ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Academic misconduct refers to conduct by a student that is dishonest or unfair in connection with any work submitted for assessment. Some examples of academic misconduct include (but are not limited to):
- Plagiarism – copying another person’s work and submitting it as your own
- Self-plagiarism – re-submitting work you have submitted in the past
- Unauthorised material - bringing in unauthorised material or devices into the examination venue
- Contract cheating - contracting another person to do the work for you, purchasing work from another source and/ or allowing or contracting another person to edit and substantially change your work
- Collusion - Where students act together in relation to the preparation or presentation of any assessed item of work in a manner that is dishonest or unfair.
Read Curtin's Checklist to help prevent plagiarism in your work
Penalties
Curtin takes academic integrity seriously and has a wide range of penalties that can be applied to a student found guilty ranging from a formal warning right through to expulsion from the university (in very extreme cases).
Most academic misconduct cases receive a penalty of a reduction in marks up to a Nil grade for that assessment or an ANN (fail for the unit).
Penalties are assessed by taking into consideration the extent and nature of the wrongdoing, the experience of the student and the intent to be dishonest.
For more information on penalties and procedures, you can visit Curtin’s website “What Is Academic Misconduct” or Statute No. 10 - Student Disciplinary Statute
If you have been accussed of General Misconduct, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
If you are accused
1. Assessment is flagged and marking is paused
When an assessment is flagged for investigation, the marking for the work is paused.
2. Student notified via email
Students accused of academic misconduct are sent an email from the SDAO (Student Discipline and Appeals Officer) informing them of the allegation.
3. Student sends a response
Students are given an opportunity to respond to the allegation, providing evidence where possible.
Students do not have to submit a response to the allegation, but it is in your best interest to do so.
Responses must be sent within 7 days from the date that the notification is sent.
It's very important that you write a proper letter that is supported by relevant evidence.
Sending one line with “I did not plagiarise” is not sufficient.
Get in touch with Student Assist if you are unsure of what to write in your response and we can advise you.
4. University consider the response
The University considers the response your have submitted.
5. Decision is made
If the University determines that academic misconduct has occurred, an email will be sent to the student stating the penalties given.
There will be a wait time of 2 - 3 weeks before you receive a response (longer if it is between semesters).
6. Student has a chance to appeal
Students can appeal either the determination of academic misconduct or the penalty or both.
Appeals must be submitted within 14 days of notification of the outcome.
You may only appeal based on a “question of law”. In other words, was the process followed correctly? Examples include:
- Procedural Fairness (e.g. a piece of evidence was not considered, you were not given a right to respond to the allegations, the Authorised Officer did not act in accordance with the Rules);
- When making a decision in a matter, irrelevant considerations were taken into account;
- Failure to take into account considerations in making a decision; or
- No evidence or material to support the decision.
If you have no grounds to appeal and inform Student Conduct that you waive your right of appeal, the case can be finalised in a shorter period of time.
Get in touch with Student Assist if you are unsure of what to write in your appeal and we can advise you.
7. University makes a determination
An email will be sent to student on the outcome of the appeal.
This decision is final.
There will be a wait time of 2 - 3 weeks before you receive a response (longer if it is between semesters).
8. Marking is resumed
Once a determination has been made, the marking of the assessment is resumed at this point.
Contacting Student Assist
It's very important that you write a proper letter that is supported by relevant evidence.
Sending one line with “I did not plagiarise” is not sufficient.
Forward your allegation
Forward the email you received about the misconduct allegation to Student Assist on student.assist@guild.curtin.edu.au.
We will need to view the Allegation/Determination Letter as well as all the other documents attached to the allegation.
Send us your draft response
Send us your draft response that you would like us to review.
Your draft should contain:
- If you agree with the allegation, admit it. Honesty is the best policy. Explain your circumstances and why you did it.
- If it has been alleged that you committed Collusion: If you did not collude, your response will need to highlight where exactly you obtained your answers from. If you did collude, explain why you did it. Explain your circumstances at the time of the assessment.
- If it has been alleged that you Allowed, or contracted with, other people and/or organisations to undertake academic work on your behalf: If the work was your own work, your response will need to highlight where exactly you obtained your answers from. If you shared your work with a classmate, explain why. In reviewing the Turnitin report, is this more of a case of lack of paraphrasing or inadequate referencing? If yes, highlight this.
- If it has been alleged that your assessment was submitted without adequate referencing, paraphrasing or other acknowledgement: Review the Turnitin report. Are the areas that have been highlighted in the Turnitin report areas that you have incorrectly referenced?
In all the circumstances above, break your response into sections and explain each area of concern.