Guidance Document: Managing Academic Misconduct and
Academic Appeals and Student Complaints at Partner
Organisations
University of Bradford regulations on academic misconduct, academic
appeals and student complaints were reviewed by the University of Bradford
Learning and Teaching Committee in July 2009 and amended to bring them in
line with rules introduced by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA).
The OIA is an organisation with statutory powers to investigate student
complaints. The OIA can require Universities to change decisions in the
event of an appeal being upheld, award remuneration for expenses incurred
or for distress or inconvenience experienced during a complaint. It can also
require Universities to revise regulations if they are found to be incompatible
with OIA rules.
OIA rules apply to all students registered on a course of the University,
whether studying on the home campus, by distance or at a partner
organisation.
The rules cover academic misconduct, appeals against
academic judgements, complaints about a student’s academic experience or
about a service provided to them by the University and the conduct of, and
matters in relation to, disciplinary or grievance committee hearings.
The OIA require that procedures in relation to the handling of complaints,
academic misconduct, academic appeals and disciplinary matters should be
fair, equitable, clear and transparent. Penalties applied following academic
misconduct should be proportional to the seriousness of the case involved
and penalties and the procedures used to investigate cases and apply
penalties should adhere to the principle of natural justice and should be
proportional to the level of misconduct. No student who is found answerable
for a case of academic misconduct should be advantaged in comparison to
student who has not breached assessment regulations.
The University has developed some key principles, reflected in its regulation
and policy which should be applied in cases involving students studying on
the home campus and at Partner Organisations:
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Approved University policies and procedures must be used by Partner
Organisations when dealing with academic misconduct and academic
appeals.
Partner Organisations must make their own complaints procedures
available to students and must ensure that students know how to
complain to the University if they are not satisfied with the final decision
made by the Partner.
Cases of Academic Misconduct and Student Appeals and Complaints
should be dealt with in a timely manner and where possible, students
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should be made aware of the outcome of a case before they enter the
next stage of their studies
All policies should operate on the principles of natural justice. A prima
facie case may be found on the balance of probabilities; however, a
clear burden of proof must be established.
Partner Organisations must ensure that students have a voice in the
process and are able to meet with the person responsible for
investigating an allegation against them to discuss their case if they
wish.
There should be a reasonable and proportional approach to imposing
penalties for academic misconduct using the University penalty tariff,
which has been developed in line with guidance from the OIA, the Joint
Information System Committee (JISC) and the Higher Education
Academy.
Proper consideration of extenuating circumstances should be applied
on a case by case basis.
There must be equity and consistency in the application of processes
and penalties across the University and its partner organisations.
Students should be provided with a full explanation of any allegation
against them and a copy of all the evidence.
Students should be given sufficient time to formulate their response to
an allegation; this includes time to seek support from the Student Union
or comparable organisation.
Where the penalty may lead to the expulsion of the student from the
University or where it may mean that the student is unable to graduate
with the award for which they are registered, their case must be
considered by an Investigating Committee.
All students should be clearly informed about appropriate referencing
conventions. Partner Organisations should ensure that this information
is properly understood by students, particularly those who are new to
higher education and/or new to the conventions of Higher Education
governed by academic conventions practiced in the United Kingdom.
All students must be sent a formal Completion of Procedures letter at
the end of the process.
Academic Misconduct: The Learning and Teaching Committee of the
University of Bradford have resolved that in order to ensure equity of
treatment for all students, partner organisations will be required to manage all
suspected cases of academic misconduct within their own organisation, in line
with University of Bradford regulations and procedures. This includes
approval for senior academics at collaborative partner organisations to
consider and establish prima facie cases in respect of final year
undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, projects and thesis, and for
their subsequent consideration by Investigating Committees, following
University regulations.
Reporting – Academic Misconduct: Partner Organisations are required to
report annually, at the start of each November, on the number and nature of
student complaints they consider. These reports will be provided to the
partner School within the University in order that they may be included in the
University’s annual examination of academic misconduct, appeals and
complaints.
A tracker or database has been provided in which this
information may be stored and returned by partner organisations
Academic appeals will be sent by the Partner Organisation to the
Associate Dean Learning and Teaching in the partner School within the
University. Such appeals will be considered by an independent Investigating
Dean and a response made to both the Partner and the student concerned.
Student Complaints will be managed within existing procedures approved
and published by Partner Organisations. Students who are dissatisfied with
the outcome of their appeal at Partner level may apply for a review of their
case to the Complaints and Appeals Manager at the University of Bradford.
Partner Organisations will also be required to issue a formal Completion of
Procedures letter to students once the process of investigating the alleged
breach is complete.
Reporting –Student Complaints: Partner Organisations are required to
report annually, at the start of each November, on the number and nature of
student complaints they consider. These reports will be provided to the
partner School within the University in order that they may be included in the
University’s annual examination of academic misconduct, appeals and
complaints.
A tracker or database has been provided in which this
information may be stored and returned by partner organisations
A version of the following regulations and procedures has been posted on the
University web site for colleagues at Partner Organisations to download and
adapt in line with details contained in contractual agreements reached with
the University of Bradford. All amendments to these procedures must be
approved via the Complaints Manager of the University prior to
implementation.
Regulations to be followed in the event of a suspected breach of assessment
regulations
Regulations governing an appeal by students against an aspect of their
academic assessment
These regulations should be made available to University of Bradford
students on Partner Organisation’s web site and included in each handbook
provided to students, both hard copy and web-based.
The University has developed a document called “What is Academic
Misconduct”. Partner Organisations should draw student’s attention to this
document on a regular basis within lectures and tutorials. This document
should also be included on the Partner’s web site and within student
handbooks.
Finally, I would be grateful if you could ensure that a copy of your student
handbook, and the link to your web based version of this document, is sent to
the Academic Partnership’s Office at the University of Bradford.
Further information or clarification about University policies in this area may
be sought from your School contact person.
Amanda Hughes
Complaints and Appeals Manager
December 2012