Academic Ethics and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a very serious violation of academic ethics and the NECC Student Code of Conduct. The college expects all students to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity.
The college defines plagiarism as the use of any other person’s research, images, words or ideas as though they were your own, without giving appropriate credit to the original source. If students use another person’s research, images, words or ideas they must give credit to the original source through proper citation (consult the instructor about this requirement), regardless of whether the use is a direct quote, or it is incorporated into the student’s own work. Plagiarism may range in severity from unintentional omission of credit, to intentional, dishonest representation of borrowed work as one’s own.
Instructors are required to provide students with a clearly written definition of plagiarism applicable in their discipline as part of the course syllabus. Students are responsible for understanding what plagiarism is in each of their classes. The Director of Community Standards or Dean of Students will use the college’s definition, and that of the instructor, as a criterion for judging plagiarism allegations. Instructors who discover, or are first made aware of, the incident will address the instance of plagiarism. Instructors must discuss the evidence of plagiarism with the student prior to taking action. Instructors who take action as a result of a plagiarism incident may report such action to the Director of Community Standards and/or the Dean of Students. There shall be a range of penalties at the discretion of the instructor which may include, but is not limited to, failure of an assignment or course. The Director of Community Standards or Dean of Students may take disciplinary action against students who are reported for plagiarism.
Students have a right to file a grievance if they feel that the action taken in the alleged plagiarism case discriminated or abrogated their individual or student rights. Students may contact the Dean of Students for information regarding the Student Grievance Procedure.
Updated: 2024-2025 Academic Catalog (Effective Fall 2024)