【中国驻纽约总领馆教育组供稿】今年，发生过多起中国留学生被学校认定作弊、抄袭等案件，有的涉事学生被迫转学，有的甚至遭开除，无法继续在美学业。中国留学生因为对美国学术文化和行为评判标准的不了解付出了惨痛代价。在此，小编提醒广大中国留学生，无论考试还是平时作业，远离学术舞弊，谨防落入作弊陷阱，确保自身信用清白。
哈佛大学2013年2月宣布发现有125名学生在期末考试中集体作弊，其中近一半学生受到停课一年的处分。
中国留学生来美学习，要事先对学校的相关规定认真学习，切莫因为“不知道”而犯错误，也不要幻想“法不责众”而心存侥幸。美国从小学到大学对于论文写作等有系统的训练，对于抄袭、剽窃等学术不端行为都有明确的规定，对于学术不端行为多采取“零容忍”的态度，一经发现即严格处理。有报道称，世界各国学生都存在作弊现象，在美国学习的其他国家留学生作弊也屡见不鲜。但是中国留学生在国内接触论文写作等的训练相对较少，且不规范，更易落入作弊陷阱，但这不能成为中国留学生推卸责任的借口。
美国学校和老师为了防止学生考试作弊，会采取各种措施，如通过防抄袭软件对论文进行审查、加强考场巡视等。一旦被学校确认作弊，处罚往往会非常严厉。有的作弊学生为了逃脱处罚，寻找各式借口，甚至贿赂老师、考官和校方管理人员，殊不知这些行为本身会加重对自己的处罚，甚至可能会触犯刑律，惹上官司，为自己在美国的信用带来不良影响。
小编提醒广大中国留学生，期终考试临近，考试作业，切莫故意作弊。如果因为不了解有关规定而落入作弊陷阱，应及时咨询法律专业人士或校方管理人员，寻求合理、合法解决渠道。（专栏主持：华凌）
下面是加州州立大学有关抄袭和作弊的定义。
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons as if they were one’s own, without giving credit to the source. Such an act is not plagiarism if it is ascertained that the ideas were arrived at through independent reasoning or logic or where the thought or idea is common knowledge. Acknowledge of an original author or source must be made through appropriate references, i.e., quotation marks, footnotes, or commentary. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to, the following: the submission of a work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; failure to give credit for ideas, statements, facts or conclusions which rightfully belong to another; in written work, failure to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence, or even a part thereof; or close and lengthy paraphrasing of another’s writing or programming. A student who is in doubt about the extent of acceptable paraphrasing should consult the instructor. Students are cautioned that, in conducting their research, they should prepare their notes by (a) either quoting material exactly (using quotation marks) at the time they take notes from a source; or (b) departing completely from the language used in the source, putting the material into their own words. In this way, when the material is used in the paper or project, the student can avoid plagiarism resulting from verbatim use of notes. Both quoted and paraphrased materials must be given proper citations.
Definition of Cheating
Cheating is defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain or aiding another to obtain academic credit for work by the use of any dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means. Examples of cheating during an examination would include, but not be limited to the following: copying, either in part or in whole, from another test or examination; discussion of answers or ideas relating to the answers on an examination or test unless such discussion is specifically authorized by the instructor; giving or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor; using or displaying notes; “cheat sheets,” or other information or devices inappropriate to the prescribed test conditions, as when the test of competence includes a test of unassisted recall of information, skill, or procedure; allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent the same. Also included are plagiarism as defined and altering or interfering with the grading procedures. It is often appropriate for students to study together or to work in teams on projects. However, such students should be careful to avoid use of unauthorized assistance, and to avoid any implication of cheating, by such means as sitting apart from one another in examinations, presenting the work in a manner which clearly indicates the effort of each individual, or such other method as is appropriate to the particular course.