RENO -- A faculty panel is considering whether an animal nutrition professor is the victim of retaliation or should be disciplined amid allegations of plagiarism and keeping research funds that should have gone to the university.

Hussein S. Hussein argues that he did credit his graduate students' work and that his research was not funded by grants, but by gifts, which do not require payment of indirect costs to the University of Nevada, Reno.

If the charges are not dismissed, the 52-year-old internationally known professor of animal nutrition faces disciplinary measures that range from a warning to possible dismissal.

Special hearing officer Peter Breen, a retired Washoe District Court judge, told committee members that they must base their recommendation to UNR President Milton Glick on the preponderance of evidence, or which side's argument most likely is true.