The university's policy on Academic Honesty is printed below the graphics to the right. It's pretty straightforward: any work you submit must be your own and any sources you use in the preparation of that work must be cited in the proper MLA format.

What needs to be cited? One of my grad colleagues used to say, "If you didn't come out of the womb knowing it--you'd best cite it." To that I'd only add, "when in doubt, cite it." Only takes a minute to properly cite a source, so please do.

The reasons are twofold: first, you must give credit to the original source. And second, in the academic world where your work resides, other scholars need to have access to your source for further study and a deeper contextual understanding.

Essentially, as you'll find out in your academic career, citing sources is the norm, it's easy, and the consequences for not doing so are serious. As an instructor, I don't feel that it's my job search out plagiarism. But, if I get the feeling from reading a text that the work might not completely comply with the university policy, it's a pretty sure bet that I'll find the source, then turn the matter over to the Director of Composition, the Chairman of the Department, and the Dean as specified in the policy linked to the right.

Need guidance on how to create MLA footnotes? Purdue University has a handy reference section.

Academic Dishonesty:  Refer to the TCU Undergraduate Studies Catalog. 

http://www.catalog.tcu.edu/undergraduate/page.asp?page=2_20_100#anch500, as quoted here:

“An academic community requires the highest standards of honor and integrity in all of its participants if it is to fulfill its missions. In such a community faculty, students, and staff are expected to maintain high standards of academic conduct. The purpose of this policy is to make all aware of these expectations. Additionally, the policy outlines some, but not all, of the situations which can arise that violate these standards. Further, the policy sets forth a set of procedures, characterized by a "sense of fair play," which will be used when these standards are violated. In this spirit, definitions of academic misconduct are listed below. These are not meant to be exhaustive.
I. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Any act that violates the spirit of the academic conduct policy is considered academic misconduct. Specific examples include, but are not limited to:
A. Cheating. Includes, but is not limited to:
1. Copying from another student's test paper, laboratory report, other report, or computer files and listings.
2. Using in any academic exercise or academic setting, material and/or devices not authorized by the person in charge of the test.
3. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during an academic exercise without the permission of the person in charge of the exercise.
4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in its entirety or in part, the contents of a test or other assignment unauthorized for release.
5. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself, in a manner that leads to misrepresentation of either or both students work.
B. Plagiarism. The appropriation, theft, purchase, or obtaining by any means another's work, and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that work as one's own offered for credit. Appropriation includes the quoting or paraphrasing of another's work without giving credit therefore.
C. Collusion. The unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing work offered for credit.
D. Abuse of resource materials. Mutilating, destroying, concealing, or stealing such materials.
E. Computer misuse. Unauthorized or illegal use of computer software or hardware through the TCU Computer Center or through any programs, terminals, or freestanding computers owned, leased, or operated by TCU or any of its academic units for the purpose of affecting the academic standing of a student.
F. Fabrication and falsification. Unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. Falsification involves altering information for use in any academic exercise. Fabrication involves inventing or counterfeiting information for use in any academic exercise.
G. Multiple submission. The submission by the same individual of substantial portions of the same academic work (including oral reports) for credit more than once in the same or another class without authorization.
H. Complicity in academic misconduct. Helping another to commit an act of academic misconduct.
I. Bearing false witness. Knowingly and falsely accusing another student of academic misconduct.”

 

All cases of suspected academic misconduct will be referred to the Director of Composition. Sanctions imposed for cases of academic misconduct range from zero credit for the assignment to expulsion from the University. This policy applies to homework and drafts as well as final papers.