As a former faculty member of a renowned State University , I once noticed a colleague using a portion of a published article without proper citation in a report intended for an academic seminar. The section was nearly identical, and upon further review, it was clear that the work had been copied without credit to the original author. I was concerned about the ethical implications and the potential damage to the integrity of the seminar, as well as the colleague's professional reputation. This colleague also happened to be a friend since high school, but now with far more advanced degrees.
Instead of immediately reporting the incident, I decided to approach my colleague privately. I explained the situation and pointed out the importance of giving proper credit for intellectual work. My colleague seemed unaware of the severity of the issue and expressed regret for the oversight. They agreed to amend the report by properly citing the original source before submitting it.
While the incident was not formally reported, it served as a valuable learning opportunity for both of us. The colleague took the feedback seriously and implemented better practices in future work. This experience highlighted the importance of maintaining integrity and being vigilant in avoiding plagiarism, especially in professional setting s.