Occasionally the University may feel it has cause to investigate possible misconduct committed by students. Misconduct can be classified as academic or general depending on the circumstances. The University’s process for dealing with misconduct is governed by Statute 13.1 – Student Discipline.

This information draws upon the material in the Statute and the University’s policies, and the extensive experience of staff at the Advocacy Service. It is designed to be a ‘plain English’ guide to a complex process. For specific advice relating to your situation please contact us to make an appointment.

Academic Misconduct

There are a number of different types of academic misconduct. Under University Statute 13.1, academic misconduct is defined as including, but not limited to:
cheating, plagiarism, collusion, forging or falsifying documents, academic results or records or submitting false or incorrect information for enrolment or entry into a course or subject and any other conduct by which a student seeks to gain for himself or herself, or for any other person, any academic advantage or advancement to which he or she or that other person is not entitled.

This includes not referencing sources appropriately in assignments, taking notes into an exam where they are not permitted, and copying someone else’s work. This also includes helping someone else to cheat by, for example, letting them copy your work. Note that just having unauthorised materials in an examination is an offense in itself, regardless of whether they are used. This means special care should always be taken to leave any last minute cramming notes OUTSIDE the exam venue in the bin or in your bag and not in your pockets.

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the presentation of written work, findings or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgement of the original source.

Examples of plagiarism include:

  • Copying a published author’s text/arguments without providing an appropriate reference (this includes websites);
  • Paraphrasing a published author’s text/arguments without providing an appropriate reference (this includes websites);
  • Handing in someone else’s work as your own;
  • Making superficial changes to another’s work and then handing it in as your own;
  • Submission of work you have already handed in for another course/subject (yes, you are not allowed to plagiarise yourself);
  • In certain disciplines, the use of mathematical/design concepts but neglecting to reference these concepts.

What is collusion?

Collusion is where one student is alleged to have helped another student by allowing them to copy their work. The University regards students who permit their work to be copied as seriously as those who did the copying, and the penalties can be the same.

What about group work or discussing the assignment with classmates? Is this plagiarism or collusion?

Many courses use group work or syndicates to perform assessment tasks. Group work is defined as a formally established project to be done by a number of students in common, resulting in a single report, essay or a number of associated reports/essays.

Acceptable collaboration can be defined as any constructive educational and intellectual practice that aims to enhance learning through interaction between students. Examples of acceptable collaboration include:

  • Students discussing general themes and concepts;
  • Students discussing the requirements of an assignment.

The difference between appropriate collaboration and unacceptable collusion or plagiarism is based on the principle that producing the work remains the individual responsibility of the student. Make sure that you understand the assessment requirements with group work. Even though you may be required to work collaboratively, you may be required to submit independent reports that are your own work. If in doubt, ask your tutor or lecturer for clarification.

What about exams?

The basis of academic misconduct in exams is where a student is alleged to have sought unfair advantage to which they are not entitled. This may include:

  • taking unauthorised notes into an exam, or unauthorised calculators or formula on your calculator into an exam;
  • copying the work of another student (with or without their consent);
  • allowing another student to copy from you or helping them in some way;
  • having someone else sit the exam for you.

If you are suspected of any of the above misconduct during the exam, an invigilator may speak to you about this. If you have taken unauthorised materials into the exam, they will be confiscated when seen by an exam invigilator. If you have been confronted by an invigilator you still have the right to complete the examination and you should attempt to do this to the best of your ability.

You are considered to have sought an unfair advantage even if you did not actually look at or use the material or it was irrelevant to the exam, as the act of having unauthorised materials in an exam is a breach of University Regulation 11.1.A3 – Examination Rules and Supervision. In some cases, you may face an allegation of academic misconduct even if you didn’t realise you weren’t allowed to take certain material into an exam, or if you borrowed someone’s calculator with disallowed formula programmed in.
Make sure you read the exam cover sheet thoroughly to ensure you do not have anything on you that you shouldn’t have. Listen to the announcements when you arrive as these may include an amnesty period for you to remove any unauthorised materials prior to the commencement of the exam.

I’ve been accused of academic misconduct. What happens now?

Before pursuing any disciplinary process, the examiner and/or Head of Department should consider educative responses to academic misconduct. This may be done through a meeting with your lecturer or subject coordinator where you may be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment on a pass/fail basis.
If there is deemed to be enough evidence to proceed with an investigation under the Statute, a notice must be sent to you within 10 working days of the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant Dean. This will be sent to your preferred mailing address and may also be emailed to you.
If you have received a formal allegation notice, this should include:

  • a clear outline of the nature of the misconduct;
  • all evidence relating to the allegation must be attached (this may be a copy of your assignment with problematic sections highlighted or a copy of the report made by the exam invigilator);
  • an opportunity to respond in writing as well as an invitation to attend a hearing, and specific timelines for these responses;
  • name the chair of the committee that will be investigating the allegation; and
  • inclusion of, or reference to, the penalties that can be applied under the Statute.

We strongly encourage you to respond both in writing and by attending a hearing and we can assist you with both of these responses. Your written submission should set out your version of events and detail any exceptional circumstances that you feel should be taken into consideration. At the meeting you will be given an opportunity to discuss this further and this should highlight the main points from your submission. The committee will also ask whatever questions it deems relevant to the investigation.
You are allowed to take a support person with you to the meeting if you inform the committee 24 hours in advance. This support person is not permitted to speak and must not disrupt the proceedings. The committee should consist of the Dean or their nominee, two senior academics and a student representative. For undergraduates, this student representative can be the president of the Student Union or their nominee, or a member of a faculty student association, and for graduates, it may be an elected student office bearer of the Graduate Student Association.
The committee must dismiss an allegation unless there is a majority decision that the allegation be upheld. If the committee upholds the allegation, it may apply penalties consistent with the Statute. These include:

  • a reprimand;
  • deprivation of credit for the subject or the component of assessment related to the academic misconduct;
  • exclusion from using University facilities;
  • suspension of your enrolment; or
  • termination of your enrolment.
    Within three working days of the hearing you should receive notice of the committee’s decision, any penalties imposed, and information about how to appeal the decision.

General Misconduct

General misconduct can include behaviour such as disrupting lectures or University events, misusing computers or other facilities, causing fear or intimidation in and around the University, harassing staff or other students, disrupting or illegal behaviour, damaging property, failing to comply with a reasonable request, supplying misleading information, or encouraging others to engage in general misconduct.

These breaches can also extend across all university property, including libraries, computer labs and student associations. These breaches may also be considered criminal offences and you may be subject to legal action.

I’ve been accused of general misconduct, what happens now?

If there is deemed to be enough evidence to proceed with an investigation under the Statute, a notice must be sent to you within 10 working days of the matter being brought to the attention of the relevant Dean. This will be sent to your preferred mailing address and may also be emailed to you. This notice should include:

  • a clear outline of the nature of the misconduct;
  • information regarding any evidence of which the senior officer is aware relating to the allegation;
  • an opportunity to respond in writing as well as an invitation to attend a hearing, and specific timelines for these responses;
  • name the chair of the committee that will be investigating the allegation; and
  • inclusion of, or reference to, the penalties that can be applied under the Statute.

Penalties for general misconduct can include one or more of the following:

  • A reprimand;
  • A fine;
  • A bill requiring you to pay an amount to cover the cost of repairing any damage caused by you to any property or facilities;
  • Exclusion from specified University premises or facilities either permanently or for such period and on such terms and conditions as is thought appropriate by the committee;
  • Exclusion from the University either permanently or for such period as is thought appropriate by the committee;
  • The vice-chancellor may review the penalty, and modify it as he or she considers appropriate. The vice-chancellor may terminate a student’s enrolment.
    There are also emergency powers for immediate suspension or exclusion. In some cases a penalty or part of a penalty may be satisfied with University service work.
    Within three working days of the hearing you should receive notice of the committee’s decision, any penalties imposed, and information about how to appeal the decision.

Appeals

You have the option to appeal the decision and/or the penalty to the Academic Board’s Appeal Committee. In the case of academic misconduct, this committee consists of two members of the Academic Board and a student representative. Appeals are not automatic, and you must write to the Academic Secretary citing the grounds for your appeal within 20 working days of receiving the outcome from the committee. The grounds for appeal are:

  • There was a failure to comply with procedural fairness (including not receiving a fair hearing);
  • New substantial evidence that could not be presented at or prior to the hearing that would probably have affected the decision or penalty imposed;
  • The decision was manifestly wrong; or
  • The penalty was manifestly excessive, inappropriate or not available in the circumstances.

As the appeal is final and can be quite complicated to argue effectively, it is strongly suggested you seek assistance from us before proceeding with an appeal.

Get help quickly

If you receive a notice of an allegation of misconduct, contact us immediately for support and assistance with responding to the matter. We have extensive experience with this process and can advise you on the best approach to writing your submission to the committee. We can also act as your support person at the hearing, so you don’t have to go alone.

Call us on 8344 6546 or email us at suashelp[at]union.unimelb.edu.au to make an appointment.

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Bookmark and Share Bookmark & Share. Posted Thursday 28 February, 2013. Updated Thursday 28 February, 2013.