What is student academic misconduct

Student academic misconduct includes all behaviour:

  • involving the misrepresentation of academic achievement
  • undermining the core values (honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility) of academic integrity
  • breaching academic integrity.

The Student Academic Misconduct Policy and the Institutional Framework for Promoting Academic Integrity among Students applies to all items submitted by students for assessment by the University and applies to non-award, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs including dissertations and theses.

Types of academic misconduct

Types of academic misconduct include:

  • cheating in examinations, tests and quizzes
  • fabrication of results
  • misrepresentation
  • plagiarism including collusion, acquiring or commissioning work, self plagiarism, copying, paraphrasing without acknowledgement, using someone else’s assessment
  • solicitation
  • assisting plagiarism.

Refer to Section 2 of the Institutional Framework for Promoting Academic Integrity among Students for further information about the types of academic misconduct.

How does the University manage academic misconduct issues?

The Student Academic Misconduct Policy and Institutional Framework for Promoting Academic Integrity among Students sets out definitions of student academic misconduct and outlines the University’s strategy for promoting academic integrity and preventing academic misconduct.

Any breaches of academic integrity should be reported to the relevant course convenor.

What happens when an academic integrity breach is identified?

The following process applies when an academic integrity breach is identified:

  • The course convenor will enter an academic integrity concern into the Student Academic Integrity Management System (SAIMS).
  • The concern will be assessed and assigned as either a Tier 1 decision maker (course convenor)  or Tier 2 decision maker (Dean Learning and Teaching).
  • The decision maker sends the concern letter (by email to the student email address).
  • The student has 14 days to respond to the decision maker.
  • The decision maker considers the student response, evidence and records the investigation and decision in SAIMS.
  • The decision maker is notified of any previous breaches and has the opportunity to revise the decision.
  • The decision maker sends the closure letter (via email) to the student advising them of the outcome

Please refer to the Student Academic Misconduct Policy and Institutional Framework for Promoting Academic Integrity among Students for further information.

What do I do if I have received a letter about academic integrity from my Course Convenor or Dean

  • If you have received a concern letter, you need to contact the decision maker within 14 days of receiving the email.  You should respond as soon as possible and you may also need to make a time to meet with the decision maker.
  • To assist you in preparing a response, read the relevant policy documents.
  • Review the resources available on the Library's study help website.
  • Undertake the Student Academic Integrity Tutorial.

Student support and contacts

Griffith University Student Representative Council Postgraduate Student Association GUPSA GUMURRII Student Support Unit University Appeals Committee

Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild Gold Coast Association of Postgraduates International Student Advisors Student support

Academic Integrity Breach Data

The University records academic integrity breaches in the Student Academic Integrity Management System (SAIMS).

This data is reported to the University Learning and Teaching Committee, which has a role in monitoring academic integrity concerns and outcomes associated with findings of academic misconduct.