Policy overview
1 Purpose
To set out the University's approach to Student Academic Integrity and the commitment and responsibilities required of the University and Students to foster a culture of honesty and integrity.
2 Scope
This policy applies to all Students.
Departures from the principles set out in this policy may be considered Academic Misconduct.
The Student Academic Misconduct Procedure is used to manage Academic Misconduct matters in coursework programs and coursework components of Higher Degree by Research programs (e.g. a Research methods course).
The Research Code of Conduct: Management of Potential Breaches Procedure is used to manage misconduct matters in the Research components of Higher Degree by Research programs.
3 Policy Statement
The University has an educative focus on the creation and maintenance of a culture of Academic Integrity and considers respect for and commitment to Academic Integrity and honesty to be the responsibility of all staff and Students of the University.
The University embraces the following values as core to the concept of Academic Integrity:
- Honesty is being truthful, maintaining transparency, encouraging openness and acknowledging other's work.
- Trust is the belief and confidence that others will act with integrity, reliability and fairness. Trust is developed when clear and consistent academic standards are set and applied unfailingly and fairly.
- Fairness is establishing clear, reasonable and transparent expectations, providing consistent and just responses to dishonesty and integrity breaches and upholding Academic Integrity principles unfailingly.
- Respect is valuing and considering diverse opinions and ideas, being inclusive, and establishing practices to support fairness in the interactions of Students, faculty, and administrators.
4 Principles
Academic Integrity encompasses the following principles:
- Academic studies are undertaken responsibly and honestly.
- Academic studies that involve Research are conducted with the required ethics approvals and any other required approvals, permits or licences.
- All academic work submitted for Assessment as the work of the Student is indeed the work of that Student (this does not prevent the ideas or works of others being used in the Student's academic work, provided those ideas or works are acknowledged in accordance with the conventions of the relevant discipline).
- All academic collaborations in the production or creation of academic work are acknowledged.
- Academic work is not falsified in any way.
To embed a culture of Academic Integrity, the University is responsible for:
- providing resources and support to staff to assist them in providing guidance and feedback to Students; and
- providing resources and support to Students to assist them in developing their knowledge and skills.
Academic Integrity requires that Students:
- act ethically and honestly at all times in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information, particularly when submitting academic work which they are claiming as their own;
- acknowledge in activities undertaken as part of their learning or Research the contribution of others' ideas and work, including that of other Students and colleagues;
- protect their work from being copied or misused by other Students;
- adhere to the standards of Academic Integrity that are expected in the discipline/s in which they are studying.
Academic Integrity requires that Staff:
- promote and model the values of Academic Integrity - honesty, trust, fairness and respect;
- apply educative strategies to prevent breaches of Academic Integrity, including providing Students with appropriate guidance, learning activities and feedback on Academic Integrity;
- regularly review and renew Assessment tasks to minimise the potential for breaches of Academic Integrity;
- communicate to Students the acceptable level of working together and how their work will be individually or jointly assessed;
- inform Students that it is each Student's responsibility to uphold the principles of Academic Integrity and to submit work for Assessment or examination in accordance with this policy; and
- monitor, identify and manage failures to meet Academic Integrity requirements in accordance with the relevant procedures.
Investigating and managing breaches of Academic Integrity require that:
- investigations or inquiries into alleged breaches are undertaken according to the principles of Procedural Fairness;
- decisions whether the alleged breach of Academic Integrity has occurred are made on the balance of probability; and
- outcomes and/or penalties applied to findings of Academic Misconduct are appropriate, fair and just, taking into account the facts and circumstances relevant to the case.
5 References
Exemplary Academic Integrity Project (EAIP): Embedding and extending exemplary Academic Integrity Policy and support frameworks across the higher education sector (2013), Plain English definition of Academic Integrity, Office for Learning and Teaching Strategic Commissioned Project 2012-2013, http://www.unisa.edu.au/EAIP.
6 Schedules
This policy must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Policy Information
| Accountable Officer | Provost |
| Responsible Officer | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) |
| Policy Type | Academic Quality Policy |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 31/1/2022 |
| Effective Date | 31/1/2022 |
| Review Date | 17/11/2025 |
| Relevant Legislation | |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy Research Code of Conduct Policy |
| Related Procedures | Research Code of Conduct: Management of Potential Breaches Procedure |
| Related forms, publications and websites | Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| Academic Integrity means acting with the values of honesty, trust, fairness and respect in learning, teaching and Research. It is important for Students, academics, Researchers and all staff to act in an honest way, be responsible for their actions, and show fairness in every part of their work. Staff should be role models to Students. Academic Integrity is important for an individual'...moreAcademic Integrity means acting with the values of honesty, trust, fairness and respect in learning, teaching and Research. It is important for Students, academics, Researchers and all staff to act in an honest way, be responsible for their actions, and show fairness in every part of their work. Staff should be role models to Students. Academic Integrity is important for an individual's and an institution's reputation (EAIP, 2013). Academic Misconduct encompasses all behaviours, including doing as well as attempting to do, any of the acts, omissions or activities that constitute Academic Misconduct: involving the misrepresentation of academic achievement; or undermining the core values (honesty, trust, fairness and respect) of Academic Integrity; or breaching Academic Integrity; whether intentional or unintenti...moreAcademic Misconduct encompasses all behaviours, including doing as well as attempting to do, any of the acts, omissions or activities that constitute Academic Misconduct: involving the misrepresentation of academic achievement; or undermining the core values (honesty, trust, fairness and respect) of Academic Integrity; or breaching Academic Integrity; whether intentional or unintentional. Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to the following: Plagiarism and Self-plagiarism; using (including for Assessment or review) the work prepared by another person or software, including generative artificial intelligence, as their own without appropriate attribution; Collusion, such as any unauthorised collaboration in preparation or presentation of work, including knowingly allowing personal work to be copied by others; all forms of Cheating in examinations and other Assessment tasks; Contract Cheating; Promoting ways to breach Academic Integrity or using University resources to support others in breaching Academic Integrity; offering or accepting bribes (money or other favours), e.g. for Admission or for Marks/Grades; and fabrication or falsification of information or Student identity (TEQSA Guidance Note: Academic Integrity, Version 1.2, 28 March 2019). The process of evaluating the extent to which Students have achieved the Learning Outcomes of a Course....moreThe process of evaluating the extent to which Students have achieved the Learning Outcomes of a Course. Has the meaning ascribed to it from time to time by the applicable common law of the State of Queensland....moreHas the meaning ascribed to it from time to time by the applicable common law of the State of Queensland. Research is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative....moreResearch is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. A person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled....moreA person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. | |
| Definitions that relate to this policy only | |
| Keywords | Academic Misconduct, Assessment, Plagiarism, Collusion |
| Record No | 13/752PL |