Academic concern or academic offence?
Academic integrity violations differ in terms of severity. These are classified as either an ‘academic concern’ or ‘academic offence’. The severity of the violation will determine action taken by the University.
Examples:
Minor issues (such as incorrect referencing or poor paraphrasing) with an attempt to acknowledge sources, but where this may be incorrect. Typically, this would be the first-time a student had violated academic integrity.
Typical action taken by the University:
- You will be invited to attend a meeting with your tutor to receive guidance regarding the issues within your work.
- If the offence is very minor (and you are a first time student in your first teaching semester), your tutor may be able to grade your work. Otherwise your work will be recorded as a fail, and you will be required to submit a resit capped at the pass grade.
- Your tutor may recommend that you seek advice from the Study Hub team.
Examples:
- Repeated (more than one) academic concerns
- Collusion (so that everyone involved can explain their case)
- Fabrication
- Impersonation
- Cheating in an exam
- Attempts to mislead and/or evade (e.g. buying an assignment)
Typical action taken by the University:
- Penalties are decided by an Academic Conduct Panel (which consists of three academic staff from different Faculties and Schools). Common penalties are to submit a resit or retake a unit which would also involve a financial penalty (the requirement to pay to retake a unit). However, in the most extreme cases a student could be asked to leave the University.
- If you are accused of an academic offence, you will receive an email explaining the offence, and the evidence which indicated this to your lecturer. You will also receive a form to respond to the allegation.
- Following the conclusion of the Academic Conduct Panel you will be emailed a letter with the panel decision.
Library on social media
