week 2-Academic Misconduct

Q. What is academic misconduct?

According to CQU policies Academic Misconduct - Student (Version: 3) the definition of Academic misconduct is “A single offence by a student of cheating, plagiarism or other academic misconduct with respect to term work, tests or final examinations may constitute student academic misconduct”

http://policy.cqu.edu.au/Policy/policy.jsp?policyid=647

Q. How is academic misconduct identified by CQU?
There are various ways by which CQU identifies academic misconduct, few are mentioned below.
Plagiarism
“Plagiarism is the presentation of work, ideas or data of others as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement. “

http://glossary.cqu.edu.au

Cheating
Cheating in tests or examinations includes, but is not limited to:

• Dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct such as speaking to other candidates or communicating with them by any means whatsoever
• Bringing into the examination room any textbook, notebook, memorandum, other written material or mechanical or electronic device not authorised by the examination;
• Writing an answer paper or part of it, or consulting any person or materials outside the confines of the examination room without permission to do so; and
• Leaving answer papers exposed to view, or persistent attempts to read other students' examination answers.

Complicity

“Any student who voluntarily and consciously aids another student in the commission of one or more of these offences is also guilty of the offence of academic misconduct.”


Other examples of academic misconduct are mentioned below-

• Tampering or attempts to tamper with examination scripts, class work, grades or class records;
• Failure to abide by directions of an instructor regarding the individuality of work handed in;
• Acquisition, attempted acquisition, possession, or distribution of examination materials or information without the authorisation of the instructor
• Impersonation of another student in an examination or other class assignment
• Falsification or fabrication of clinical or laboratory reports; and Non-authorised tape recording of lectures
• Behaving in a way that compromises the integrity of an examination process whilst under the directions of an examination invigilator

http://policy.cqu.edu.au/Policy/policy.jsp?policyid=647

Q. Based on your experience, what could CQU do to reduce student academic misconduct?

From my experience most often academic misconduct occurs due to reasons below.

• Attendance Issues
• Cheating
• Academic performance (i.e., Failure to submit assignments on time etc)
  
  
  Suggestions as to how we can reduce above misconduct patterns
  
  
  Attendance Issues:
  Misconduct occurs when a student fails to adhere with 80% attendance requirements.
  University can take few initiatives to reduce this by providing students with various self-learning options and providing a choice of weekly/fortnightly/weekend classes.
  This helps in creation of correct work/life-study balance for working students.
  
  Cheating
• Dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct such as speaking to other candidates or communicating with them by any means whatsoever
• Bringing into the examination room any textbook, notebook, memorandum, other written material or mechanical or electronic device not authorised by the examination
• Writing an answer paper or part of it, or consulting any person or materials outside the confines of the examination room without permission to do so; and
• Leaving answer papers exposed to view, or persistent attempts to read other students' examination answers.

CQU can take few initiatives to curb or reduce this by conducting various pre-examination revision classes and providing students with mock or pre-test options.

This gives students, an opportunity to complete their self-assessment and provides them a better estimate of their present academic performance.

Also pre-examination revision classes can give students an ability/opportunity to clarify any doubts/questions, which they might have with their mentors.

Academic performance (i.e., Failure to submit assignments on time etc):

• This is purely a student’s initiative but CQU can take few measures, which may help in increasing academic performance.
• Assignments can be made more interesting by incorporating Industry experience component within assignments where possible.
• Assignments should be more practical in approach, which can assist students to gain hands-on experience.
• Assessment of assignments should be more time-based and rewards offered for pupils (e.g. extra grades) when submission done before due date.