Misconduct Definitions

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct encompasses any action, whether intentional or unintentional, that may create an unfair academic advantage for oneself or result in a disadvantage for another member of the Institution.

The following are a few types and examples of academic misconduct. Please note that the list is not exhaustive but rather serves as an illustration.

  1.  Plagiarism:
  1. Submitting the work or ideas of someone else as your own, either with or without appropriate referencing.
  2. Failure to acknowledge clearly that you have used, referred to, or copied the ideas, words, data, or work of another person.
  3. Submitting work that has been previously submitted for other academic or non­academic purposes (also known as self-plagiarism).
  1.  Impersonation: Submitting work prepared by another person or a third party as your own; for example, purchasing work from an essay mill/bank, commissioning another person to complete the work, or having another person sit an exam.
  1. Collusion:
    1. Unauthorized collaboration, discussion, and/or sharing of materials.
    2. Helping or receiving help from another student with assessed work.
  1. Contribution:
    1. Failure to contribute sufficiently to group work.
    2. Receiving a mark, credit, or other academic acknowledgment for assessed work that has not been contributed to.
  1. Falsification:
    1. Fabrication or falsification of data, findings, evidence, or experimental results.
    2. Falsification or invention of references.
  1. Misrepresentation: Making a false declaration and/or submitting false information to the Institution.

General Misconduct

General misconduct refers to any misconduct that does not pertain directly to academic and assessed work. It typically encompasses violations of rules or improper behavior, including actions that could damage the reputation of the Institution if they were to become public knowledge.

The following are a few types and examples of general misconduct. Please note that this list is not comprehensive but rather serves as an illustration.

  1. Disruption/ Interference:
    1. With the academic, administrative, or other activities of the Institution.
    2. With the functions, duties, or activities of any student, staff, or faculty member of the Institution.
  1. Misrepresentation: Including but not limited to fraud, deceit, deception, or dishonesty in connection with being a student of the Institution.
  1. Behavior:
    1. Violent, indecent, disorderly, threatening, or offensive behavior or language while engaged in an Institutional activity;
    2. Bullying or harassment of any kind of any member of the community;
    3. Damage to or defacement of Institution property, the property of other members of the Institution
    4. Theft or misappropriation of property belonging to the Institution, other members of the Institution.
    5. Action likely to cause injury or impair safety.
  1. Conduct:
    1. Which may constitute a breach of any of the rules and regulations which may be issued by the Institution e.g., student code of conduct, use of learning resources, etc.
    2. Which may constitute a criminal offense.

   Criminal Offenses

The Institution retains the authority to report any suspected misconduct that, if proven, could qualify as a criminal offense. Nevertheless, the Institution holds the discretion to determine whether and when such a report will be made. For instance, the Institution may opt not to report an allegation of criminal behavior if the alleged victim expresses a desire to keep law enforcement uninvolved.

Upon learning that a student is under investigation by law enforcement or a regulatory body, the Institution will evaluate the gravity of the accusation(s) and decide whether immediate disciplinary measures are warranted or if action should be postponed pending the conclusion of the formal investigation and/or any legal proceedings.

Regardless of the disciplinary decision, the Institution reserves the right to suspend or expel a student and take prompt action deemed reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.

  • Suspension: the student will be prohibited for a definite or indefinite period from accessing Institutional facilities.
  • Exclusion: the student will be permanently prohibited and selectively restricted from accessing Institutional facilities.