The Ashesi Judicial Committee (AJC) adjudicated a case of plagiarism involving two (2) students.

Background

Two students enrolled in Leadership I submitted reflections that, on review, were found to be substantially identical. A Turnitin report returned a similarity index of 86%. The matter was reported to the Dean of Students, who escalated it to the AJC.

Hearing

During the hearing, it emerged that the case is not one of mutual collaboration. The facts before the Council were these: one student (Student A) completed the assignment independently. A second student (Student B) asked to see Student A’s work to guide their own, and Student A shared it. Student B then copied and submitted Student A’s work as their own. The assignment had been issued two weeks before the deadline, leaving ample time for independent work.

Verdict & Recommendation(s)

Student B was found guilty of plagiarism. Submitting another student’s work as one’s own is among the most serious forms of academic dishonesty, and the Committee concluded that Student B should receive a failing grade (E) for the course and a one-semester suspension.

Student A was not found to have committed academic dishonesty, having completed and submitted their own work. However, the Committee found that sharing completed work with a classmate, even without intent to deceive, created the conditions for the breach. Recognizing that Student A is in their first semester at Ashesi and relatively new to the community’s standards around academic work, they will sign an informal resolution acknowledging this and the lessons drawn from it.

As stated in Ashesi’s Student Handbook:

• “Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism, unauthorized exchange of information or use of material during an examination, unauthorized transfer of information or completed work among students, use of the same paper in more than one course, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, and other unethical behaviour. Disciplinary action will be taken against academic dishonesty” (Section 7.4)

Advice to the Ashesi Community:

The AJC would like to remind students that plagiarised work and a lack of academic integrity will have serious repercussions. In addition to this, the Ashesi community should remember the following:

• Help your classmates think, not copy. When a peer is struggling with an assignment, the most useful help is the kind that builds their own understanding; talking through ideas, pointing them to readings, working through a concept together. Sharing your completed assignment is not help; it places both of you at risk and, when misused, becomes the basis for plagiarism.
• Being asked is not a reason to share. Declining to share completed work protects both you and the person asking. If you are unsure how to respond to such a request, your faculty, faculty interns, and tutoring resources are there to help; both you and your classmate.
• Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Submitting another person’s work as your own undermines the basis on which an Ashesi degree is granted. Time pressure or difficulty with the material do not change this; seek help if you have any of these challenges.

We trust that this case will serve as a learning experience for our community. Academic honesty is very important at Ashesi and is central to our mission: To train a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa; to cultivate within our students the critical thinking skills, concern for others, and the courage it will take to transform a continent. Remember, this mission applies to all no matter the circumstance.