Michigan State professor Sharif Shakrani has been found guilty of plagiarism, after an eight month investigation by the school, according to to the Michigan State News.
In August 2010, Shakrani produced a report on public education for the Booth Newspapers, a chain of Michigan publications that includes the Grand Rapids Free Press.
The allegations surfaced in August, when the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan think tank, examined Shakrani’s work and found what it believed to be examples of plagiarism.
Shakrani, who is a professor of measurement and quantitative methods at MSU’s College of Education, initially denied the charges.
Shakrani’s study concluded that school consolidation in Michigan could save $612 million. The Mackinac Center was particularly interested in the findings because they conflicted with a similar study it had conducted in 2007.
The Grand Rapids Press, which commissioned the study, refused to condemn its findings when accusations of plagiarism first broke. It published an editorial in favor of school consolidation on October 12, using Shakrani’s research to make their point. The editorial did not mention the plagiarism investigation.
Tom Watkins of Dome Magazine, which covers public policy in Michigan, urged the state to consolidate its schools. He also cited Shakrani’s findings without making reference to the possible plagiarism.
Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Gab, Minds and Gettr.