Found this source of interest here (Link ) (Come on...in an article on plagiarism, you didn't think I'd take extra care to provide the link?).
With the debate on the discovered plagiarism of Harvard undergrad Kavvyaa Viswanathan, I thought it would be prudent to research the esteemed university's policies. While the policy on plagiarism deals with work submitted for credit, compelling justification for action by Harvard can be found in its general regulations (all emboldened type added by author for emphasis):
General Regulations
Students are expected to be familiar with those rules and regulations covered in this handbook that apply to them. Furthermore, it is the expectation of the Graduate School that all students, whether or not they are currently enrolled degree candidates, will behave in a mature and responsible manner. This presumption applies no less to a student's academic performance than to his or her social behavior. In the words of the Resolution on Rights and Responsibilities adopted by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on April 14, 1970, "By accepting membership in the University, an individual joins a community ideally characterized by free expression, free inquiry, intellectual honesty, respect for the dignity of others, and openness to constructive change." Thus, plagiarism, sexual and racial harassment, the use of physical violence, or lying to an officer typifies violation of the principles on which the University is founded and requires disciplinary action.
The portions I have highlighted in bold indicate that Harvard makes it clear that they expect responsible behaviour by the student to extend beyond their classroom period. When I was in college, my counselors and professors made it clear that every action we took within the community reflected positively or negatively upon the university and that we should conduct ourselves accordingly. I have no doubt that an institution such as Harvard would place equal emphasis on such behaviour to its students on a daily basis.
Ms. Viswanathan has not been proven to have directly violated the school's policy on plagiarism, as her work was not submitted for course credit. But the school is entirely within its rights, according to the policies it has set, to remove her based on her conduct within the community.