Academic Issues
 
We can advise on issues connected with change of course, withdrawal from course, leave of absence, exam and coursework assessments, impaired performance, academic appeals and student grievances (complaints). The link below takes you to many of the University’s regulations relating to academic matters, click here. The student grievance procedure can be found here.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

This is a brief guide to Loughborough University’s procedures for dealing with allegations of academic misconduct. It covers introductory studies, undergraduate and taught postgraduate studies, but not misconduct in research degrees for which the University has separate procedures.

The definition of academic misconduct and the procedures for dealing with misconduct allegations in introductory, undergraduate and taught postgraduate studies are set out in Regulation XVIII
here.

The procedures covering misconduct in research degrees are set out in section 9 of the Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research: click here
SEEK ADVICE!

We recommend that anyone facing an allegation of academic misconduct, or who has queries about the procedures for dealing with academic misconduct, should contact Loughborough Students' Advice for specific advice about their situation right away.

Normally, any response to an allegation has to be submitted promptly within a given deadline, so there is little time for delay.
WHAT IS ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT?

See these pages:

Under this Regulation academic misconduct is defined as engaging in one or more of the following activities in the course of an assessment:

- Failing to comply with the examination rules, set out in Regulation VII, here for example by taking prohibited material into an examination hall.

- Assisting another candidate to gain an advantage by unfair means, or receiving such assistance.
- Misleading the examiners by fabricating of falsifying data.
- Plagiarism; ie submitting work as your own of which you are not the author. This can include failing to acknowledge clearly and explicitly the ideas, words or work of another person, whether published or unpublished.
- Engaging in any other activity likely to give an unfair advantage to any candidate.
HOW DOES THE UNIVERSITY DEAL WITH ALLEGATIONS?

There are two procedures for dealing with allegations of academic misconduct: the Minor offences procedure and the Major offences procedure, see below.

Minor offences are dealt with by the relevant Head of Department, whereas Major offences are dealt with by the Academic Misconduct Committee.
A MINOR OFFENCE OR A MAJOR OFFENCE?

The minor offences procedure is normally used in coursework assessments, eg where a student has failed to properly acknowledge sources or where there is a limited amount of copying of another’s work. However, if a student has previously committed an offence of academic misconduct at the University, or he or she is suspected of an offence in more than one assessed part of their programme, the allegation will be considered under the major offences procedure.

Allegations of misconduct in examination halls, eg taking crib notes into the hall, are normally dealt with under the major offences procedure. The Exam’ rules,
reference, prohibit students from taking any printed material or handwritten note into an exam hall, unless it has previously been advertised as permitted in the exam timetable and stated in the rubric to the question paper. English/native language dictionaries can be used only when students have received written authorisation from their Departments.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM ACCUSED OF COMMITTING A MINOR OFFENCE?

If your Head of Department considers you have committed a minor offence he or she should notify you of the allegation in writing and provide you with the evidence against you. The Head should also invite you to admit or deny the allegation and defend yourself in writing and in person. Any written defence or request to be heard in person must be received by the Head within 5 working days of notifying you of the allegation.

If you choose to defend yourself in person, you can be accompanied to the meeting by a person of your choosing. This person could be a friend or relative or a legally qualified representative. Advisers from Loughborough Students' Advice may also agree to accompany you and, where appropriate, make representations on your behalf.

The Head will take into account the evidence and the defence, if any, and decide whether you are guilty of the offence, and if so, the appropriate penalty.
WHAT ARE THE LIKELY PENALTIES FOR MINOR OFFENCES?

For minor offences, the penalties available to the Head of Department are limited to:
- a formal reprimand: and/or
- a reduction in your marks in the module concerned.

It is likely there will be a reduction in marks where there is a finding of guilt and an indication that you tried to obtain an unfair advantage for yourself or for others, eg if you copied another’s work or allowed them to copy your work.

Although the University issues general guidance to Heads of Department about the misconduct procedures and the appropriate penalties, we are aware of significant variations between Departments on how misconduct allegations are handled. Remember, if you think the decision is wrong or the penalty imposed is too severe, you have a right to appeal (see Can I appeal? below).
WHAT ARE MAJOR OFFENCES?

An allegation will be dealt with under the major offences procedure if it relates to an assessment in an examination hall, or to other assessed work (eg coursework) where the nature of the incident calls for a substantial penalty.

Also, where a student is suspected of committing a minor offence it will be dealt with under the major offences procedure if he or she has previously been found guilty of academic misconduct, or is suspected of an offence in more than one assessed element of his or her programme.
 
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM ACCUSED OF COMMITTING A MAJOR OFFENCE?

If you are suspected of committing a major offence the Secretary of the Academic Misconduct Committee will notify you of the allegation in writing, provide the evidence against you and confirm the date and time the Academic Misconduct Committee will meet to hear the allegations. The hearing will normally take place at least 15 working days from the date you were notified of the allegation.

You will be invited to admit or deny the allegation and defend yourself in writing and in person. Any written defence or request to be heard in person must be received by the Secretary of the Academic Misconduct Committee at least 7 working days before the scheduled date of the hearing. You do not have to attend the hearing, but if you do attend you can be accompanied by a person of your choosing. This could be a friend or relative or a legally qualified representative. Advisers from Loughborough Students' Advice may also agree to accompany you and, where appropriate, make representations on your behalf.

The Academic Misconduct committee will take into account the evidence and the defence, if any, and decide whether you are guilty of the offence, and if so, the appropriate penalty. Remember, each case is considered on its merits and it is crucial that if you have a defence to an allegation or you consider there are any mitigating circumstances in your case that you give full written details and supply supporting evidence, otherwise the Academic Misconduct Committee may not take it into account.
 
WILL MY STUDIES BE TERMINATED?

Normally, no. For a first offence a student found guilty of academic misconduct will still be allowed to continue their studies, unless the circumstances of the particular case call for such a serious penalty. The powers of the Academic Misconduct Committee allow it to impose a wide range of penalties short of termination, so it is normally possible to adequately punish a student for misconduct by reducing module marks and withdrawing reassessment rights without preventing them from progressing on their course or achieving their main qualification aim.
 
WHAT ARE THE LIKELY PENALTIES FOR A MAJOR OFFENCE?

If you are found guilty of a major offence, the Academic Misconduct Committee may impose one or more of the following penalties:

- A formal reprimand;
- A reduction by any amount of the marks obtained in any module in the current year of your course;
- Withdrawal of reassessment right in any module in the current year of your course;
- Termination of studies (see above).

The powers of the Committee allow it to impose a wide range of penalties short of terminating a student’s studies, so it is normally possible to adequately punish a student for misconduct by reducing module marks and withdrawing reassessment rights without preventing them from progressing on their course or achieving their main qualification aim. However, each case is considered on its merits and it is crucial that if you have a defence to an allegation or you consider there are any mitigating circumstances in your case that you give full written details and supply supporting evidence, otherwise the Academic Misconduct Committee may not take it into account.

If you are facing an allegation of misconduct, please seek advice!
 
CAN I APPEAL?

Yes, if you are found guilty of either a major or minor offence you have a right of appeal against the finding of guilt and any penalty imposed. Be aware that there is a limited period after being notified of the decision in which to submit your appeal: for minor offences and major offences the period is 10 working days. Your appeal should be submitted in writing setting out the nature and grounds for the appeal together with any evidence.

Minor offences appeals are considered by a Dean of a Faculty (other than the student’s own) without a hearing. For full details of the procedure see paragraphs 15 and 16 of
Regulation XVIII.

Major offences appeals are considered by the Academic Misconduct Appeals Committee, normally at a hearing. For full details of the procedure see paragraphs 29 – 32 of Regulation XVIII.
If you have been found guilty of academic misconduct it will be recorded on your file, but the University will not disclose this to third parties, such as prospective employers, unless it is compelled to do so.

If you have any queries regarding any of the above, please contact Loughborough Students’ Advice to discuss your situation.