CHENNAI: A student of the University of Madras or any of its affiliated colleges found guilty of plagiarism after completion of degree may, from the coming academic year, lose it for a certain period or have the registration cancelled if found resorting to the practice during a programme. Professors found guilty of the offence would lose their guideship for a period of three years and have two annual increments lopped off. Repeat offenders could face suspension or termination These are some of the guidelines adopted by the university syndicate at a meeting earlier this week, more than a month after the University Grants Commission (UGC) gazetted its academic integrity regulations in August.Vice-chancellor P Duraisamy told TOI that the syndicate resolution would also be placed before the academic council later this month and before the senate next month for ratification.The UGC had recommended graded penalties for similarities up to 10%, 10%-40%, 40%-60% and above 60%. However, University of Madras has decided that for all science disciplines, 20% similarity would be acceptable. For humanities and mathematics, up to 30% similarity would be acceptable. The rest of the graded penalty levels would be applicable as per the guidelines as mandate by the UGC. For instance, a student found to have plagiarised a report or thesis up to 40% will be allowed to submit a revised script within six months. If it is between 40% and 60%, he/she would be debarred from submitting a revised script for a year.For professors, it’s more stringent. A plagiarism level of 40%-60% would mean losing an annual increment and guideship for two years. A manuscript that is found to have been copied by up to 40% would be withdrawn. The plagiarism percentage is checked by the Urkund software that has been in place at the university for more than a year now.The guidelines mandate that the university form a departmental Academic Integrity Panel (DAIP) which will consist of heads of department, a senior academician and a subject expert. This would investigate allegations of plagiarism against a student, researcher, faculty or staff. The DAIP would have powers to assess the level of plagiarism and recommend penalties, within a period of 45 days from receipt of complaint.The university will also form a Institutional Academic Integrity Panel (IAIP) headed by a dean or the vice-chancellor which shall consider the recommendations of DAIP, acting as an appellate authority.Professors say this guideline would give the university teeth in acting against academically corrupt professors and students. In the case of Professor T Santhanam, a former principal of DG Vaishnav College who was found guilty of plagiarism last year, the university had to send his thesis to an external subject expert for verification. Now, it can be checked within the university.

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