits - Rick Read, Ed.D.
Thursdays June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14
6 - 9 p.m.
(For this course, learners must have taken a college level writing or English course, or one of the following: Introduction to Business; Principles of Management; or Business Principles)

Introduction to Humanities - 4 credits - Bill Williams, Ph.D.
Wednesdays, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13
6 - 9 p.m.
(For this course, learners must have taken at least one college level writing course)

Ethical Issues in Social Work - 4 credits - Jennifer Jackson, MSW
Tuesdays, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Classes will be held at UI&U Cincinnati Academic Center, 440 E. McMillan Street, Walnut Hills. For registration and tuition information, contact UI&U at 513-487-1225, or (800) 486-3116, ext. 1225, or send an email to cinti.admissions@tui.edu. Space is limited. Learners are encouraged to register by Thursday, June 12, 2008.