======= Date Modified 25 Feb 2011 00:57:54 =======

Not sure which option to pick. I'd be tempted to go and speak to the HoD or someone senior - but in an informal way and ask them their opinion. Although it depends what your relationship is like with them - you may not want it being taken as a formal complaint against the subject leader.

======= Date Modified 25 Feb 2011 00:58:41 =======

My take on it is that you're being asked/told to drop it. Not great for academic integrity but it actually might be you that pays as in will they ever let you teach again? My uni uses turnitin but I'm not sure what happens to anybody who has a very high matching %. Anecdotal evidence where I'm at is that lots of people don't even check the Turnitin version.

Do you feel the course leader is putting you under pressure?

S/he is right, it won't look good.

Perhaps you should talk to the student and find out why this situation has occurred. If your course uptake is low, and you are getting above average drop-outs and plagiarism you have a duty to find out and understand the reasons, for your own sake as well as your colleagues. Blaming the students 100% may be a simplistic view.

======= Date Modified 24 Feb 2011 19:15:26 =======

What an awkward situation for you to be in. I hope I'm not playing devil's advocate, but if I were you I'd report them through the proper channels (as you have done) and hope that the university comes down on them like a tonne of bricks. Such blatant plagiarism in a 3rd year essay! Did she not think she would be caught? I hope she does walk following disciplinary procedures because she doesn't deserve the award of a degree. It may not look good for retention, but do universities really want to retain that calibre of students. I hope it doesn't reflect badly on you because this girl has taken it upon herself to cheat. Sorry to rant; it's the old man in me.