Academic Integrity at Griffith

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Definitions of Academic Integrity and Misconduct• Perceptions and definitions vary between cultures

and academic disciplines• Broadly, academic misconduct covers all

fraudulent behaviour, including misrepresentation, cheating, fabrication of results, plagiarism, collusion and duplication

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Academic Integrity at Griffith

• Griffith takes academic integrity very seriously• The most common breach of academic integrity is

plagiarism• You need to be aware of what plagiarism is• You need to know where you can get help if you

don’t understand how to avoid plagiarism• We want you to be ALERT but not ALARMED!

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Did you know that the following are examples of plagiarism?• When an assignment is not all your own work• When you have not acknowledged the work of others i.e.

you have not named your sources and materials• When you recycle an assignment that has been previously

submitted for another course• When you have let another student copy from your

assignment or you have copied another student’s work

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Why is Griffith committed to academic integrity?• Because if everyone cheats and plagiarises the University’s

reputation is affected • Because Griffith wants to protect the standard of its awards• Because Griffith wants to ensure that students receive due credit for

their work• Because Griffith wants to protect the interests of students who do

not cheat• Because Griffith wants to provide students with guidance on best

practice in studying and learning• Because Griffith wants to educate students about intellectual

property and legitimate access to it

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How can you avoid plagiarism?• Select quotes carefully and use minimally. • Words and phrases copied directly from a source must be indicated

as a quote, unless you have completely paraphrased them.• Do you understand that when you use someone else’s idea as your

own it is plagiarism?• Learn how can this be done correctly? In other words learn how to

paraphrase correctly.• Make sure you use the correct citation style that is required by your

School • Always identify where your information came from. We do check!

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Text-matching software

• You should be aware that the University uses text-matching software called SafeAssign to safeguard the quality of student learning

• This software may be available for you to use to check your own assignments prior to submission. Your lecturer will advise you if this is the case.

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Breaches of academic integrity• Breaches will be given a level of seriousness according to a

matrix that includes a number of factors for consideration, such as type and extent of the plagiarism and experience and intent of the student

• There are Level I, II and III breaches• Level I and II breaches will be dealt with at School level by

the Course Convenor• The more serious Level II and III breaches will be dealt with

at the Institution level by the Chair of the Assessment Board

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Example of Level 1 breach

• An example of a Level I offence may be: a first year student who does not understand how to correctly reference their academic writing and has, therefore, inadvertently plagiarised

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Example of Level II breach

• An example of a Level II breach would be: a student who is in second semester of program and has completed instruction in avoiding plagiarism but has still plagiarised a significant portion or their assessment.

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Example of Level III breach

• Some examples of a Level III offence would be: a second or third year student who has repeatedly cheated or where plagiarism is deliberate and planned or where a student has purchased or stolen another person’s work

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How does the university deal with breaches• Firstly you will receive an official letter via email

from your Course Convenor or the Chair of the Assessment Board advising you of their concern

• You will be given the opportunity to explain• A decision will be made regarding appropriate

action by your Course Convenor or the Chair of the Assessment Board

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Possible responses to a breachStudents may:• Receive a warning• Be required to seek appropriate study skills• Be required to undertake online skills module• Be allowed to resubmit assessment• Be required to undertake supplementary assessment• Receive a reduced or nil mark• Receive a fail for the course• Be excluded from the University

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Finalising The Process• All final decisions will be centrally recorded on the

Academic Integrity Management system• Previous breaches will be taken into account

when determining a response to a subsequent breach

• You will receive a letter confirming the outcome and advising you of your right to appeal

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What can students do to ensure Academic Integrity in their work

• Talk to your tutors or lecturers• Ensure that you are not attempting a heavier study load than

you are able to commit to• Check what information your School provides on referencing• Go to classes on academic writing and referencing, in

particular, learn how to paraphrase correctly• Ensure that you understand what is required in a group

assignment• Use text-matching software (if available) to check your work

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Finally ----

Don’t become a statistic on our Academic Integrity Management System

Be familiar with what constitutes Academic Integrity

Look out for our Academic Integrity website – presently in development

See http://www.griffith.edu.au/ins/training/ for information on training provided by Learning Services