Dismissed from PhD due to disability-related misconduct: how to answer question about dismissal?

Question

I committed plagiarism at the end of my PhD. My psychiatrist found that the plagiarism is related to a psychiatric disorder (mental health problem). I have published many papers in top journals and this behavior was clearly out of character.

I was asked to voluntarily withdraw from my PhD program. However, I have a psychiatric explanation, and I have a psychiatrist who can vouch that my mental health issues have been resolved and there should be no further incidents in the future.

After taking time off to get treated and to recover, now I am considering applying to PhD programs again.

However, I am facing a question from most universities that I am applying to. Is there any hope for a student who committed misconduct that is related to a disability?

I am nervous about this application. Can anyone help me figure out how to deal with this issue in a proper way?

Answer 1

It's not easy to understand how a mental health issue can lead to plagiarism, and it's less clear still how a medical practitioner could reach the conclusion that a specific instance of plagiarism was a consequence of a mental health issue. Unless those things can be documented and explained in a credible way, it is unlikely people will overlook the circumstance.

If people can be convinced that the plagiarism was a consequence of a mental health issue beyond the plagiarist's control there remains the issue of convincing them that it will not be repeated. Since plagiarism is professionally unacceptable, its cause, while relevant in a moral sense, is not relevant in a practical sense; someone who plagiarizes cannot work as an academic professional, whether or not that person is morally responsible for the plagiarism. Consequently, even people who have accepted the difficult to believe claim that the plagiarist could not control committing the past plagiarism will have to be convinced that he/she can always control him/herself in the future.

Summary: people have to be convinced the plagiarism resulted from a mental health issue, and people have to be convinced that the mental health issue will not recur. Convincing an admissions committee of either seems difficult. There are many people trying to get into PhD programs, and those deciding on admissions generally are reluctant to dedicate resources to candidates who they judge to be at risk of not completing the program. The slightest hint of a lack of forthrightness or an unwillingness to accept responsibility is likely to condemn the application of a candidate who has already failed to complete a PhD program for the reasons described.

Answer 2

You can't really hide the fact that you were dismissed for plagiarism. If you do, and it comes to light later, that can be sufficient grounds to have your admission revoked (or to be expelled).

If you're asked, then you need to be straightforward about it—explain the entire situation briefly and cogently. Explain what happened and why it happened, and why the universities to which you're applying can be certain that it won't happen again. If you can't make that argument, your chances of success will be quite small.

Answer 3

One way of thinking about this is that your plagiarism was an effect of your mental problems, something that you weren't able to control.

As you said, you weren't expelled of the program for plagiarism, you voluntarily quit for health reasons. That's the official line. There is a big difference there.

Notice that I'm not saying you should hide what happened. I just believe that, given your phrasing, you don't fully believe that you weren't at fault. You didn't plagiarize anything, you shouldn't bear the "guilt" of something that wasn't your fault.

To the question, personally, I would compartmentalize the information. In general, CV and documents, sent widely, I'd say "health reasons", which is true enough, if anything at all.

In the case of a more serious interview, I'd mention the health reasons and explain that it has been solved, details on demand. When things get really serious, but before signing, explain the whole thing.

I said that because on one hand, your health is not really anybody else's business, but it may impact the school and professors. Transparency is good, but you still have to respect your own privacy. Tricky balance there.

What does your previous adviser thinks of this whole thing? It should be an interesting point of view.

Answer 4

So the psychiatrist that you paid found that you aren't responsible for your actions... That's garbage. He gave you the answer you wanted to hear, so you can excuse your own actions, because you paid for it.

I have ADHD and have done a ton of stupid stuff in the past. That condition is "ME", not some alternate person that I have no control over. Once you take responsibility for your actions, you can truly gain control over yourself.

Until you own your actions, I do not believe you should try again. The next time you are faced with an easy choice you will just take it again, and blame your condition.

The university intentionally left you a way to save face by allowing you to voluntarily withdraw from your program. It wasn't accidental. They left you a means to try again. If asked you can honestly say that at the time you had documented mental health problems that caused poor performance and the university asked you to voluntarily withdraw. Its a grey line. Depending who follows up and what records the university maintained it could go bad. However, the worst they can say is NO. That's better than not trying if you really want it. At least you can tell yourself that you tried your best.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I think all you can do is be honest about why you were dismissed.

While plagiarism is supposed to be a mortal sin, I know of at least two academics who are now in tenured positions after they were dismissed (or resigned) from other universities because they plagiarised some of their work.

I don't think this is a deal-breaker for you, provided you have, as you say, addressed the medical condition that caused it and have taken steps to not have it repeat.

Answer 6

You have been asked to withdraw voluntarily from the PhD program. If you did, that's the official line on it.

However, you don't actually take responsibility for your own acts in the manner you describe what happened, like a parent that declares "it wasn't us, it was the devil" when a child turns out wrong.

There aren't separate histories for "bad you" and "good you". Drugs will shift the balance of your motivations but not section off a part of you. Whatever was it that made you do your misconduct, you need safeguards and procedures and checks in place that go beyond "I am taking medication now, nothing like that will happen again".

Because it "happens" to people without a medical condition, too, and they, like you did, have an untainted history as additional incentive to steer clear of plagiarism.

The "my psychiatrist found that I plagiarized because of a psychiatric disorder" line will not work to convince the responsible persons that you aren't a high risk candidate for their reputation: psychiatric disorders don't magically disappear. So don't flaunt it. Don't be seeing to hide essential information, but don't make it a source of pride either.

Answer 7

Not sure how I stumbled into this site but as long as I'm here......

In short yes, there is hope. However, without knowing the context of your situation I can offer perhaps some suggestions -mostly echoing a lot of the solid advice from others.

I have a PhD and have served on both pre-doctoral internship and post doctoral residency admission committees. While the selection criteria and processes that I am familiar with may differ substantially from those used in the academic selection processes for entrance into a doctoral program (which may be more heavily weighted toward quantitative variables and initial algorithmic cuts (rather than research and clinical work), I think several suggestions offered by previous posters are important.

1. In your CV acknowledge that you withdrew (not dismissed) from your previous academic institution 2/2 medical issues. I'd be vague and omit that you were asked to withdraw; If you get to an interview stage (assuming there is one) then a more detailed disclosure will be likely required. You need to get past the first hoop.

2. You indicate a high level of competence in the program prior to the honor violation, emphasize those accomplishments on your CV

3. Speak with your major/dissertation chair or advisor; unless things have changed radically over the past 30 years, they still ask for letters of recommendation and these will be important. Let them tell your story and also highlight your strengths and accomplishments. Of couse you could always go back to the undergraduate well and ask your profs from that institution write letters again.

4. Be prepared to explain how the disorder contributed to this anomaly in your behavior; what was the functional impairment of the disorder/illness (i.e., judgement, attention). How has that functional impairment be mitigated, resolved managed etc). So if you had an episodic mood disorder that impaired your judgement, how do you manage sx now? Even if the plagiarism was really egregious but clearly linked to a significant alteration in thinking and bx, you may get a pass.

On a side note, no forensically oriented mental health expert would ever vouch "that it will never happen again." (unless you're dead or have some some other countervailing factor :-) ). No such thing as a guarantee. I'll leave you with this gem from Tommy Boy:

Tommy: Here's the way I see it, Ted. Guy puts a fancy guarantee on a box 'cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside.

Ted Nelson: Yeah, makes a man feel good.

Tommy: 'Course it does. Why shouldn't it? Ya figure you put that little box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter, am I right, Ted?

Ted Nelson: What's your point?

Tommy: The point is, how do you know the fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Buildin' model airplanes!" says the little fairy, well, we're not buying it. He sneaks into your house once, that's all it takes. The next thing you know, there's money missing off your dresser and your daughter's knocked up, I've seen it a hundred times.

Ted Nelson: But why do they put a guarantee on the box?

Tommy: Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of shit. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I've got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality product from me.

Answer 8

You've lost academic credibility through the plagerism. Truth be told, you'll lose even more credibility by hiding behind a 'diagnosis'. Political Correctness obliges us to pretend to accept it. But...

Just say 'sorry, I've learned my lesson, it won't happen again'. And make sure it DOESN'T happen again. You might be let back in.

Answer 9

First, you were not expelled, you voluntarily left for health reasons.

Second, if you're diagnosed with a mental disorder, you may fall under the Americans with Disabilities act. If that is the case, you'd need to consult a lawyer on that one, you may have grounds for reinstatement with your former institution.

Now, the question is do you want to return? Personally, I think the first place to start with if you are interested in pursuing reinstatement is with your original advisor. If you choose to pursue reinstatement, you will need to get your advisor, the department chair and perhaps other professors on board. If you don't, you may be able to legally force the issue, but it would make completing your PhD very difficult. You simply aren't going to finish your PhD if you don't have an advisor and if no one will sit your boards and oral defense.

I can practically guarantee that finishing at your original institution, if possible, will be the quickest way to complete your PhD, but you will have to jump some serious hurdles to make it happen.

Answer 10

This is the rest of our life. So get serious. FORGET any mental claim.

Focus on "their" claim. This is what you must challenge, and you must challenge it on policy grounds.

Get a lawyer, preferably one matriculating from a liberal college or university. Although doubtful,you might find one "for free."

Go to your major professor and recount the following, before action.

See if that "Department" will reconsider. (Document all names and comments.)

If "they" will not reconsider, take next step.

With your lawyer,seek a meeting with the top of the chain--Dean of Instruction etc. Not the "affected" Department

Document "their" claim of plagiarism.

Discover all school policies related to plagiarism.

There WILL be a loophole.

Answer 11

In an ideal world, authorities would try to psychoanalyze a criminal and treat him and release him, rather than putting him in a place that messes him further : irrespective of whether he was responsible for his twisted mind, eg substance abuse or whether it was something else , eg. messed up childhood , substance abuse by mom in pregnancy etc. However my friend the world is not an ideal place. It that were true , you wouldn't be running after pHD degree. I am by not inferring you are a criminal, just providing analogous example. If your records do not talk about plagiarism , you just need to come up with an explanation. If not , you can still contribute to the world with your intelligence. Your degree shouldn't affect your earning if you really want to make money. And a lot of people with less wealth are often more loved and respected. A person who makes 100 times the average doesn't always do so because he has 100 times the intellect or EQ or risk taking ability. On the contrary he probably connects less with people, uses them more and is going to be forever unhappy because of his lack of empathy. I only wish you good luck and hope you still help the world with your abilities.