Quick Guide: Academic Misconduct Procedures for Partner
Organisations
Please consult the Procedures for dealing with suspected academic misconduct at
Partner Institutions for detailed information about the implementation of this process.
1.
General Principles
1.1
Partner Organisations are required to manage and investigate instances of
suspected academic misconduct in line with University of Bradford regulations and
procedures.
1.2
The detailed procedures will be provided to Partners in electronic format so that
information specific to your organisation may be included. Partners must seek
approval from the University, via the course coordinator in their Partner School, for
any changes to the actual process.
1.3
Partner Organisations will apply academic penalties in accordance with the
University Penalty Tariff.
1.4
Partner Organisations will report to the University annually, each November, on the
number and nature of cases considered.
1.5
Students may appeal against made the outcome of an investigation carried out by a
Partner Organisation to the Complaints & Appeals Manager at the University of
Bradford.
2.
First and Foundation Year Students
2.1
Investigations into academic misconduct by first and foundation year students will
take place at local level, within the student’s academic department or unit.
2.2
Invigilators who think there has been a breach of the Conduct and Invigilation of
Examinations should inform the Head of the Academic Unit and provide:

A report of the allegation, including signed witness statements if relevant, stating
in detail the exact nature of the suspected offence. The report must be signed by
the Chief Invigilator and witnessed by the second Invigilator.

Any supporting evidence such as written or electronic notes, calculators, audio
devices, dictionaries, etc.

Where an Invigilator discovers notes written on the body of a student, the Chief
Invigilator will witness the notes being transcribed onto the report form by the
second Invigilator. Both Invigilators will then sign the form. A photograph of the
notes written on the student’s person may be taken and used as evidence if
appropriate.
2.3
Examiners who suspect that a student has breached the Regulations on the
Presentation of Work for Formal Assessment should inform the head of the academic
unit and provide:

An Allegation Report Form signed by the Internal Examiner concerned.

A marked up copy of the student’s assignment and a copy of each of the sources
from which the student has taken material without acknowledgement.
2.4
The Head of Unit will decide if there is a prima facie case; if not the work will be
marked.
2.5
If there is a case the student will be required to attend an interview with the
Investigating Academic and their Personal Academic Tutor. The student is permitted
to bring a friend to the interview but not legal representation.
2.6
If the case if found a Penalty will be applied; if not, the work will be marked.
2.7
Students will be informed of the decision by email within 3 working days.
2.8
Appeals against decisions should be sent to the Complaints and Appeals Manager at
the University of Bradford within 21 working days of receipt of the penalty. Appeals
will be considered by an independent Dean at the University of Bradford.
3.
Reporting suspected academic misconduct by all other
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students and subsequent
offences by First and Foundation Year Students
3.1
Investigations into academic misconduct by second, third year and postgraduate
students will take place at organisational level and be conducted by an academic
independent of the student’s academic department or unit.
3.2
Invigilators who think there has been a breach of the Conduct and Invigilation of
Examinations should inform the Head of the Academic Unit and provide:

A report of the allegation, including signed witness statements if relevant, stating
in detail the exact nature of the suspected offence. The report must be signed by
the Chief Invigilator and witnessed by the second Invigilator.

Any supporting evidence such as written or electronic notes, calculators, audio
devices, dictionaries, etc.

Where an Invigilator discovers notes written on the body of a student, the Chief
Invigilator will witness the notes being transcribed onto the report form by the
second Invigilator. Both Invigilators will then sign the form. A photograph of the
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notes written on the student’s person may be taken and used as evidence if
appropriate.
3.3
Examiners who suspect that a student has breached the Regulations on the
Presentation of Work for Formal Assessment should inform the head of the
academic unit and provide:

An Allegation Report Form signed by the Internal Examiner concerned.

A marked up copy of the student’s assignment and a copy of each of the sources
from which the student has taken material without acknowledgement.
3.4
The Head of the Academic Unit allow the student 14 days to make a written or email
response to the allegation; this response should include details of any extenuating
circumstances, and any supporting evidence which may impact upon the case.
3.5
Students will be directed to contact a member of the Partner Organisation’s
advisory/support staff to gain assistance in writing their response to the allegation.
4.
Establishing a prima facie case
4.1
The Head of the Academic Unit will send the case, including the student’s response
to the allegation to an independent Investigating Academic who will decide if there is
a prima facie case to proceed.
4.2
If there is no case the work will be returned for marking.
5.
Procedures to be followed
5.1
If there is a case and it involves a standard module, the Investigating Academic will
impose a penalty in accordance with the University Penalty Tariff and the student will
be notified within 3 working days.
5.2
If the case involves a dissertation, report or thesis, or if the student has multiple
occurrences of academic misconduct, the Investigating Academic will refer the case
to an Investigating Committee.
5.3
Students who wish to appeal the decision may request a formal hearing with an
Independent Dean at the University of Bradford (please see detailed guidance).
5.4
The outcome of the Dean’s Hearing constitutes the completion of the University of
Bradford’s procedures and there is no right of appeal. A Completion of Procedures
letter will be issued and they will be notified of their right to a review by the Office of
the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education..
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6.
Remit and Composition of an Investigating Committee
Please refer to sections 10, 11 and 12 of the detailed guidance for information about the
membership of the Committee, the duties and information required of the Presenting Officer
and the criteria for attendance as a student ‘friend’.
7.
The normal conduct of an Investigating Committee
8.

Students will be notified of the date of the Investigating Committee at least 10
working days prior to the meeting. Please see section 14 of the detailed guidance
for information about non-attendance by a student at the Committee.

Students and staff attending an Investigating Committee should consult section15
of the detailed guidance for information about the conduct of the Committee; a
synopsis is provided below.

The Presenting Officer will present the case against the student and will present
witnesses if relevant.

The student and/or friend will be permitted to question the Presenting Officer.

The Committee will question the Presenting Officer and witnesses.

The student will be permitted to make a statement, call witness and present
evidence.

The Committee will question the student and witnesses.

The Presenting Officer, student and student’s friend will be required to withdraw.

In the event that the Committee find the allegation has been proven, in part or in
full, the Committee will discuss and determine the nature of the penalty to be
imposed.

The student, the friend and the Presenting Officer will then be recalled to hear the
decision of the Committee.

The decision of the Committee will be confirmed to the student, by the Head of the
Academic Unit, in writing within 7 working days of the meeting date, by means of a
formal Completion of Procedures letter.
Appeals
8.1
Students may appeal against the decision of the Investigating Committee to the
Complaints & Appeals Manager at the University of Bradford within 10 days of receipt
of the decision.
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8.2
The appeal will be considered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at the
University of Bradford.
8.3
The decision of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic is final and is not subject to
any further internal University of Bradford appeals process.
8.4
Students will be issued with a formal Completion of Procedures letter and informed
how to seek a review of their case to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for
Higher Education.
Student’s assessment or progression whilst cases are
pending resolution
9.
9.1
In order not to disadvantage students who have cases which are pending
consideration and resolution, Partner Organisations will permit such students to
undertake supplementary assessment at their own risk in the modules which are
under investigation.
It should be made clear to affected students that any notification of supplementary
assessment is independent of and separate from any outcome of the decision on the
module(s) in question and should in no way be taken as an indication thereof.
9.2
Likewise, students who would otherwise be progressing into the next stage of their
studies will be permitted to re-register, on the understanding that the resolution of the
allegation against them may necessitate their withdrawal or intercalation from the
course.
Amanda Hughes
Complaints and Appeals Manager
Last updated September 2013
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