Following a revision of the Academic Integrity Policy, a new Academic Integrity Breach Procedure was introduced in February. The information below will provide guidance on what you need to know if you suspect a breach.

Macquarie University’s Academic Integrity Policy outlines the principles, procedures, responsibilities, and practices that underpin the University’s commitment to promoting and upholding academic integrity.

The Macquarie University Academic Integrity Breach Procedure provides information about procedures, reporting, and helpful staff resources for dealing with suspected breaches of academic integrity. It also includes the sanctions that can be applied when a student has been found to have breached the Academic Integrity Policy.

Reporting a suspected breach of academic integrity

The first step is to refer to the definitions of Unacceptable Academic Conduct for information on acceptable and unacceptable academic activities.

The In-Class Guide to Academic Integrity Breaches, and the Unit Convenors Guide to Academic Integrity Breaches will also provide further guidance on what is required.

Once you suspect a breach, you need to report it using the Feedback, Complaints and Misconduct Reporting form by selecting ‘Reporting an alleged breach of Academic Integrity’.

Reporting a suspected breach of academic integrity helps:

• build a picture of academic integrity across the institution
• capture patterns of behaviour by individuals across units and time
• establish if there’s the potential for an academic sanction or a formal warning to be applied

If a case of a breach of academic integrity is substantiated, it’s important that it be noted on the student record. This enables us to capture patterns of behaviour and the only way this can happen is if the case is reported and escalated. We also need to ensure that our information around academic integrity is clear and understandable for students.

When reporting, it’s important to note that the standard is ‘the balance of probability’. You don’t need ‘irrefutable proof’ to report a suspected breach. You also don’t need to see or engage with the student yourself to make a report.

What happens next?

Just report it – we’ll sort it.

After you’ve submitted the report, the matter is referred to an Academic Integrity Officer for follow up. A current list of Academic Integrity Officers can be found online.

Be assured that just because you report a suspected breach, it doesn’t mean the student is automatically on a trajectory for the University Discipline Committee. Minor breaches are handled in an educative manner, but even in these instances, it’s still important that the instance is reported.

Upholding our academic integrity standards is everyone’s responsibility. For more information about Academic Integrity at Macquarie University, to access resources or just to stay up to date with academic integrity information for staff, bookmark the Academic Integrity Breach Management page.