Cheating, Plagiarism Unfair Practiceaterials Quality Assurance Services Collaborations and Partnerships Group

Session outline Academic Integrity University procedures Distinct stages of the process Role of staff Penalties Further guidance

Introduction Academic Integrity = good academic practice Support for students: Student induction Course Handbook Academic skills sessions Materials on the VLE Ongoing support

University procedures Stage 1: Investigatory Interview Stage 2: Assessment Enquiry Panel Stage 3: Assessment Appeal Panel The three stages will take place at the Partner but Stage 3 will always be chaired by a senior member of University staff. N.B In the formative years of a partnership, the University may also support Stage 1 and 2.

Stage 1 A suspected case of unfair practice will provoke Stage 1: an Initial Investigatory Interview: Chair: Partner based Course Leader Partner based internal examiner / invigilator Student Student’s friend / representative (optional) *A University member of staff may attend to support or even Chair in the early stages of the partnership. This provides a developmental opportunity for partner based staff

Stage 2 A lack of resolution through Stage 1, prompts Stage 2: an Assessment Inquiry Panel Chair: Partner based senior academic manager Experienced member of partner- based staff from the subject area but who has not taught the student in the module (s) being investigated Experienced member of partner -based academic staff –independent to the subject area Student (in attendance) Student’s friend (in attendance) (optional) The member of staff making the allegation (in attendance) Partner based Secretary Formal minutes will be taken of a Stage 2 Inquiry Panel

Stage 3 A student’s desire to appeal the decision of the Assessment Inquiry Panel provokes Stage 3 an: Assessment Appeal Panel Chair: University- based Dean of the Faculty of nominee (not the student’s HoS or Chair of the EC/BoE) Experienced member of University-based academic staff from a different faculty Experienced member of partner-based academic staff from the student’s faculty, who has not taught the student Student (in attendance) Student’s friend (in attendance) (optional) University based secretary (in attendance) Formal minutes will be taken of a Stage 3 Appeal Panel

Unfair Practice Board Established in April 2009 To consider admitted or found cases of cheating, plagiarism and other forms of unfair practice To ensure transparent, fair and consistent procedures for penalising proven cases of unfair practices.

Membership of the Board An Academic representative from each Faculty and a substitute member (both appointed by the Dean of Faculty) A Representative from the Quality Assurance Services A Chair, as determined by the Quality Assurance Services A Secretary from the Quality Assurance Services

Purpose To refer-back to the Partner any outcomes which showed procedural or other deficiencies which rendered the admission or finding unsound; To determine penalties for proven cases of unfair practice; To receive any extenuating circumstances submitted in relation to unfair practice and consider these prior to the determination of penalty;

Penalties Take account of level, previous offences, gravity and circumstances A – the student may be awarded the full range of marks for the resubmitted work (Letter of Advice) B – the mark for the reassessed work will be a maximum of 40% (Letter of Warning) C – the mark for the reassessed work will be a maximum of 30% (Letter of Final Warning) D - the student has failed the level and is required to withdraw from the programme of study (Letter of Withdrawal)

Tariff level Offence Occurrences 1234 Level 4 BBCD Level5BCDN/A Level 6 BCDN/A Level 7 BCDN/A

Documentation The Partner is responsible for ensuring the following: Stage 1,2,3 forms require some completion by hand, signed by all stakeholders Invitation letter is sent to the student re: Stage 1 Outcome letter is sent to the student re: Stage 1 Outcome letter is sent to the student re: Stage 2 Outcome letter is sent to the student re: Stage 3 Reporting all outcomes to the University on the Franchise UPB submission template Forwarding on the outcomes of the Unfair Practice Board to the student The University is responsible for: reporting all cases to the Unfair Practice Board via the relevant Faculty sending the outcome of the Unfair Practice Board to the Partner and the Franchise Coordinator / Link Tutor

Further guidance Section C9 Guidance on Cheating, Plagiarism and other forms of unfair practice Developing Excellent Academic Practice module available to Associate Staff Skills for Learning Little Book of Plagiarism

Questions