PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANAGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD–500 030 (TELANGANA STATE)
ANTI-PLAGIARISM POLICY
Introduction
Academic Integrity, Ethics and Honesty are the most important components of the Academic, Research and Extension activities of the University. Teaching &Research is a novel profession based on extremely high moral values. There cannot be any room for claiming the credit for the work he/she has not undertaken. Many times it is observed that some of the
“academicians” knowingly or unknowingly publish or present other’s work as their own. Such acts will affect healthy academic atmosphere in the University and may also harm the reputation of the institution as well as the individual. It is therefore important to have in place a policy on plagiarism to avoid such type of acts.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as presenting another person’s work as one’s own work.
Presentation includes copying or reproducing it without the acknowledgement of the source.
Plagiarism involves copying of: phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or longer extracts from published or unpublished work (including from the Internet) that exceeds the boundaries of the legitimate cooperation without acknowledgement of the source. Plagiarism could be intentional (dishonest plagiarism) or non-intentional (negligent plagiarism).
Negligent Plagiarism
Negligent plagiarism means innocently or carelessly presenting another person’s work as one’s own without acknowledging the Source. It arises from one’s inadequate knowledge and competency in writing. It is also due to careless attitude resulting into non-compliance of standard verification procedures. In this type of plagiarism the degree of copying is not substantial.
Dishonest Plagiarism
Dishonest plagiarism means knowingly and deliberately presenting another person’s work as one’s own work without acknowledging the Source. It involves intentional copying of substantial proportions of the other’s work without written or unwritten permission and also without acknowledging the source.
Detection of Plagiarism
It is the prime responsibility of an institute or individual to distinguish original content from plagiarized work. The detection of plagiarism is a judgment to be made by a person who understands the subject and who is also aware of the definition of plagiarism. Such person should also be aware of the tools available to detect the plagiarism. The University has to procure appropriate software for detection of Plagiarism Software.
Compliance Statements
All students are required to submit a signed statement that they are aware of the plagiarism policy of the University and no part of their work be it assignment, term paper, project report, synopsis, thesis or dissertation etc is not copied in any form and it is their own creation.
Awareness programmes and trainings
A consultant / expert on anti-plagiarism may be engaged for a period of one year. First three months for conducting awareness and sensitization training covering faculty and students across the University campuses. Following this the expert will provide hand holding support to the students and faculty so as to improve their documents to fulfill the similarity levels set by the drive in the University within a month after completing the awareness and sensitization training and procurement of access to software.
I. Percentage of similarity permitted in case of thesis / dissertation:
The similarly of PG research will be checked at two stages:
i. Submission of synopsis ii. Submission of final thesis.
i. Synopsis stage: Before the submission of the final draft of synopsis the proposal shall be run through appropriate plagiarism detection software. The maximum permissible percentage of similarity allowed in the complete synopsis of PG Studies as given in the table.
S. No Thesis/ Dissertation Research Papers (Pre- requisite for submission)
Percentage of similarity limits
1 Introduction Introduction
<50 2 Review of Literature -
3 Material and Methods Material and Methods 4 Abstract & Executive
summary
Abstract or Summary
<15 5 Results and Discussion Results and Discussion
6 Summary and Conclusions
Summary and Conclusions 7 References / Bibliography / Literature cited, Authors list
and affiliation, Covering letters, Certificates, Preface, Acknowledgments, Annexures, Appendices
Exempted
ii. At the time of submission of thesis / dissertation: The final draft of the thesis shall be run through the software before its submission to check for similarly. The maximum permissible percentage of similarity in the complete thesis of PG students as given in the table.
II. Percentage of similarity permitted in case of research publications: The final draft of the research article has to be run through the software before its submission to the publisher.
Permissible percentage of similarity limits are given in above table.
III. Student Submissions: The following steps are to be followed for checking student reports against plagiarism and acceptance.
a) The students will have to prepare their documents and test them on the appropriate Anti- Plagiarism software which is approved by the University, for level of similarity. If the level is beyond the permissible levels as recommended by committee as above, the students may revise the draft and re-process till it is satisfactory in terms of similarity limits.. Documents with satisfactory level of similarities only to be submitted to the Chairperson for further consideration.
b) Every student submitting their research/project documents to the University shall submit an undertaking or include statement in their undertaking that the document is his/her original work and free from plagiarism as per the norms of the University.
c) Student Chairpersons must verify the document and similarity certificate on the software.
For the documents within the permissible limit of similarity, he/she submit a certificate that the work done by the researcher under him/her is plagiarism free.
d) Any lapse or deviation or complaints with regard to Plagiarism in student’s documents, the concerned student and his/her chairperson shall be responsible.
e) Finally, the similarity report generated by the software shall be duly signed by the student, Chairperson and the Head of the Department. Soft and hard copies of the checked documents and certificate duly signed by the Student, Chairman and Head of the Department shall be submitted through the proper channel to the P.G Dean. Only such certified documents should be permitted for uploading in to the repository on the university website.
f) The P.G. Deans office will be responsible to maintain the anti-plagiarism certificates for minimum period of five years.
IV. Coverage of Document types:The documents to be covered for plagiarism include all intellectural outputs such as synopsis, dissertatiobn / thesis, and research papers or proposals (project proposals) or any document (Popular articals, workshop proceedings, manuals, bulletins, compendium and reviews etc.) by all students and officials of the University. It is mandatory to screen such documents before submitting to the University and University in turn for giving administrative approval or forwarding / submitting them to in-house or outside agencies for publication.
V. Staff Submission
Faculty and other staff submitting their research documents or proposals ( project proposals) or any document (popular articles, workshop proceedings, manuals, bulletins, compendium and reviews etc. having intellectual input must test them on the appropriate Plagiarism detection software for level of similarity as done for students’ thesis. Each and every such document must be accompanied by an undertaking indicating that the document is free from plagiarism as per the norms of the University. Also, all such documents should be routed through the proper channel as mentioned below:
Document with NOC of all authors HoD/Station Head A.D/ADR/Zonal Head University Authority University Librarian
While forwarding the document to the next level the concerned officer should ensure and authenticate the work done by the authors. After checking with appropriate anti-plagiarism software by the University Librarian, the final report will be sent to the concerned with a copy to the P and M Cell, PJTSAU.
VI. Similarity checks for exclusion:
The similarity checks for plagiarism shall exclude the following as per UGC (Promotion of academic integrity and prevention of plagiarism in higher education institutions) regulations dated 23rdJuly 2018.
1. All quoted works with all necessary permission and / or attributions.
2. All references, bibliography, table of contents, preface, definitions and acknowledgements.
3. All generic terms, laws, standard symbols and standard equations.
The research work carried out by the student, faculty, researcher and staff shall be based
conclusion and recommendations only and shall not have any similarities. It shall exclude a common knowledge or coincidental terms up to fourteen (14) consecutive words.
VII. Levels of Plagiarism:
Plagiarism would be qualified in following level of severity for the purpose of its definition.
Level–0 : Similarities upto<50% & 15% - Permissible–No Penalty (for items as indicated in table)
Level–1 : Similarities above 50% & 15% - Not permissible (for items as indicated in table) VIII. Detection / Reporting / Handling of plagiarism:
If any member of the academic community suspects with appropriate proof that a case of plagiarism has happened in any document, he or she shall report it to the Departmental Academic Integrity Panel (DAIP). Upon receipt of such a complaint or allegations, the DAIP will examine and enquire the publication as per the anti-plagiarism guidelines and report the same to the Integrity Panel (IAIP) of the University for taking appropriate action.
The authorities can also take suomotu notice of an act of plagiarism and initiate proceedings under these regulations. Similarly, proceedings can also be initiated on the basis of findings of an examiner. All such cases will be investigated by the IAIP.
IX. Departmental Academic Integrity PanelComposition (DAIP):
a) Chairman–AD of College / ADR of the Zone b) Members: Two members nominated by the AD/ADR
The DAIP shall follow the principles of natural justice X. Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP) Composition
Chairperson and members are to be nominated by the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor based on case by case
XI. Penalties:
(a) Penalties in case of plagiarism in submission of thesis and dissertations:
Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP) shall impose penalty considering the severity of the Plagiarism.
Level 0: Similarities up to <50% &<15% - Permissible–No Penalty (for items as indicated in above table)
Level 1: Similarities above 50% & 15% - Not permissible (for items as indicated in above table)
i. such student shall be asked to submit a revised script with in a stipulated time period not exceeding 6 months or
a. such student shall be debarred from submitting a revised script within a stipulated time period of one year or
b. such student registration for that programme shall be cancelled.
And as recommended by the Panel based on the similarities of the document.
(b) Penalties in case of plagiarism in academic and research publications i. Level 0 : Similarities up to <50% & 15% - Permissible–No Penalty ii. Level1: Similarities above 50% & 15%
a. Shall be asked to withdraw manuscript or shall be denied a right to one annual increment or
b. Shall not be allowed to be a supervisor to any P.G Students and Ph.D. Scholar for a period of three years or
c. Shall be denied a right to two successive annual increments or
d. Shall not be allowed to be a supervisor to any P.G. Student or Ph.D. Scholar for a period of three years.
And as recommended by the Panel based on the similarities of the document.
Note 1: Penalty in case where the degree / credit has already been obtained,if plagiarism is proved on a date later than the date of benefit or credit obtained as the case may be then his/her benefit or credit shall be put in abeyance for a period recommended by the IAIP and approved by the Vice-Chancellor.
Note 2: If there are any complaints of plagiarism against the Head, a suitable action, in line with these regulations shall be taken by the Controlling Authority of the University.
Note3: If there is any complaint of plagiarism against the Head of Department/Authorities, a suitable actionshall be taken in line with University regulationsas recommended by the IAIP and approved by the Vice-Chancellor.
Note 4: If there is any complaint of plagiarism against any member of DAIP or IAIP, then such member shall excuse himself/herself from the meeting (s) where his/her case is being discussed/investigated.
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(Dr.D.Rama Rao) (Dr.R.Kalpana Sastry)
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(Dr.R.Jagadeeshwar) Dr.Jella Satyanarayana
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(Dr.N.P.Ravi Kumar) (Dr.K.V.S.MeenaKumari)
