Plagiarism and Use of AI
The College of Idaho maintains that academic honesty and integrity are essential values in the educational process. Earning a Doctor of Medical Science degree requires the development of scholarly writing and critical appraisal skills, among other competencies. Engaging in plagiarism is an example of academic dishonesty and violates the College’s Honor Code.
Plagiarism is the presentation of another's product, words, ideas, or data as one's own work. When a student submits work for credit that includes the product, words, ideas, or data of others, the student must use proper and complete citation and reference in accordance with AMA style guidelines.
Students may not use content sourced from generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and applications as a substitute for their own academic work nor claim ownership or authorship of any content generated by these tools. However, for purposes of the College’s DMSc program, students may use AI applications, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot, to augment development of doctorate-level competencies but must do so with appropriate caution.
Student Accountability
When a student submits work for credit that includes the product, words, ideas, or data of others, the source must be acknowledged by the use of complete, accurate, and specific references, such as footnotes. By placing one's name on work submitted for credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgments. A student will be charged with plagiarism if there is not an acknowledgment of indebtedness. Acknowledgment must be made whenever:
- One quotes another person's actual words or replicates part of another's product.
- One uses another person's ideas, opinions, work, data, or theories, even if they are completely paraphrased in one's own words.
- One borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials, unless the information is common knowledge (already published in at least three other sources without citation).
- One uses AI application to create allowable assignment content.
While programs exist that detect AI-generated text within student assignments, their accuracy is lacking and the risk of falsely accusing students of using AI-generated material is too great to justify their use. As such, The College of Idaho’s DMSc program will not use AI detection programs on student assignments. Faculty members may still apply professional expertise and critical assessment to the determination of originality on student assignments and may report concerns for AI-generated text within written assignments to DMSc program leadership for consideration.
Whether they use AI applications or not, DMSc students are ultimately held responsible for the accuracy, originality, and appropriate attribution of material contained within every assignment that they submit for credit.
Penalties
Though the burden of proof of student academic dishonesty or misconduct lies with the faculty member, the imposition of penalties is also the responsibility of the faculty member. The consequences of plagiarism vary based on whether the incident is a first, second, or third occurrence. Faculty members have the discretion to require that the student repeat the assignment or exam, or may give a failing grade for the assignment, exam, or courses, or may otherwise deal with the academic dishonesty in a manner they determine to be appropriate within the context of their course.
A first occurrence of plagiarism is generally believed to result from inexperience and/or a lack of familiarity using AMA guidelines or AI-generated material and is perceived as a misuse of sources, and the sanctions for a first offense generally include, but not limited to a grade of zero on the assignment or resubmission of the assignment for a reduced grade. A second occurrence of plagiarism is a more serious academic offense and is not attributed to naiveté, ignorance of guidelines, or a misunderstanding of what constitutes acceptable graduate scholarship at the College, and therefore, the sanction includes, but is not limited to a failing grade in the course. A third occurrence of plagiarism is seen as a student’s chronic inability or refusal to produce acceptable graduate-level scholarship. In such cases, the matter is referred to the Dean of Graduate Studies or their designee for disciplinary proceedings pursuant to the College’s “General Student Conduct Procedures” as articulated in the Student Handbook, and the sanction includes but is not limited to dismissal from the program.