Managing student academic integrity issues

What is new?

The new policy has a change in terminology. Breaches are now referred to as a failure to meet student academic integrity requirements.

A failure to meet student academic integrity requirements can be categorised as either a misunderstanding or academic misconduct.

The University has developed new forms and resources to assist staff who manage student academic integrity issues. 

Managing academic integrity issues

Tutors and assessors who suspect a failure to meet the requirements of academic integrity should complete a Form A and forward it (with evidence) to the relevant topic coordinator.

Topic coordinators (first reviewers) are responsible for assessing an academic integrity allegation, managing suspected misunderstanding cases and referring suspected academic misconduct to second reviewers.

College academic integrity officers or Dean (Education) (second reviewers), conduct investigations into suspected academic misconduct and refer serious academic misconduct matters to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students) for action under Statute 6.4: Student Conduct.

Misunderstanding and academic misconduct

A failure to meet student academic integrity requirements can be categorised as either a misunderstanding or academic misconduct. Schedule 1 and 2 of the policy define misunderstanding and academic misconduct, and the consequences that follow.

• Misunderstanding - an unintentional failure to meet academic requirements.
• Academic misconduct – an intentional or reckless misrepresentation of the level of academic achievement.

Serious academic misconduct applies where a student already has 2 previous level 1 academic misconduct records, or the failure is so serious that it prejudices the interest of other students, the integrity of the assessment item or the reputation of the University the matter should be referred for action under Statute 6.4–Student Conduct.

Academic Integrity Register (Confidential register)

Once a topic coordinator has completed a preliminary assessment of an academic integrity allegation, they are required to ensure that a check is made of the Academic Integrity Register to determine if there are any previous academic integrity records. To request a check of the Academic Integrity Register, send an email that includes student's full name and student ID number to confidential.register@flinders.edu.au.