Discipline committee outcomes

Responsible

If you are found Responsible for the alleged misconduct, the sanction applied will depend upon the type of the Discipline Committee that considered your matter:

• University Discipline Committee may impose one or more of the following:
  • a fail grade for an examination, assessment task or unit
  • suspension or exclusion from studies
  • completion of an ethics module
  • a reprimand
  • probation.
• Faculty Discipline Committee may impose one or more of the following:
  • a fail grade for an examination, assessment task or unit
  • reduced mark for an assessment task
  • resubmission with a reduced maximum mark
  • a caution.

Not responsible

If you are found Not Responsible for the alleged misconduct, no sanction is applied and no further action is taken.

For academic integrity breaches:

• Student A was discovered with writing on his hand during an examination. The Discipline Committee decided that Student A be awarded a Fail (0) grade for that exam.
• Student E plagiarised approximately 90% of an essay. The Discipline Committee decided that Student E be awarded a Fail (0) for that assessment.

For serious academic misconduct:

• Student B offered a bribe to a lecturer to re-mark an examination paper. The Discipline Committee decided that Student B be excluded from Macquarie University permanently.
• Student D engaged in contract-cheating by purchasing and submitted an essay completed by a third party writer. The Discipline Committee decided that Student D be awarded a Fail (0) for that unit, complete an ethics module and be placed on probation.
• Student F submitted a forged medical certificate for an application of special consideration. The application for special consideration was unsuccessful, as the certificate was fraudulent. The Discipline Committee decided that Student F be excluded from enrolment for one session (suspended), complete an ethics module and be placed on probation.

For general student misconduct:

• Student C used abusive language towards Campus Security staff and tampered with University property during a function after hours on University grounds. The Discipline Committee decided that Student C be issued a reprimand, be placed on probation and provide a written apology to Security staff.

This means that for the period specified by the Discipline Committee, you do not have access to most of the privileges of University membership. You cannot enter any of the University's premises. You won't be permitted either to attend classes or to take examinations.

Unless you are excluded permanently from the University, you aren't being expelled. Contact Student Advocacy and Support Services and you will be told how and when you can resume your studies.

Exclusion from the University may impact on your visa requirements. You should contact Student Advocacy immediately for further advice.

Privacy

If you are found responsible for alleged misconduct, the outcome is not entered on your external transcript. Likewise, should a grade in a unit be changed because of a penalty imposed, there is no indication on your external transcript that you received the amended grade because of misconduct.

The Discipline Committee meeting will be minuted and this represents the sole record of the meeting and remains the property of the University, accessible to you upon request. As with all student records at Macquarie University, the Committee meeting minutes and any information associated with your allegation are confidential.

The Discipline Committee members and other University staff are cautioned to respect the confidential nature of the information. Any subsequent access to the information is done on a ‘need to know’ basis. For example, members of an appeal body will access information related to the original decision and members of a Discipline Committee, considering a sanction against a student, will access previous findings of misconduct against that student.

Responsible

If you are found Responsible, and your grade in a unit is changed because of the Committee's sanction, the new grade appears on your transcript. However, there is no indication on your official transcript that you received a particular grade because of the Committee's sanction.

Not Responsible

If you are found not responsible, nothing is entered on your official transcript.