Investigating breaches of academic integrity

All UNE staff should be familiar with the reporting and investigation process for potential breaches of academic integrity. Below is an overview of these processes, what to do if you need to report a potential breach of academic integrity and what to expect from an investigation.

 

Academic Integrity Support contacts

All reports of potential breaches and any questions or queries should be directed to support staff:

HASSE and SABL: academicintegrity@une.edu.au

UNEBS: ai-bus@une.edu.au

M&H: health_pam@une.edu.au

 

Reporting a potential breach

If a Unit Coordinator (UC) identifies a potential breach of Student Academic Integrity Policy, they complete a Referral Form and send it with any/all supporting evidence to the relevant academic integrity support staff, copied to their School’s Academic Integrity Investigating Officer (AIO). Note that cases will not be progressed without a completed Referral Form. You can download a copy of the form here:

Academic Integrity Referral Form

The AIO has 10 working days (normally 2 calendar weeks) to examine the referral and supporting evidence to decide whether there is a basis for further investigation of the matter:

  • If the AIO decides that there is no further investigation warranted, they tell the UC, who completes marking the relevant assignment, and returns it and the grade to the student. 
  • If the AIO decides that further investigation is warranted, they prepare an “Invitation to Respond” letter with supporting evidence that is sent  to the student’s UNE email address, copied to the AIO. 

The student has 10 working days to provide a response, explaining how they developed their work that is under investigation. If possible drafts and working notes should be provided to help their explanation. The student may request an extension of time in which to respond and is encouraged to seek assistance from Student Advocacy (advocacy@une.edu.au). 

Determining the outcome 

If a student does not respond and has not requested an extension of time, the AIO has up to 10 working days after the response due date to use the evidence that they have to determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, a breach of the Student Academic Integrity Policy has occurred or not, and if so, what penalties will be imposed. 

If a student responds, the AIO has up to 10 working days after the response due date to use the evidence that they have including the student’s response to determine whether, on the balance of probabilities, a breach of the Student Academic Integrity Policy has occurred or not, and if so, what penalties will be imposed. 

An outcome letter, with the decision and penalty if a breach was determined, is then emailed to the student’s email address, with a copy to the UC. The UC then implements the outcome as determined. 

Under the Student Academic Integrity Policy, the student may appeal the decision via the appropriate process.

Retaking the Academic Integrity Module 

As a result of an academic integrity concern, a student may be required to retake the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) through MyLearn. They are given a minimum of 20 working days to do this, and are advised that once they complete it they will need to advise the relevant support staff.

Students are informed that if they do not retake the AIM by the due date, their ability to upload assignment etc to MyLearn will be blocked until they have redone the AIM, notified staff and had this confirmed.  As a courtesy, students may receive reminders to do this. 

 

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