Supporting a Tutee who is accused of academic misconduct

A student may contact their Personal Tutor for advice if an allegation of academic misconduct is made against them - for example for plagiarism in a piece of formally assessed coursework.

Sometimes this may be resolved informally and perhaps considered poor scholarship rather than outright plagiarism and result in a lowering of a grade. If not, it may proceed to a formal academic misconduct investigation in the school.

Students should be encouraged to seek proper support. The Student’s Union Employs Academic Caseworkers who are trained to support and represent students in these matters and can help the student with advice, writing a statement and/or representing them at any formal meeting.

Students can contact the Student’s Union for support via their website at: https://upsu.net/advice/academic-advice/advice-service

Perhaps the first thing to do is to discuss the situation if the student as they will certainly be very anxious. Re-assure them that the matter will be investigated properly and that will have an opportunity to explain the situation. Also assure them that even if found guilty, they are highly unlikely to be excluded from the University, especially if it is a first-time offence. Every school takes a slightly different approach to penalties so it would be good for tutors to know what their school’s standard penalties are.

Point them to the Code of Student Behaviour and the Examination and Assessment Regulations (housed in the online Document Warehouse), if they have not already been directed to them, and try to ensure they understand what the allegation(s) are, and that they understand the process, any possible penalties. Encourage them to gather any evidence to support their case.

Students are entitled to have a friend or representative at any Formal Misconduct meeting, and it would be most useful to them if that person understands the academic environment and the appropriate regulations, e.g., SU Academic Caseworkers (see above). Sometimes they may request their Personal Tutor attends the meeting with them for support, or perhaps a friend or even a parent.

Throughout the process, and subsequently, a tutee might find it helpful to discuss issues relating to the allegations and any outcome in the form of academic or other support (ASDAC, ASK, Wellbeing, local Study Support and so on), and linked in to those services.