ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS

 

• What gets you in to trouble
• What can happen as a consequence
• Where to get help

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

LEARNING THE RULES

When studying at the University of Sunderland you will notice that there are LOTS of rules and regulations - it is a good idea to familarise yourself with these.

 

Usually when you first register for study or possibly at an induction session the University staff will give you a copy of a Programme Guide that contains the regulations that apply to you.

 

If you haven't got a copy, (perhaps it's lost under your bed or you missed the lecture they were given out in etc), then go to your school office and ask for one as this booklet contains lots of useful information that is important for you to know.

 

The Rules and Regulations that apply to your study here are also on the University website and are updated there during the year.

IGNORANCE OF THE RULES IS NO EXCUSE!

 

"Infringement of Assessment Regulations"

 

This advice aims to give a brief insight into the 'Rules and Procedures Governing Infringement of the Assessment Regulations'. A copy of the regulations is available upon request from your school administration office and they are on the University website.

 

 

We can't provide a direct link to the Plagiarism website on the University Portal as you need to sign in to access it.

Once you have signed in search for 'Plagiarism' for the correct link or enter the following URL: http://mle.sunderland.ac.uk:9090/mle/web/support/plagiarism/guidance_for_students/ahome/

Full advice exists on the University 'Plagiarism website' to ensure that you do not contravene the regulations - these regulations govern the preparation and presentation of all the assessed work you submit as part of your course, so it is important to know about them.

 

 

There were major changes to the Infringement Regulations in June 2004 when they were revised, so even if you read them when you first started your course you will need to re-read them now to bring yourself up to date.

 

 

Data Protection

If you need further advice on the Data Protection issues implicit in submitting your personal data to the electronic detection service more information can be found at:
www.jiscpas.ac.uk

 

 

What gets you into trouble?

 

You will fall foul of the regulations if you commit any of the following offences, or any other dishonest practice:

Cheating :(in any time-constrained exam or assessment)includes:

Communicating with or copying from any other candidate except insofar as the rubric may specifically permit, e.g. as in group assignments

• Communication with any person other than a properly authorised invigilator or another authorised member of staff
• Introducing any written or printed material into an examination room unless expressly permitted by the regulations for the module assessment
• Introducing any electronically stored information into an examination room, unless expressly permitted by the regulations for the module assessment
• Gaining access to any unauthorised material relating to an examination or other assessment during or before the specified time
• Obtaining a copy of an 'unseen' written paper in advance of the date and time for its authorised release
•  
• Plagiarism: Is the unacknowledged insertion into a student's work of material taken from the work, published or unpublished of another.

Collusion occurs where a student:

• Submits as entirely his/her own, work done in collaboration with another person
• Collaborates with another student in the completion of work which he/she knows is intended to be submitted as that other student's own unaided work
• Permits another student to copy all or part of his/her own work and to submit it as that student's own unaided work
  Falsifying data is the presentation of date in laboratory reports, projects, etc., based on experimental work falsely purported to have been carried out by the student, or obtained by unfair means

Impersonation is the assumption by one person of the identity of another person with intent to deceive. It includes the following: * Where one person assumes the identity of a student with the intention of holding out his work as that of the other person

• Where the student knowingly allows another person to be held out as the student for the purpose of completing an assessment
• Any other form of dishonest practice
• not falling within the above categories, may amount to infringement ( for example the offering of inducements)

 

Circumstances that lead to ....

 

There are lots of circumstances that may lead to a student infringing the assessment regulations, for instance * Not knowing how to reference properly

• Not being sure what type of calculator to take into an examination
• Feeling pressured to help another student with an individual assignment
• Not being able to speak, read or write in English as well as you should be able to
• Illness or bereavement affecting your ability to study
  You need to tell one of the programme staff is any of these issues affects your study and they will advise and support you.

 

What happens if you are accused of an infringement?

If you are taking an exam and the invigilator suspects that an infringement has occurred he/she will:

• Inform the student of his/her suspicions and of his/her intention to report the incident
• Confiscate any relevant evidence (for example unauthorised material(s)
• Endorse the student's script on the front cover with a note of the time the alleged offence was identified and sign such a note
• Annotate the student's script at the point at which the alleged offence was identified
• Return the script to the student and permit him/her to continue with the examination, to conclude at the normal, stipulated time
  Invigilators also have the right to expel a disruptive student or students from an exam room.

The process then follows the Common Procedure.

 

Not later than three working days from receipt of the report the student will be informed in writing of the allegation, a copy of the report will be enclosed along with details of the procedure to be followed.

The student then has five working days in which to respond to the allegation and will be informed that;  If he/she does not reply within the time stipulated the School Infringements Panel will presume the lack of response to be an admission of infringement and will proceed to consider the case accordingly

• If he/she wishes to contest the allegation, he/she must give written notice to that effect to the address specified
• To contact the Academic Affairs Department of the Students' Union for independent advice and support
•  

What we advise you to do...

At this point we would advise you to contact the Students' Union Academic Advisors as the rules and regulations are complex and you may require assistance; 

With representation and support at a School Infringement Panel

• Advice on submitting evidence of mitigation to the Mitigation Panel and the School Infringement Panel
• Referral to other sources of help (for example, to a One-to-one Study Skills Tutor)

 

Penalties

 

There are three possible outcomes to an infringement allegation: 

No case to answer or innocent

• Not proven
• Proven
  If there is 'no case to answer' or the decision is 'not proven' the piece of work to be assessed is returned to complete the marking process.

If the decision is 'proven' the Module Assessment Boards (MAB) have the power to exercise discretion as to penalty. Each case is considered individually having regard to the findings, the extent to which a student has attempted to obtain unfair advantage and the circumstances surrounding the matter. The MAB takes into account the recommendations of the School Infringement Panel.

The Assessment Board can, for example, Agree not to impose a penalty

• Deem the student to have failed in the specific assessment in which the infringement occurred
• For a major infringement, deem the student to have failed all the assessments for the module, in which case the student may be permitted to retake the module by 'referral' or 'repeat with attendance'
• For gross academic misconduct make a recommendation to the Programme Assessment Board about the student's progression as it thinks appropriate
  The Programme Assessment Board (PAB) brings together all the information on an individual students progress,through a programme of study and considers matters of condonement, progression and awards. Normally a PAB will accept the recommendations taken by the individual Module Boards - however in cases where the PAB finds that a student has committed a single major offence or multiple or serial offences a PAB may; 
• Deem a student to have failed all assessments taken in all modules during the assessment period in which the infringements occurred and require the student to repeat study OR
• Make a recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor that the student be required to withdraw from the University

We are here to advise and support you -

*The Students' Union Academic Affairs Department offers students help and advice on academic problems and if we can't help we will try to find someone who can.

 All enquiries are dealt with in the strictest confidence.

• Drop in or make an appointment to see us.
• We are located on the Ground Floor Edinburgh Builidng, City Campus.
  Our opening hours are:
  Weekdays 9am - 4pm
  (Remember we are closed at weekends and on Bank Holidays)

Telephone: 0044 (0) 191 5153030

 

We will be happy to phone you back so you don't have to worry about the cost of the call.
Email:
diane rooney, Academic Advisor

joanne cocklin, Academic Advisor

Please consult the University website for a full listing of all the rules and regulations that affect your study as regulations are updated periodically.

HOWEVER.. some students have been known to try to pass off others work as their own, buy essays from internet cheat sites and take notes into exams.

We know about them as they were caught!

•  

We would strongly advise you to consider whether this type of behaviour is advisable considering the consequences.

Other forms of assessment

As soon as an internal marker suspects that a *serious

• infringement has occurred he/she will immediately advise the Module Leader. If the Module Leader agrees with the suspicion an appropriate subject specialist will carry out a second marking procedure. With permission of the Dean of School an external examiner may be involved in the marking process. This marking process should be carried out within two weeks of the initial marking.

If the suspicion is not allayed the Module Leader will advise the student *in writing

• of his/her suspicion and intention to report the matter and will submit a written report to the officer of the relevant School Infringements Panel.

Usually staff will arrange to explain the problem to the student before issuing the report. This allows the staff to issue an accurate report. This meeting is important to attend as it allows the student to understand what has gone wrong and give an explanation to the staff. Importantly, it also allows the student once aware of the problem to ask the staff for academic advice and support to ensure that the problem does not occur again. Usually students are informed in writing of such a meeting and are advised that they can take a representative from the Students' Union to attend with them.

 

All incidents of infringments are reported to the Schools Infringments Panels. By collating records the Panel will be aware if a student has infringed in more than one assessment or at a previous level. Serial offences are dealt with more harshly.