Throughout this week, VP Education Alissa Chohan has been running a campaign on academic misconduct and how you can avoid it. In case you missed any of the content, she has collated the information and signposted support services available to you.
Alissa Chohan
VP Education
Throughout this week, you may have seen on the SU Instagram page, that we have been running a campaign on academic misconduct and how you can avoid it.
In the current academic year, the College have seen a 100% increase in the number of cases they have had to investigate, so in case you missed any of the content this week, here is a wrap-up blog and information on where you can find further support. All of the content featured this week is also on the SU Instagram highlights for you to watch back at your own convenience!
What is academic misconduct?
Academic misconduct is anything that is against the rules which govern the assessment of work. It includes things like plagiarism, duplication, commissioning and collusion. For more detailed information on the different types of academic misconduct, check out this blog from our Advice Centre.
Do’s and Don’ts of Alternative Assessments
|
Do’s
|
Don’ts
|
|
Check your work thoroughly at least two or three times if possible. Check you have referenced correctly and accurately. There are plenty of guides out there on how to reference or you can speak to your module leader. Make sure you are using the correct referencing style as has been specified to you!
|
Copy and paste material from another book, website, any other source (including lectures) without correctly referencing it and quoting it. All ideas that are not your own must be referenced.
|
|
Turn your phone off if possible or mute any distractions and group chats! You want to be focussing on your own work and completing it to the best of your ability, free from procrastination.
|
Post on WhatsApp or other group chats to discuss answers or plans to any questions. Alternative assessments still count as exams and are not to be discussed with anyone.
|
|
If you feel stressed/anxious and worried you’re going to fail, take five minutes to yourself, re-read the questions and have confidence. You don’t need anyone else to do the work for you, you have prepped and can do it!
|
Get someone else to do the work for you, whether that be a friend or paying an online source to do your work! This is a serious academic misconduct offence!
|
|
Email and have meetings with your module leaders beforehand for any last top tips, to discuss anything you’re worried about or to get any clarifications. This will calm your nerves and make you feel that extra bit prepared!
|
Ask a friend to send you their work to have a look at as a guide. This could end up with both of you being penalised for misconduct – it is not worth it! Don’t feel pressured by your friends to discuss or send any answers or ideas.
|
|
Check in with CeDAS who will be providing sessions on referencing to help support you further.
|
Don’t self-plagiarise! Make sure you don’t use any of the writing you have previously submitted without referencing yourself! This counts as self-plagiarism and it will get flagged on Turnitin as plagiarism.
|
|
Take the plagiarism course on Moodle or retake it if you have already completed it. Better to be safe than sorry!
|
|
For more top tips on tackling alternative assessments, check out my previous blog on surviving and thriving in exam season. You can also head over to the SU Instagram page and click through the academic misconduct highlights to check your knowledge in a quick quiz that was held during the week.
Further information and support
- CeDAS have created a brilliant resource to help you in all aspects of open book exams, from guidance and links to help you understand referencing and avoid academic misconduct, to other tips and resources to get you through exam season. Check it out now or email CeDAS@royalholloway.ac.uk for further support on anything addressed on this page.
- Although it is easy to brush to the side, there is a really helpful ‘avoiding plagiarism’ course that’s easily accessible on Moodle and doesn’t take long to complete. It can really help to fill any gaps in your knowledge and to put your mind at ease for attempting your exams.
- Library – The wonderful library team are able to provide specific referencing guidance, where you can schedule an appointment and book one to one sessions Simply follow this link and select ‘ schedule appointment’ at your own convenience. This is a great opportunity to get that tailored one to one support, where you are free to ask anything you like and gain extra knowledge on how to reference correctly. Their Moodle page also helps to develop these skills.
What to do if you are flagged for academic misconduct?
The SU Advice Centre can offer independent and confidential advice if you are flagged for misconduct – they can take you through the process and support you in meetings you may have to attend with the University. You can email them at advice@su.rhul.ac.uk or attend their advice drop-in sessions, all of which are on the SU events page. Charlotte, one of the advisors at the Advice Centre has also recorded a short video on what happens and how you can be supported if you are flagged for misconduct - check out the academic highlights on the SU Instagram page.
Finally, good luck to everyone with their exams this year! It has been an incredibly difficult year, but we’re nearly at the end, before you can finally celebrate everything you have achieved! If you do feel as if you’re struggling you can reach out to the Student Wellbeing or the SU Advice Centre.