Grace and Discipline, Remediation and Punishment: Dealing with Graduate Business Students’ Plagiarism

Abstract

We draw on theory, biblical Scripture, and practice in this discussion of professors’ and administrators’ response to graduate business students’ plagiarism. First, we discuss why graduate business students plagiarize, using Ajzen’s (1991) theory of planned behavior as a framework for relating antecedents to students’ intentions to plagiarize. Then we discuss professors’ and administrators’ typical assumptions and expectations regarding graduate business students’ plagiarism and explain why such assumptions and expectations may be incorrect. Thirdly, we conceptually explore the nature and appropriateness of professors’ responses to graduate business students’ plagiarism. We advocate a response that applies both grace and discipline and offer biblical support for such an approach. Finally, we describe several implications of the foregoing for graduate degree program features, policies, and practices.