This scale provides a guide as to the normal, minimum and maximum penalties for specific cases of misconduct and the circumstances in which specific penalties are appropriate. This scale is not intended to be prescriptive and the Vice-Chancellor, Deans or committees may need to adjust the penalty in individual cases according to the circumstances of that particular case. The penalties are generally graded according to severity, although it should be noted that some penalties are only appropriate for specific types of misconduct (e.g. fines can only apply to non-academic misconduct).
| Penalty |
Rule |
Examples of types of instances of misconduct |
| Rescission of an academic award conferred by the University where the award is as a result of fraud or serious academic misconduct committed by the student before the award was conferred |
16.3.1(1) |
- very serious instances of academic misconduct, including fraud and which may involve serious criminal behaviour
- extensive plagiarism in a research thesis or major project found proven after the award has been conferred
|
| Revocation of a recommendation to the Academic Board or the University Council that a student has component of a course found proven after a for a period of up to twelve (12) months |
16.3.1(2) |
- fraud
- major plagiarism in a subject or major satisfied the requirements for an award, effective student has been determined to have satisfied requirements for the relevant award
|
| Permanent exclusion from the University |
16.3.1(3) |
Extremely serious instances of misconduct, may involve serious criminal behaviour and serious repeat instances of misconduct. |
| Exclusion from the University for a period of up to five (5) years |
16.3.1(4) |
- fraud
- alteration of any document or record of the University
- serious damage to University property or misuse of University facilities
- serious disruption to University activities
- serious academic misconduct including extensive plagiarism, exam malpractice
- repeat cases of academic and/or non-academic misconduct
- failure to comply with any penalty imposed for an instance of misconduct or failure to comply with any condition agreed with the Vice-Chancellor under Rule 2.1.9
- dishonesty in relation to admission to the University
- inappropriate behaviour including harassment, intimidation or interference with the freedom of other persons at the University
|
| Suspension from the University for a specified period not exceeding twelve (12) months |
16.3.1(5) |
- damage to University property or misuse of University facilities
- disruption to University activities and/or freedom of other persons
- academic misconduct including plagiarism, exam malpractice
- repeat cases of academic and/or non-academic misconduct
- failure to comply with any penalty imposed for an instance of misconduct
|
| Suspension from a course of the University for a specified period not exceeding twelve (12) months |
16.3.1(6) |
- academic misconduct including plagiarism, exam malpractice, repeated cheating in assessment
- repeat cases of academic misconduct
|
| Withholding of academic results for the relevant teaching period, and/or academic transcript, including deferral or withdrawal of permission to graduate for a specified period not exceeding twelve (12) months |
16.3.1(7) |
Imposed when instance of misconduct occurs in the student's final teaching period before graduation, usually imposed in conjunction with suspension, or results are withheld until fines or costs are paid. |
| Imposing conditions on enrolment and participation in specified subjects for a specified period not exceeding twelve (12) months; during which time if there is a further instance of misconduct, the Vice-Chancellor or the Dean shall refer the matter to the University Student Conduct Committee or the Faculty Student Conduct Committee, as the case may be, for a recommendation on the imposition of a more severe penalty. |
16.3.1(8) |
- inappropriate behaviour
- misuse of facilities
|
If the misconduct constitutes academic misconduct in relation to a subject in which the student is admitted or enrolled:
- a zero mark/fail result for the results of any form or forms of assessment in the subject
- a requirement that the student re-submit a specific assessment task, with a reduction in marks to no more than a specified percentage of the maximum possible mark in the assessment task
- a requirement that the student must undertake alternative assessment for the whole subject, for which the maximum possible mark can be no greater than a specified percentage of the total value of the assessment
- a zero mark/fail result for the results of the total assessment in the subject.
|
16.3.1(9) |
Academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, cheating) in relation to a subject in which the student is enrolled.
May be appropriate for first offence of academic misconduct, plagiarism if deemed unintentional (e.g. student has not understood academic requirements).
Should take into account:
- extent of plagiarism
- advice to student on referencing
- stage of course (students in second or subsequent years will be expected to have more understanding of what constitutes plagiarism compared to students in first year).
|
| Exclusion from attendance at specified classes or subjects for a specified period not exceeding twelve (12) months, provided that these do not include the entirety of classes or subjects for which the student is enrolled or is eligible to be enrolled |
16.3.1(10) |
Inappropriate behaviour in classes or subjects, meetings or other activities. |
| Exclusion from and prohibition from use of specified facilities of the University for a specified period not exceeding twelve (12) months |
16.3.1(11) |
Misuse of facilities on University premises, such as the Library or IT labs, or any other premises to which the student has access for his or her University purposes. |
| Where the misconduct involves loss of or damage to property or facilities of the University or a third party, payment to the University or the third party of a specified amount not exceeding the amount of the loss or damage |
16.3.1(12) |
Misconduct involving loss of/or damage to property or facilities of University or to a third party.
Payment for loss or damages is not a fine. The amount sought as restitution cannot exceed the amount of the loss or damages. |
| Where the misconduct involves lengthy inquiries and proceedings, payment to the University of a specified amount for its costs, not exceeding the amount of the costs incurred |
16.3.1(13) |
Misconduct involving lengthy inquiries and proceedings. Payment is required to cover the costs of the expense incurred by the University during lengthy inquiries and proceedings in relation to misconduct. The amount sought is not a fine – it cannot exceed the costs incurred by the University in relation to the inquiries and proceedings. |
| A fine of up to $5,000 with maximum fines for particular types of offences |
16.3.1(14) |
Non-academic misconduct including:
- inappropriate behaviour
- misuse of facilities
- wilfully disobeying direction
- library offences
(see 3.6 below for notes on Monetary penalties) |
| Imposition of specified conditions on attendance at specified classes or use of specified facilities of the University |
16.3.1(15) |
Inappropriate behaviour in a class, meeting or other activity, and/or misuse of facilities on University premises or any other premises to which the student has access for his or her University purposes. |
| Reprimand or caution |
16.3.1 (16) |
- first minor instance of misconduct
- usually imposed with other penalties
- a caution is a formal warning to the student that any future instance of misconduct will be treated most seriously and will result in a more severe penalty
- a formal reprimand by the Vice-Chancellor for misconduct is communicated to the student in a letter. The letter of reprimand is placed on the student's confidential file and remains confidential. It does not appear on a student's transcript either internal or external
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