The Honor Code and Academic Integrity: Why Plagiarism Is a Big Deal
At Wake Forest, we don’t just teach subjects; we instill honor. Our Honor Code is the bedrock of our academic community, and upholding it is a foundational expectation for every student.
A common violation of the Honor Code is plagiarism. The ZSR Library helps explain:
“Many people think of plagiarism as the simple copying of someone else’s words with the intent of passing them off as one’s own. While that is certainly a type of plagiarism, it is by no means the definition of it.
Plagiarism is a kind of intellectual theft, but rather than being a black-and-white issue, plagiarism comes in various shades of gray. Instances of plagiarism can range from the accidental misuse of a punctuation mark to the willful purchasing of a prepared essay – all instances of plagiarism, however, are in violation of the honor system.”
Plagiarism is taken very seriously by faculty. Students often see it as a mistake or an error in judgment, while faculty can see it as intellectual theft or fraud. Why?
Imagine an inventor creates a brilliant, unique recipe for a new soft drink. If a colleague steals that recipe, markets it as their own, and profits from it, that is clear-cut theft. In academia, ideas are faculty members’ currency. Faculty members spend years generating original research, unique analysis, and new knowledge. When a student plagiarizes, they are stealing someone’s intellectual property and claiming credit for work they did not do.
Beyond the ethical breach, plagiarism fundamentally undermines the entire purpose of a college education.
- Stuedents Are Not Learning: The goal of university study is to develop critical thinking, analysis, and intellectual or creative skills. By plagiarizing another person’s work, a student only demonstrates their ability to copy—they fail to develop the skills that a Wake Forest degree is meant to represent.
- Reputation and Consequences: An Honor Code violation is a serious mark on a student’s academic record. This can jeopardize applications to graduate or professional schools (like law or medical school), and it damages their academic reputation. It is always easier to do the right thing the first time than to face the consequences of academic misconduct.
We know students face many competing pressures and priorities in college, they are managing multiple deadlines, etc. Families can be an essential partner in reinforcing the Honor Code:
- Reinforce the Expectations: Remind your student that integrity is non-negotiable. Expect them to prioritize honesty and original work, even when under stress.
- Encourage Use of Resources: Our ZSR Library offers fantastic resources and tutorials on proper citation and avoiding plagiarism. Encourage your student to reach out to a librarian for help with research and sourcing.
- Remind Your Deacs to Cite Everything: Whether using information from a book, a website, a conversation, etc. credit must be given. When in doubt, cite it!
By reinforcing the importance of original work, you help us maintain a culture of honor and academic excellence.