Academic Integrity
If you have been accused of breaching academic integrity, we are here to support and assist you.
TUSA Student Advocates are not lawyers, but we help by listening, providing independent confidential advice, stepping through processes, assisting with letters, attending meetings where needed, and appeals. You are not alone – we are here to help and we can also refer you to other support people if needed.
Try not to worry or panic. Instead, read through the information below and write down anything that may be relevant to your case. That will help us to help you.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
Breaching academic integrity includes (but is not limited to) plagiarism, cheating, or taking material that is not permitted into an exam.
According to the Student Academic Integrity Ordinance, an academic integrity breach involves conduct that:
- undermines the key principles of academic integrity (honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility);
- includes any form of misrepresentation of academic achievement;
- is an identified act of academic wrongdoing (a low, intermediate or high-level breach).
What is the Student Academic Integrity Ordinance?
An ordinance is a ruling which falls under the University of Tasmania Act 1992 (the Act).
The Student Academic Integrity Ordinance is designed to protect the integrity of the University and the qualifications it offers.
There are many ordinances under the Act, but this ordinance explains what happens when a student is accused of breaching academic integrity.
What is the process for an accusation of a breach of this Ordinance?
We recommend you read the ordinance & procedure documents in full, but here is a quick summary of the process:
- The Academic Integrity Adviser (staff member responsible for academic integrity) must inform the student of the allegation and investigate the case, giving the student the opportunity to meet to discuss the allegation
- Students are given 10 working days to respond to the initial allegation and accept the meeting invitation whereby they can bring a support person with them, such as a Student Advocate. Meetings will take place without the student if there is no response or the student is unavailable
- After the meeting (if taken place), the Academic Integrity Advisor will decide if the student did breach academic integrity or not
- Students will receive a determination letter outlining if the allegation was upheld or not and what the penalty is (if applicable)
- Students are also advised of the appeal process and given 10 working dates to submit an appeal
Book with a student advocate
TUSA Student Advocates are not lawyers, but we help by:
- listening,
- providing free, independent, confidential advice,
- explaining University rules and regulations,
- stepping through processes,
- assisting with letters,
- attending meetings where needed, and
- appeals.
If you receive an allegation of breaching academic integrity, make sure you visit the UTAS Academic Integrity website and read the Student Academic Integrity Ordinance in detail, and if you need support please make an appointment with one of our Student Advocates.
Academic Integrity Mindmap
We’ve created the below diagram to help explain the Academic Integrity process in simpler visual terms.