For full regulations please refer to Academic Misconduct Procedure
You are advised to consult the full regulations and have them available at the hearing. Hard copies are also available from Academic Services on request.
This means that you have been suspected of committing Academic Misconduct, a report has been forwarded to the Director of Academic Integrity who has determined that, based on the evidence submitted, a prima facie case (i.e. a case based on what seems to be the truth when first seen or heard) has been established against you.
The allegation may have been made by an invigilator if it is Academic Misconduct under examination conditions, or by a member of your College/School or an internal examiner if it relates to coursework, essays, group work or any non-exam based assessment. The Director of Academic Integrity considers all allegations and confirms if a case exists on behalf of the University.
The Director/Deputy Director of Academic Integrity are the Officers in charge of Academic Integrity at the University. The Director/Deputy Director of Academic Integrity will present the case of Academic Misconduct against you.
It is academic misconduct to commit any act whereby a person may obtain for himself/herself, or for another, an unpermitted advantage. This shall apply whether candidates act alone or in conjunction with another/others. An action or actions shall be deemed to fall within this definition whether occurring during, or in relation to, a formal examination, a piece of coursework, or any form of assessment undertaken in pursuit of an academic or professional qualification at Swansea University.
Examples include (for a more complete list please consult the regulations):
• Introducing into an examination room any unauthorised form of materials such as a book, manuscript, data or loose papers, information obtained via an electronic device or any source of unauthorised information;
• Copying from or communicating with any other person in the examination room, except as authorised by an invigilator;
• Communicating electronically with any other person;
• Impersonating an examination candidate or allowing oneself to be impersonated;
• Presenting evidence of special circumstances to examination boards which is false or falsified or which in any way misleads or could mislead examination boards;
• Presenting an examination script as your own work when the script includes material produced by unauthorised means. This includes plagiarism.
• Plagiarism: Plagiarism can be defined as using without acknowledgment another person’s work and submitting it for assessment as though it were one’s own work, for instance, through copying or unacknowledged paraphrasing.
• Collusion: Two or more students working together to develop data or other materials without prior authorisation. Such materials would then be presented for assessment without acknowledging the originator(s) of the work or sharing data, materials or other coursework with another student(s) which is then presented for assessment without the knowledge or permission of the originator(s).
• Commissioning: Commissioning an essay to be written by another. Purchasing material from internet sites or another and then presenting that material for assessment as though it were one’s own work.
You will have been sent copies of any evidence with the allegation letter. This evidence will be presented to the Committee of Enquiry. Any additional evidence may be presented to the Committee with the permission of the Chair. You will also be given copies of this evidence.
Some Colleges/Schools adopt the practice of submitting electronic copies of your assignment/coursework/dissertation through the Turnitin software. The software provides a report identifying any matches to sources held within its database.
The Turnitin software matches un-referenced text in your work to the first source held on the Turnitin database. Therefore, it may identify the sources incorrectly. The important point is that the system believes the text to be taken from a source which has not been acknowledged, rather than identifying the actual source used.
For example, the report may match your work to that of a student at another University. However, in reality, you and the other student have not been in contact with each other. This may be explained by the fact that both you and the other student may have used the same text book/source. The important issue is whether the source you have used has been acknowledged/referenced. If you have copies of the original sources you used, you should bring these with you to the hearing.
Yes. You should inform Academic Services as soon as possible if you wish to present evidence. Any additional evidence may be presented to the Committee on the day of the hearing with the permission of the Chair. Please ensure that if your evidence is in a language other than English that you also obtain a translation of the document. If your evidence concerns medical or personal circumstances you should also ensure that these are accompanied by official documentation e.g. a medical certificate.
On receipt of confirmation that an allegation of Academic Misconduct exists the Director of Academic Services shall arrange for a Committee of Enquiry to hear your case. The Committee shall be made up of three members of a Standing Panel selected by Academic Services and shall not contain staff from a discipline in which you are studying. University Committees of Enquiry usually hear cases involving serious offences, joint cases involving The College and Swansea students, second offences and cases involving Research degrees or Taught Masters Dissertations. First offences, of a less serious nature are usually dealt with at College/School level. If you are unsure why you have been referred to a University Committee please contact Academic Services (contact details are provided within the allegation letter) for further information.
No, you do not have to attend the hearing. However, due to the seriousness of the allegation you are strongly advised to attend the hearing. The majority of students in this position do attend hearings and take the opportunity to present their case. If you do not wish to attend, you may elect to have someone else to represent you at the meeting, and it is up to you to arrange this. For example, you may arrange for a member of the Student’s Union Advice Centre to represent you at the hearing. Alternatively you may wish to submit your case in writing.
You will normally be expected to attend the meeting on the date given. However, in exceptional circumstances allowance may be made for one postponement. Please contact Academic Services (contact details are provided within the allegation letter) as soon as possible if you would like to discuss a postponement.
Yes. If you have informed us that you do not wish to attend the meeting, it will go ahead in your absence. If we do not hear from you and we have made every reasonable effort to contact you the meeting will go ahead in your absence.
Yes, the regulations allow you to be represented or accompanied at the meeting, as long as the person with you is not attending in a legal capacity. For example, you may wish to bring with you a friend for moral support, a member of staff or a member of the Student’s Union advisory service. You are asked to inform Academic Services of the name of the person accompanying you as soon as possible.
No, the University does not provide translators. The hearing will be conducted in English (or Welsh if requested), however, if you have any language difficulties you may arrange for someone to accompany you. This person may translate for you.
Yes. The Student’s Union is available to advise you and help you with your case. Please email advice@swansea-union.co.uk. For advice on the regulations or the Committee proceedings you should contact the member of Academic Services staff mentioned in your letter.
As well as the three members of the Committee of Enquiry, the Director of Academic Integrity who will present the case on behalf on the University will be present, along with members of Academic Services staff who will take minutes of the meeting and advise on the regulations. Witnesses may also be called to present evidence.
Witnesses may be invigilators or a member of academic staff from your College/School or subject area. You will be given an opportunity to question any witnesses who attend and they will withdraw after questioning.
The Director/Deputy Director of Academic Integrity organises his own witnesses. You are also permitted to call any witnesses to support your case. You must arrange for your own witnesses and inform Academic Services of their names as soon as possible.
Members of your College/School may be called as witnesses or may accompany you.
The Chair will read to you the accusation made against you and invite you to respond to the accusation - i.e. do you accept the allegation or not?
The Director of Academic Integrity will present the case against you and may call witnesses as he feels appropriate.
You will have received copies of evidence presented to the Committee, but you will be given an opportunity to see any other evidence referred to by the Panel during the course of the meeting.
The Director/Deputy Director of Academic Integrity may question you as well as the witnesses whom he/she calls. Witnesses will withdraw after being questioned.
You will then be given an opportunity to defend yourself by making a statement or by questioning witnesses or by calling your own witnesses. You may also present any other evidence. You will also be given an opportunity to comment on the evidence presented to the Panel. When the questioning and submission of evidence has been completed, you will be asked to leave and the Panel will consider the evidence. It will then decide whether the allegation has been substantiated and determine, in appropriate cases, the penalty.
Yes. Although the Committee is a formal hearing the Chair will make every effort to make you feel at ease. If you have any questions during the hearing either relating to the proceedings or to the case itself you should not be afraid to ask them. You may also question witnesses.
Yes. Once the case against you has been presented you will be invited to give an explanation.
Yes. You should inform the Committee of any mitigating circumstances or personal circumstances which may be related to the offence or to yourself. Supporting documentation should also be provided e.g. a medical certificate. Where you could have reported such circumstances to the Committee, prior to their decision being made, those circumstances cannot subsequently be cited as grounds for a final review.
The Committee will decide whether or not they believe a case of Academic Misconduct has been found. They will either agree that the case is substantiated (Academic Misconduct has been proven) or unsubstantiated (no case has been proven). In some instances they may wish to defer a decision pending additional evidence.
The Chair of the Committee will inform you at the start of the meeting whether the Committee will tell you the result the same day by asking you back once a decision has been made or whether you will be informed in writing within the next few days. All students will be sent a letter by Academic Services informing them officially of the outcome.
If the Committee believes that no case exists against you, no record of the Academic Misconduct will exist on your record.
If the Committee believe that Academic Misconduct has been committed they will decide on a penalty. The normal penalty for first offences is 0% for the module. In the case of second offences the normal penalty is 0% for the level of study and withdrawal from the University. However, there are other penalties available and you are urged to refer to the Academic Misconduct regulations for a full list. The penalty will be recorded on your central record. The result of the hearing will be conveyed to your College/School who will confirm your end of year decision/award decision at the next available Examination Board.
In some cases this may affect your ability to practice in a particular profession e.g. if you are a Law student. Your Head of College/School will decide whether to inform the Professional Body.
Yes, you may appeal under the University’s Final Review regulations.
Please note that cases will only be considered based on the following grounds for review:
