Student Appeals Academic Misconduct

Appeals and Complaints Processes within Northumbria University Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) Student Appeals and Complaints Ombudsman Possible formal process within School Informal

Numbers of Northumbria Appeals & Complaints (Final Stage) by Academic Year

Numbers of Appeals and Complaints Nationally OIA Data by Calendar Year Nationally 15% of cases go to OIA, 33% of these are upheld or settled in some way

Northumbria’s Systems 10% of Northumbria’s cases to the OIA are upheld or settled in some way Rob Behrens (OIA Independent Adjudicator) – Northumbria is noted for the “precision and seriousness with which it deals with appeals and complaints” Regulations – Students aware of regulations and due processes – Clear and systematically followed in a transparent manner Clear audit trails

Academic Misconduct Benchmarking Research project (AMBeR) Phase 1 collected information on HEI penalties (June 07) Phase 2 collected information on incidence and application of penalties (May 08) Highlighted need for more transparency, better recording procedures Consistency within HEI type Available at

Recorded Cases of Academic Misconduct at Northumbria 06/0707/08 Established by initial procedure Established by formal panel4424 Total recorded cases Student population with 1st offence0.91%1.10% Student population with 2nd/multiple offences 0.12%0.09% Total population1.03%1.20%

ARNA, Appendix 1 Regulations/Procedures Applying to Academic Misconduct Available at Defines: expectation of students principles/categories of academic misconduct initial and formal investigation procedures Structured guidance on penalties: level of study type of misconduct more severe for subsequent offences extent to which learning outcomes are met

Examination Boards: Module Examination Board (MEB) determines module result Progression and Awards Board (PAB) determines the course-level penalty Multiple offences may count as one in certain circumstances Mitigating factors may be considered Audit trail Academic Misconduct non-compensatable

What Next? Review data/trends Improve record keeping to track incidence Further staff development: see Guidelines for Good Assessment Practice, appendix 6 at iew=Standard iew=Standard development of good academic practice consistent approach emphasis on prevention

Contacts Dr Mike Adey - Student Appeals and Complaints Ombudsman Ruth Hattam - School Registrar (School of Computing, Engineering & Information Sciences) Liz Morrow - Principal Administrator (Academic Registry)