The University of Stavanger reacts strictly against academic misconduct and attempt at academic misconduct. Both general preventive considerations and individual preventive considerations dictates that the reaction must be strict and consistent. Academic misconduct is a breach of trust towards the university, fellow students and the society in general.
In accordance with the Act of 01.04.05 no. 15 relating to universities and colleges, sections 4-7 and 4-8, academic misconduct or attempted academic misconduct, will result in the following consequences:
The board itself or the board’s appeals committee, cf. section 5-1, may annul an examination or test or recognition of a course if the student
a) by using a false diploma or by other dishonest means, has gained admission to the examination or test or to attend the course concerned, or
b) has attempted to cheat or wilfully or through gross negligence has cheated in the course of or prior to the final assessment of the examination or test concerned, or while taking the course in question
Regulations relating to studies and examinations at UiS section 6-1 states what the university considers as cheating or attempted cheating during tests.
During a school exam you are only allowed to bring the permitted aid listed in the course description or by the course teacher. Everything else is considered as illegal aids and is thereby considered as academic misconduct.
Examples of academic misconduct:
- The student keeps a mobile phone, personal rough sheets/notes, calculator, curricula, collection of formulas or dictionaries not listed as permitted aids with them into the exam room.
- Students who keep illegal aids outside the exam room
- conversation or any other form of communication between candidates during the exam, inside or outside the exam room
Be aware that it is sufficient that the illegal aid was available for you during the exam. It is not essential to document that the student actually made use of the illegal aid during the exam.
Be aware that access to or use of mobile phones and/or personal organisers during the examination/assessment will be regarded as academic misconduct or attempted misconduct. This applies even if mobile phones are switched off. Mobile phones are to be placed together with bags, coats etc. at the designated area within the examination locality.
At examinations without supervision, suspicions of cheating and/or attempted cheating may arise if:
- the examination paper has not been completed by the student him/herself.
- the examination paper has previously been handed in at another examination at UiS or at another national or international educational institution.
- the examination paper reproduces the student’s own work without specifying the source
- the examination answer paper reproduces others’ work (for example academic literature/articles/websites) without specifying the source
- Artistic or practical work which is made by someone else than yourself
- The student uses material from other sources, either direct quotes or partially rewritten, without quoting the original text(s), or doesn't quote directly by using quotation marks, italics or similar.
- Irregular collaboration with other students, where you hand in wholly or partly identical papers.
Academic misconduct or attempt of academic misconduct can be discovered in many different ways. During a school exam an invigilator or IT-help may notice something irregular, and home exams are checked for plagiarism. Academic misconduct can be discovered by the examiner when grading the paper or fellow students may notify the university.
In accordance with the act relating to universities and university colleges § 4-7 (1) letter b and § 4-8 (3) there may be the following consequences
- annulment of exam or test and/or
- exclusion from the university and withdrawal of the right to trial, for one year
To determine the consequence of academic misconduct an objective conclusion of academic misconduct must have been made and the student must have acted intentional or with culpable negligence.
During the consideration of the case, the Appeals Committee will assess to what extent cheating is deemed to have taken place, viewed objectively, to what extent the student has acted wilfully or with gross negligence, and if there is excusable ignorance of the regulations.
The usual reaction in the case of grossly negligent cheating is the annulment of the examination/test in question, and suspension for one semester. For wilful cheating, the reaction is the annulment of the examination/test in question, and suspension for two semesters
The case officer for the Appeals Committee registers the decision concerning the suspension in RUST (the register of excluded students).
After a case of suspected academic misconuct has been established, you will be invited to a conversation to explain yourself. You will be given acess to the documents pertaining to the case. You will receive minutes from the conversation. If the case is persued futher, you will recieve a written notification of case and information about your rights.
You have the right to be assisted by a lawyer or other authorised representative at all stages of the case processing.
- Courses at the library
- Ask the subject teacher for information
Students are under the obligation to become familiar with the prevailing regulations for examination support materials and with the use of sources and the rules for citing and quoting from others’ work when writing assignments and theses. Inadequate knowledge of the regulations on cheating and/or attempted cheating and the rules for citing and quoting does not exempt students from liability.
