POLICY:

PLAGIARISM
Document number
Custodian/Responsible Registrar
Executive
Responsible division All line managers
Status Approved
Approved by Senate
Date of approval 17 July 2008
Amendments
Dates of amendments
Review date 2013

Related documents
UJ documents Other
(e.g. Policies, Regulations, Guidelines, Contracts) (e.g. Legislation, DoE and HEQC directives and guidelines)
UJ Vision, Mission and Values; Constitution of the Republic of
Academic Rules and Regulations; South Africa: 1996;
Assessment Policy; Higher Education Act (Act 101 of
Academic Programme Policy; 1997);
Handling of Student Complaints; CHE: Higher Education Quality
Language Policy; Committee (HEQC) Criteria for
Guidelines on Academic Institutional Audits: November,
Authorship; 2004;
Policy on Higher Degrees and CHE: Higher Education Quality
Postgraduate Studies; Committee (HEQC) Criteria for
Policy on Teaching and Learning; Programme Accreditation:
Policy on Learning Support November, 2004;
Materials; Labour Relations Act (Act 66 of
Policy on Intellectual Property; 1995) as amended;
Policy on Access to Information; Protected Disclosure Act (Act 26 of
UJ Code of Academic and Research 2000).
 Ethics;
UJ Grievance Procedures;
UJ Student Regulations;
UJ Student Regulations for Student
Discipline;
UJ Student Representative Council
Constitution;
UJ Whistleblowers’ Policy;
DALRO Principles.

Stakeholders affected by this document Management Executive Committee

(units and divisions that should be Members;
familiar with it): Executive Deans;
Heads: Academic Departments;
Lecturers (Part-time and Full-time);
Executive Directors/Directors:
Academic Support Units.
Heads: Academic Support Units.

Website address of this document: INTRANET

 CONTENTS

Page
1. PREAMBLE 4
2. PURPOSE 4
3. SCOPE 5
4. MEANING OF PLAGIARISM 5
5. POINT OF DEPARTURE 6
6. PRECAUTIONARY/PREVENTIVE MEASURES 7
6.1 Responsibilities of Faculties 7
6.2 Responsibilities of Academic Employees 8
6.3 Responsibilities of Students 8
7. MANAGEMENT OF ALLEGED CASES OF PLAGIARISM 9
8. LEVELS OF INFRINGEMENT 9
8.1 Informal Developmental and Educative Response 9
8.2 Formal Responses to Alleged Acts of Plagiarism 10
8.2.1 Level One: Minor First Time Infringements – Innocent Plagiarism 10
8.2.2 Level Two: Repeated Minor or First Time
Infringements – Negligent Plagiarism and Confined in Scope 10
8.2.3 Level Three: Repeated Offences and/or Major Offences
that are Possibly Intentional and Suggest collusion or Deliberate
Dishonesty – Intentional Plagiarism and Broad
in Scope
9. ALLEGED PLAGIARISM BY UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES 11
10. FACULTY/DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEES RESPONSIBLE 11
FOR ACTS OF PLAGIARISM 11
11. HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT TO
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY 12
12. RELATIONSHIP OF POLICY WITH OTHER UNIVERSITY
POLICIES 12
13. POLICY REVIEW 12
APPENDICES 12
Appendix A: Warning about Plagiarism 13
Appendix B: Assignment Cover Page/Ante-Plagiarism Declaration
Appendix C: Procedures: Management of Alleged Acts of Plagiarism
Appendix D: Affidavit: Master’s and Doctoral Students
 PLAGIARISM POLICY

1. PREAMBLE

The University of Johannesburg is committed to the ideal of distinguished

scholarship, excellence in teaching and learning and the provision of
credible and innovative research findings that carry international
recognition as well as national credibility and legitimacy. Academic
honesty and integrity are preconditions for fulfilling this ideal. Plagiarism,
as a worldwide phenomenon and a component of academic dishonesty,
undermines the value of university degrees, scholarship and intellectual
progress and poses a potential threat to the University’s goal of realising
the highest international standards of academic and professional
performance.

The policy makes a clear statement concerning the importance of

underpinning ethical values in teaching and learning in respect of an
acknowledgement of the contribution by others to the knowledge capital of
society as well as providing students with developmental opportunities for
the acquisition of academic and referencing conventions so that they can
be held accountable for future infringements.

The Plagiarism Policy forms part of the policies and practices of the
University of Johannesburg and is a key element in maintaining a culture
of academic honesty and integrity as well as preventing and managing
acts of plagiarism by University employees and students, thereby
minimising a potential source of legal risk to the University.

2. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to:

2.1 provide a clear statement concerning the meaning of plagiarism (i.e. what
is and what is not acceptable) to serve as a point of departure across all
faculties and campuses;
2.2 establish a clear set of processes, guidelines and procedures that
addresses a developmental approach towards the prevention of
plagiarism as well as the management of acts of plagiarism and
associated disciplinary actions;
2.3 identify the responsibilities of faculties and other structures, academic
employees and students with regard to acts of alleged plagiarism.
3. SCOPE

The policy applies to all academic employees and all students registered
for all subsidised and non-subsidised academic programmes at the
University across all faculties and campuses.

4. MEANING OF PLAGIARISM
4.1 Plagiarism is the act of representing the ideas, writings, works or inventions
of others as the fruits of one’s own original intellectual endeavours without
adequately acknowledging the author or source. Within the copyright law,
provision is only made for a limiting or legitimate curtailment of the
copyright of the holder of the right if the infringement qualifies as “fair
dealing” which presupposes adequate and full acknowledgement of the
source. Any contravention is not merely immoral and unethical but a
contravention of the law. “Fair dealing” includes research or private study,
criticism or review of that work or for the purpose of reporting on current
events in a periodical provided the source of the work as well as the name
of the author must be mentioned in full. Where a student or researcher’s
work is not authentically his/her own, such work does not qualify as an
academic output, whether this is a student assignment or employee
research, and will be viewed as plagiarism, which is defined as the
appropriation of another's work, whether intentionally or unintentionally,
without proper acknowledgement. Copyright is the specific intellectual
property right, which an author acquires in accordance with the Copyright
Act, No. 98 of 1978 in respect of a protected work. Copyright infringement
includes the infringement of the economic rights of the right holder and the
moral rights of the author. Academic dishonesty is a denial of ethical
values, it undermines the credibility of research results and is a negation of
sound academic practice. No value is added if copyright is infringed or
where unethical research practices are used. Material gained through
dishonesty adds nothing to existing knowledge: there is no growth in the
independence of the writer’s intellectual involvement and the writer’s
academic integrity is compromised. Unethical research practices
undermine the purpose of education by casting doubt on the institution’s
ability to promote sound and efficient scholarship and will not be tolerated.
4.2 Plagiarism constitutes an important breach of five fundamental values of
academic integrity, viz. honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility
(University of Alberta), as well as of academic conventions.
4.3 Plagiarism is a serious offence as it undermines basic tenets on which
higher education is founded in that the student fails to:

4.3.1 develop the ability to analyse, interpret and evaluate available knowledge
and information;
4.3.2 acquire the requisite knowledge, competencies and skills for the
workplace;
4.3.3 develop a personal style of writing;
4.3.4 establish/develop an independent voice that articulates knowledge and
information in a unique way.

4.4 Plagiarism is unethical because it is intellectual theft – the plagiariser

stands to benefit or gain an unfair advantage from the theft.
4.5 Plagiarism may take many forms, ranging from a deliberate intention to
deceive to a limited knowledge or understanding of academic conventions
or a lack of skills or care in presentation.
4.6 Acts of plagiarism include, but are not limited to written texts (whether
electronic or printed, published or unpublished), visual texts, multimedia
products, music, spoken text, creative works or another person’s
assignment.

4.7 Acts of plagiarism can be committed in:

4.7.1 any work submitted as part of the assessment process with the exception
of formal summative assessments (written examinations and tests) where
the application of norms for referencing may not be possible;
4.7.2 the preparation of student learning materials, academic presentations and
work submitted for publication.

5. POINT OF DEPARTURE

5.1 Plagiarism is a serious form of academic misconduct and is treated as

such by the University.
5.2 The University recognises that identification of plagiarism is not a simple
matter, and that contestation around issues such as poor referencing or
subtle use of unattributed ideas can arise.
5.3 Information that is generally known as common knowledge does not
require source acknowledgement.
5.4 Plagiarism as a result of lack of knowledge or inadequate skills still
constitutes plagiarism.
5.5 Plagiarism is viewed initially as a developmental and educational issue for
students. Serious or repeated plagiarism and plagiarism committed by
more senior students (i.e.3rd and 4th year students) and by academic
employees is dealt with as a disciplinary offence.
5.6 An individual may not allow and will not allow, anyone to copy his/her work
with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
5.7 While referencing the work of others is a key issue in avoiding plagiarism,
it is recognised that different disciplines may have different conventions in
this regard.
5.8 Students must be adequately educated to become independent thinkers
and be informed about the academic requirements regarding the
conventions of referencing and the use of others’ work in their particular
discipline, as well as the penalties associated with the perpetration of
plagiarism.
5.9 The penalties associated with plagiarism are on a continuum and vary
depending upon the assumed or expected degree of familiarity with
academic conventions, the level of academic development, the severity of
the transgression and the legal risk to the University.
5.10 Maintenance of standards of mutual honesty and the successful
administration of this policy depend on the mutual cooperation of
academic employees and students.
5.11 The author of a work is responsible and accountable for its academic
integrity.
5.12 A transgression by a junior undergraduate student is dealt with in a more
formative educational manner than a transgression by a senior
 undergraduate (third-or fourth-year) student. Transgressions by post
graduate students are managed in a more punitive manner.

6. PRECAUTIONARY/PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

The University is committed to helping students understand the

conventions that govern academic communication and to assist them to
avoid action that may result in academic misconduct/plagiarism. In this
regard the following applies:

6.1 Responsibilities of Faculties

Management of plagiarism in the educational activities of the University is

a faculty concern. Executive Deans, Heads of Departments and individual
academic employees carry the responsibility for ensuring at least the
following:

6.1.1 All curricula address issues of plagiarism and mastery of relevant norms of
academic writing.
6.1.2 The University policy on plagiarism must be readily accessible to students.
6.1.3 All academic staff are familiar with the plagiarism policy and related
procedures.
6.1.4 Provision is made for all learning guides to carry a prominently displayed
warning about plagiarism. (An example for undergraduate students is
attached as Appendix A.)
6.1.5 Provision is made for an approved signed declaration form to accompany
all submitted assignments. At master’s and doctoral level a student
submits an affidavit with the submission of a minor research dissertation,
dissertation or thesis. The declaration must state that the student both
understands what plagiarism is and that the work of other parties is clearly
referenced. (An example for undergraduate students is attached as
Appendix B.)
6.1.6 Provision is made for an approved signed declaration form, to accompany
all dissertations or theses, which states that the student both understands
what plagiarism is and that the work of other parties as well as citations
from his/her own previous publications are clearly referenced. (An
example for postgraduate students is attached as Appendix D.)
6.1.7 Disciplinary procedures are implemented in a fair and consistent manner.
6.1.8 All practical means of plagiarism detection are used by Heads of
Departments and individual academic employees.

6.2 Responsibilities of Academic Employees

6.2.1 Academic employees have the responsibility to develop the potential of

students to think for themselves and express their own ideas in adequate
terms.
6.2.2 Academic employees carry the responsibility for ensuring that they
themselves:

(a) know and understand the University policy on plagiarism and are
consistent in its application to students;
 (b) act as role models and scrupulously avoid plagiarism in their own
work, including, but not limited to, research, teaching materials,
policies, documentation, web-based notes.

6.2.3 Induct students into academic conventions of referencing through:

(a) provision of adequate training and information about the seriousness

and consequences of plagiarism as well as the writing conventions
and referencing requirements for the use of the work of others;
(b) appropriate referrals to referencing sources;
(c) provision of sufficient opportunities for implementation of the
conventions of referencing and writing development, with structured
feedback, thereby enabling students to gain the necessary
knowledge and develop the necessary skills to avoid plagiarism.

6.2.4 Ensure that all learning guides carry a prominently displayed warning
about plagiarism, the associated penalties and a statement concerning the
student’s responsibilities in this regard.
6.2.5 Ensure that a signed declaration accompanies all assignments and
theses/dissertations submitted as a hard copy.
6.2.6 Ensure that a compulsory tick-off field is built into every electronically
submitted assignment and thesis/dissertation which the student must tick
off, thereby declaring that he/she has read the declaration, understands
the content and accepts that the tick-off function is the equivalent of a
signed declaration.

6.3 Responsibilities of Students

Students carry the responsibility for ensuring that they:

6.3.1 develop their own relevant thinking skills and academic capacity to
optimum levels;
6.3.2 read, understand and comply with the plagiarism policy;
6.3.3 familiarise themselves with the concept of plagiarism and with the
conventions of referencing and norms of academic writing by engaging
with the learning materials made available and/or recommended through
the teaching and learning process;
6.3.3 request assistance from staff should they have any doubts or concerns
about plagiarism in their own writing;
6.3.4 ensure they do not deliberately or negligently allow their work to be
copied.

7. MANAGEMENT OF ALLEGED CASES OF PLAGIARISM

The policy introduces a four-level process for dealing with incidents of

student plagiarism using a developmental approach, a disciplinary route
as deemed necessary, a relevant faculty/departmental committee
responsible for dealing with alleged acts plagiarism and a student
plagiarism register.
7.1 In all instances of dealing with plagiarism, it is the responsibility of the
individual academic employee to first assess the seriousness of the
infringement, in consultation with others, if necessary.
7.2 Action is dependent on the seriousness of the infringement with first,
minor infringements handled developmentally and serious or repeat
offences with more gravity.
7.3 Factors to be considered include, amongst others, the year or study level
of the student; intent to deceive and, if any, the level and effect of
infringements (including the level of legal risk to the University), previous
infringements, extent or amount of plagiarism, conventions associated
with the particular discipline, degree of developmental preparedness and
possible gains if the act of plagiarism goes undetected.

8. LEVELS OF INFRINGEMENT

8.1 Informal Developmental and Educative Response

Where, in the light of all relevant factors outlined above, the act of
plagiarism is considered to be insignificant and the result of a lack of
knowledge:

8.1.1 the academic employee will:

(a) counsel the student on the nature of plagiarism;

(b) provide any advice or assistance necessary, e.g. referral to
workshops/literature to develop writing skills;
(c) continue to assist with advice concerning good academic practice
and the conventions of the relevant academic discipline;
(d) make it clear that the onus is on the student to follow through on the
referral/s and advice.

8.1.2 No specific formal penalties will be applied, although the academic

concerned retains the right to deduct marks allocated for application of
referencing conventions.
8.1.3 The student’s name will not be placed on the student plagiarism register;
but will be submitted to the relevant Faculty/Departmental Committee for
noting. In the event that the infringement takes place in a service
department, the incident will be referred to and noted in the relevant home
committee.
8.1.4 Failure to act on advice and/or referrals, and/or further transgressions will
be followed by formal action against the student concerned, at the most
appropriate level.

8.2 Formal Responses to Alleged Acts of Plagiarism

Where significant acts of alleged plagiarism are deemed to have occurred,

the following three levels provide guidelines as to the degree/extent of the
infringement and lay down a range of formal appropriate courses of action
that may be followed.
8.2.1 Level One: Minor First Time Infringements – Innocent Plagiarism

These infringements are minor, first offences, usually committed during

the first or second year of undergraduate study and are considered to
have been unintentional. The alleged infringement is handled as follows:

(a) The academic employee concerned:

(i) meets with the student to explain the infringement and the
consequences thereof;
(ii) retains a copy of the work concerned;
(iii) gives the student an opportunity to resubmit the work within a
given time-frame after which a new mark will be given,
amounting to not more than 50%;
(iv) gives the student a written warning;
(v) records his/her name on the plagiarism register.

(b) Should the student choose not to resubmit the work, he/she is
allocated 0% for the work and a report is submitted to the relevant
Faculty/Departmental Committee for noting.
(c) Should the student deny the alleged infringement or challenge the
outcome, the matter will be submitted to the relevant
Faculty/Departmental Committee.

8.2.2 Level Two: Repeated Minor or First Time Major Infringements –

Negligent Plagiarism and Confined in Scope

(a) This level includes first offenders who deny allegations of plagiarism,
second plagiarism offenders, students who have submitted the work
of other students or first time acts of major plagiarism which may not
have been intentional.
(b) The alleged infringement is handled by the relevant Faculty/
Departmental Committee.
(c) The maximum penalty that may be imposed by the relevant Faculty/
Departmental Committee is cancellation of registration of the module
concerned, documentation of the offence in the faculty records and
placement of the student’s name on the plagiarism register.
(d) Decisions taken by the relevant Committee are submitted to the
Faculty Board for ratification.
(e) The decision is subject to appeal by the Executive Dean who may
refer the matter back to the relevant Committee or who may refer the
case to the University’s Student Disciplinary Committee.
(f) The Faculty/Departmental Committee gives the student an opportunity
to resubmit the work within a given time-frame after which a new
mark will be given, amounting to not more than 25%.

8.2.3 Level Three: Repeated Offences and/or Major Offences that are
Possibly Intentional and Suggest Collusion or Deliberate Dishonesty
– Intentional Plagiarism and Broad in Scope

(a) These are major acts of plagiarism that developmental and

educational approaches have not had the effect of curbing.
 (b) All alleged acts of plagiarism at postgraduate level are considered to
occur at Level Three.
(c) Level Three acts of alleged plagiarism are investigated with a view to
referral to the existing Student Disciplinary Committee.
(d) In the event of the student being found guilty, the student’s name is
placed on the plagiarism register and all documentation related to the
offence is filed in his/her ITS/Oracle record.
(e) A student is not given an opportunity to resubmit the work and is
given 0%.

9. ALLEGED PLAGIARISM BY UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES

Alleged plagiarism by any University employee is regarded in a very

serious light and will be investigated in accordance with the University’s
disciplinary codes with a view to disciplinary action.

10. FACULTY/DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR

ALLEGED ACTS OF PLAGIARISM

10.1 Faculties are responsible for the structuring of an appropriate committee

or extending the functions of an existing committee to include the
management of cases of alleged plagiarism.
10.2 The relevant Faculty/Departmental Committee handles relatively minor
acts of alleged plagiarism thereby preventing the flooding of the central
University disciplinary structures with matters that require developmental
and educational approaches. The Committee is authorised to assign
appropriate but limited penalties within a fair and consistent administrative
process. The Committee protects individual academics from making
subjective decisions and is subject to the normal appeals process.

10.3 The functions of the Plagiarism Committee are to:

10.3.1 record the name/s of the student/s counselled by individual academics in

respect of their educational development in academic conventions and
referencing requirements;
10.3.2 note the nature of level one and two infringements and penalties imposed
by academic employees and refer these to the Faculty Board for
ratification;
10.3.3 consider appeals by students against the decisions of individual academic
employees;
10.3.4 consider whether or not to handle a particular alleged infringement itself or
refer the matter directly to the central disciplinary structure;
10.3.5 monitor that accurate records are kept;
10.3.6 consider whether adequate developmental initiatives are in place and the
effectiveness thereof.

10.4 Procedures pertaining to the management of acts of alleged plagiarism

are attached as Appendix C.
11. HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY

If a student is found guilty of plagiarism and expelled:

11.1 the Registrar advises the registrars at all other higher education
institutions (HEIs) of the fact and associated circumstances for information
purposes;
11.2 all other HEIs note the verdict and honour the duration of exclusion from
further study by the individual concerned.

12. RELATIONSHIP OF POLICY WITH OTHER UNIVERSITY POLICIES

This policy does not over-ride the established administrative or appeal

procedures that would normally be followed in relation to academic
matters, e.g. appeal against assessment grades, exclusion, student rules
and regulations and Student Representative Council’s (SRC) Code of
Conduct.

13. POLICY REVIEW

Regular review of the policy will be done in line with the approved
University Policy on Policy Development. This takes place in consultation
with the relevant quality assurance structures at management and
institutional level under the auspices of the official custodian of this policy
namely the Registrar to ensure that the policy remains valid and current in
the light of changing circumstances. Unless circumstances dictate
otherwise, the policy will be formally reviewed within the six-year
University review cycle.
 APPENDIX A

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

FACULTY: ........................................

DEPT: ................................................

WARNING ABOUT PLAGIARISM

The Department of ................... at the University of Johannesburg places

great emphasis on integrity and ethical conduct in the preparation of
assignments. It is very important to us that all of our students know how
secondary material should be used, as well as the scholarly method of
presenting and acknowledging references.

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of the words or ideas of others. It

is tantamount to academic theft, and is therefore a very serious offence.
To plagiarise means to use the words or ideas of another to create the
false impression that these words and ideas are your own. In order to
avoid committing plagiarism, you must, at all times, acknowledge the
source from which you have borrowed certain words or ideas.

If after reading this warning about plagiarism you are still uncertain about
how to avoid committing plagiarism, you should speak to your lecturer
about it before your assignment is submitted.

Students who submit assignments in which plagiarism can be

demonstrated will be referred to the Dean of the Faculty for disciplinary
action.
 APPENDIX B

ASSIGNMENT COVER PAGE / ANTI-PLAGIARISM DECLARATION

University of Johannesburg

Department: ..................

ASSIGNMENT COVER PAGE

Title:………………………………………………………………………………..

Full name:……………………………………………………………..............
Student number…………………………………………………….................
Course:……………………………………………………………………...........
Lecturer:………………………………...........................................................
Due date:………………………………...........................................................

1. Plagiarism is to present someone else’s ideas as my own.

2. Where material written by other people has been used (either from a
printed source or from the internet), this has been carefully acknowledged
and referenced. I have used the Geneva Convention for citation and
referencing. Every contribution to and quotation from the work of other
people in this essay has been acknowledged through citation and
reference.

3. I know that plagiarism is wrong.

3.1 I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the University’s policy in
this regard.
3.2 I know that I would plagiarise if I do not give credit to my sources, or if I
copy sentences or paragraphs from a book, article or Internet source
without proper citation.
3.3 I know that even if I only change the wording slightly, I still plagiarise when
using someone else’s words without proper citation.
3.4 I declare that I have written my own sentences and paragraphs throughout
my essay and I have credited all ideas I have gained from other people’s
work.

4. I declare that this assignment is my own original work.

5. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as his or her own work.

SIGNATURE …………………………………….DATE………………………………..
APPENDIX C

PROCEDURES: MANAGEMENT OF ALLEGED ACTS OF PLAGIARISM

Procedures for the management of alleged acts of plagiarism are as follows:

1. PREPARATORY PHASE

1.1 It is the responsibility of the individual academic, who is of the opinion

that an act of plagiarism has been committed, to initially assess the
seriousness of the infringement – this may be carried out in consultation
with others, if necessary.
1.2 The decision regarding the seriousness of the alleged infringement will
determine whether it will be dealt with at an informal developmental and
educative level or a formal level.
1.3 The criteria against which the seriousness of the alleged infringement is
assessed includes, amongst others, the following:

1.3.1 level of preparedness of student (i.e. degree of induction to and

opportunities for application of the academic conventions of writing and
referencing);
1.3.2 year or level of study;
1.3.3 intent to deceive and, if any, the level effect of the infringement;
1.3.4 extent or amount of plagiarism in the work being assessed (quantified, if
possible);
1.3.5 the nature of the infringement (e.g. context in which it was found,
proportion of overall and/or module assessment mark, conventions
associated with the relevant discipline);
1.3.6 repetition of minor infringements or a more serious infringement;
1.3.7 possible gains should the infringement remain undetected.

1.4 On determination of the seriousness of the alleged infringement, the

academic concerned will deal with the student at the informal
developmental and educational level or proceed to level one or level two
of the formal process.

2. INFORMAL DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIVE RESPONSE

2.1 In the light of all the relevant criteria, should the infringement be
considered insignificant and an informal developmental and educational
response appropriate, the academic concerned shall:

2.1.1 counsel the student about the nature of plagiarism and the seriousness
and consequences of non-compliance with the referencing requirements
for use of work of others as well as the academic writing conventions of
the discipline concerned;
2.1.2 provide the student with relevant advice and support, e.g. referral to
workshops/literature to develop writing skills and/or any other remedial
assistance that may be required;
2.1.3 explain to the student the basis on which marks (if any) have been
deducted;
2.1.4 inform the student that his/her name will be forwarded to the
Faculty/Departmental Plagiarism or equivalent Committee for noting
purposes only;
2.1.5 ensure that the student understands that the onus is on him/her to follow
through on any recommendations and/or referrals and that a failure to act,
or further transgressions will be followed by formal action at the most
appropriate level;
2.1.6 monitor student progress and continue to assist when necessary.

2.2 Where the academic employee concerned considers the matter as

sufficiently serious to be treated as a formal offence, the matter is reported
to the Head of Department concerned and handled at the appropriate
formal response level. .

3. FORMAL RESPONSES

3.1 Level One: Minor First Time Infringements – Innocent Plagiarism

3.1.1 In the light of all the relevant criteria, should it be established that the
infringements are minor and first offences and considered unintentional,
the academic employee concerned:

(a) meets with the student to explain the infringement, the process that
will be followed and the possible outcomes;
(b) issues the student with a written warning;
(c) retains a copy of the original work in question;
(d) returns the original assignment to the student unmarked and
accompanied by a written request that the work be properly
referenced and returned for marking by a stipulated date. The
student is informed that the properly referenced assignment will be
remarked with the new mark amounting to no more than 50%.
(e) records the student’s name on the plagiarism register with the
student being advised in writing of other potential penalties that can
be imposed for plagiarism;
(f) refers the student for any remedial assistance that may be required;
(g) monitors the student’s progress and continues to assist when
necessary.

3.1.2 Should the student:

(a) accept the penalty, the matter ends here;

(b) elect not to resubmit the work, he/she is allocated 0% for the
assignment and a report is submitted to the Plagiarism Committee, or
equivalent, for noting;
(c) deny the alleged infringement or challenge the outcome, the matter is
referred, via the Head of Department, to the Plagiarism Committee
for further action;
 (d) wish to appeal against the penalty, he/she may do so by referring the
matter, via the Head of Department, to the Plagiarism Committee.

3.2 Level Two: Repeated Minor or First Time Major Infringements –

Negligent Plagiarism and Confined in Scope

3.2.1 This level refers to first offenders who deny allegations of plagiarism or
who wish to appeal against the penalty imposed, second plagiarism
offenders, students who have submitted the work of other students or first-
time acts of major plagiarism which may not have been intentional.
3.2.2 The alleged infringement is referred to the Plagiarism Committee via the
Head of Department.
3.2.3 The Plagiarism Committee investigates the alleged infringement based on
evidence provided and student records, where applicable.
3.2.4 The student concerned must be asked whether he/she wishes to appear
before the Plagiarism Committee.
3.2.5 Penalties that may be imposed by the Plagiarism Committee are:

(a) confirmation or repeal of the penalty imposed under a level two

infringement;
(b) a written warning;
(c) resubmission of the assignment;
(c) allocation of a mark of 0% for the assignment;
(d) cancellation of registration for the module concerned;
(d) a decision that the infringement is of such a serious nature that it be
referred directly to the Student’s Disciplinary Committee.

3.2.6 In the event of the student being found guilty, the student’s name is placed
on the plagiarism register and all documentation related to the offence is
filed in the faculty records.
3.2.7 In the event of the student being found not guilty, the allegation will be
withdrawn and the academic employee who laid the complaint informed
accordingly.
3.2.8 Decisions taken by the Plagiarism Committee are submitted to the Faculty
Board for ratification.
3.2.9 Students are provided with written reasons for any sanctions imposed.
3.2.10 The decision is subject to appeal by the Executive Dean who may refer
the matter back to the Plagiarism Committee or refer the case to the
University’s Student Disciplinary Committee.

3.3 Level Three: Repeated Offences and/or Major Offences that are
Possibly Intentional and Suggest Collusion or Deliberate Dishonesty
– Intentional Plagiarism and Broad in Scope

3.3.1 The alleged offences considered at level three are those where, in the
opinion of the Plagiarism Committee and the Executive Dean, the
circumstances are such that the matter cannot be dealt with appropriately
at departmental or faculty level and the penalty is likely to exceed that of
lower level infringements.
3.3.2 Level Three acts of alleged plagiarism are investigated with a view to
referral to the existing Student Disciplinary Committee and include:
 (a) major acts of plagiarism which developmental and educational
approaches have not had the effect of curbing;
(b) all alleged acts of plagiarism at postgraduate level.

3.3 Alleged Plagiarism by University Employees

Alleged plagiarism by any University employee will be investigated in

accordance with the University’s disciplinary codes with a view to
disciplinary action.

Approved by Senate 17 July 2008

APPENDIX D

AFFIDAVIT: MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

This serves to confirm that I _____________________________________________

ID number____________________________________________________________

Student number________________________________ enrolled student for the

Qualification___________________________________________________________

Faculty_______________________________________________________________
herewith declare that my academic work is in line with the Plagiarism Policy of
the University of Johannesburg. I further declare that the work presented in the

________________________________________(minor dissertation/dissertation/
thesis) is authentic and original, and that there is no copyright infringement in the
work. I declare that no unethical research practices were used or material gained
through dishonesty. I understand that plagiarism is a serious offence.

Signed at_____________________________on this _________________day of

______________200_.

_______________________________ ______________________________
Signature Print name

STAMP COMMISSIONER OF OATHS

Affidavit certified by a Commissioner of Oaths