Aaron Hoffman was shocked last year when he was accused of plagiarism.

The math standards junior said he was accused after he failed to correctly cite a source in a paper. He was then required to take a test on the paper’s subject to prove he did not knowingly plagiarize. He passed the test but was placed on academic probation for one year.

Hoffman is one of several students who say they have been punished because they did not know OU’s plagiarism policy.

Assistant Provost Greg Heiser said OU has an online tutorial that explains what plagiarism is.

“We expect that every student at OU should understand the basic difference between writing and copying,” Heiser said. “What employers are looking for and what we expect at the university is someone who can understand something and then explain it in their own words. We want students to graduate and know how to write, not just how to copy.”

When students are accused of plagiarism, academic misconduct charges are filed against them, Heiser said. Students can appeal charges, but appeals extend the length of time required for the process, which usually takes just a few days.

“Students have a legal right to get due process,” Heiser said. “They get a chance at a full trial.”

While some cases are decided in the favor of the students involved, most are not, Heiser said.

The university dealt with 200 academic misconduct cases last year. About half of them involved plagiarism.

Heiser said almost none of those 100 cases involved student papers in which a student forgot to cite something or incorrectly cited something.

“Most were a genuine failure to explain your own understanding in your own words,” Heiser said.

While consequences for academic misconduct can vary based on the type of plagiarism and the circumstances involved, Heiser said every case is treated fairly.

Hoffman said the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences met with him after he had a meeting with his professor. Hoffman said the dean was up front about the situation.

“She asked me if there was anything I wanted them specifically to know before they reviewed the case. She was very fair,” Hoffman said. “When people tell you the truth in a situation, it may seem harsh, but I think they’re just trying to help you.”

The UOSA Honor Council is the student group responsible for ensuring academic misconduct cases are treated fairly. Council members sit in on hearings and helps decide on effective and fair punishments.

“Maintaining academic integrity is personally like we’re defending the honor or worth of a degree. By educating students about plagiarism and academic misconduct, we’re maintaining and preserving the integrity of that degree,” said Joe Hunt, Honor Council chairman. (Hunt is an opinion columnist for The Daily.)

Hunt said cheating will eventually affect students who took shortcuts to receive their diploma.

“Someone can cheat their way through school and graduate with the same GPA and degree. On face value, their degree is the same value as mine but on a deeper level, they’re not very well-equipped,” Hunt said.