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Student Conduct

Student Conduct and Academic Integrity 

Student Conduct (Inside)

Becoming a UCD student means that you have joined a diverse and vibrant university community. As a member of this community it is important that you are respectful in your interactions with others and that you uphold the high standards of personal responsibility and academic integrity that is expected of all students.

The University sets out its values in the (opens in a new window)UCD Strategy and outlines its commitments and expectations regarding standards of conduct in the Student Charter, (opens in a new window)Student Code of Conduc(opens in a new window)t and the UCD Dignity and Respect Policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these documents as they help to ensure a fair and positive learning and working environment for everyone at UCD.

Student Conduct 

The (opens in a new window)Student Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all students. Students should familiarise themselves with these expectations as understanding these responsibilities will help them to make the most of their experience in UCD and to contribute to a positive learning and living environment for others.

The Student Code of Conduct provides standards of good conduct and examples of behaviour that contravenes these standards. It also includes the (opens in a new window)Student Discipline Procedure used to respond to reported breaches of the Student Code of Conduct. Students are encouraged to read the Student Code of Conduct carefully to ensure that they understand their responsibilities and rights as a UCD Student.

Students should also be aware of other areas of the University that apply regulations relating to student conduct, please see UCD Residences Licence to Reside and UCD Library Regulations.

Virtual Classroom

UCD is committed to the promotion of an environment for work and study which upholds the dignity and respect of all its members and which supports the right to study and/or work in an environment which is free from any form of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual violence.

The University’s Dignity and Respect Policy sets out the university’s zero tolerance approach to behaviour that contravenes the standards of behaviour established by the policy.

There are supports available for students and staff experiencing bullying, harassment, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct and a range of both informal and formal options available for those seeking resolution. Information about supports and options for resolution including a formal complaint process is available via the Dignity and Respect pages of the Equality and Diversity and Inclusion website. (opens in a new window)UCD Report and Support provides a mechanism for reporting incidents anonymously. 

The (opens in a new window)Student Discipline Procedure is intended to provide a clear, transparent and fair process for dealing with allegations of student misconduct within a reasonable timescale.

Student Conduct Meeting
When a report of an alleged breach of the (opens in a new window)Student Code of Conduct is received an email communication is normally sent to advise the student of the allegation against them with an invitation to meet with the Registrar (or a nominee) to discuss the matter. This is known as a Student Conduct Meeting.

The purpose of the Student Conduct Meeting is for the Registrar (or a nominee) to discuss the allegation with the respondent and form an opinion regarding the seriousness of the case.

Decisions will be made based on all the information available, including the student’s response to the allegation and the nature and seriousness of the matter. At the conclusion of this meeting the Registrar (or a nominee) will decide on an appropriate course of action.  There are a range of outcomes available to the Registrar at this stage of the procedure which include but are not limited to:  

  • dismissal of the alleged breach
  • upholding the alleged breach and concluding the process subject to certain conditions
  • upholding the alleged breach and applying one or more of penalties
  • referring the matter to a Student Disciplinary Committee
  • imposing a temporary suspension from the University pending the outcome of a Student Disciplinary Committee

See the Student Code of Conduct for the complete list of penalties.

Student Disciplinary Committee Hearing
If the outcome at the Student Conduct Meeting is to refer the matter to a Student Disciplinary Committee a meeting will be convened as soon as possible.

Any students who reside outside Ireland may request a non-oral Student Disciplinary Committee Hearing (a paper-based procedure using written submissions). Non-oral hearings may also be used to facilitate other respondents who are, at the time of the proposed hearing, unable to travel to the Belfield campus.

Students will be notified of the date and time of the Student Disciplinary Committee Hearing within 10 working days in advance of the hearing. Students will also be advised that they may:

  • request the participation of a witness, within reason
  • review all relevant evidence that the University intends to rely on at the hearing
  • be accompanied to the hearing by a support person
  • provide written submission to the Committee, in advance of the hearing

The Student Disciplinary Committee will comprise three members of staff drawn from the Student Conduct Panel 2021/22 - 2023/24. Documents for the hearing will be circulated by email to the student and the Committee at least 5 working days in advance of the hearing.

The hearing will be conducted in line with the procedure for Disciplinary Committee Hearing. Having considered the submitted material and having heard from the student and any invited witnesses the Committee will deliberate privately before reaching a decision.

Outcomes of the Student Disciplinary Committee Hearing
At the conclusion of the meeting the Committee will decide on an appropriate outcome and will normally communicate the decision to the student at the meeting. The decision will be communicated in writing, within 5 working days. Decisions will be based on all the information available including the nature and seriousness of the breach and any relevant mitigating or aggravating circumstances. Where it is decided that there has been a breach of the Student Code of Conduct the Committee will select a penalty. There is a broad range of penalties available to the Committee which may be applied separately or in combination. See the Student Code of Conduct for the complete list of penalties.

Appeal
Students may decide that they wish to appeal the decision of the Student Disciplinary Committee. Appeals must be made to the University’s Student Appeals Committee within 10 working days from the date of issue of the decision of the Student Disciplinary Committee.

Appeals may be heard on the following grounds:

  • New evidence: information directly relevant to the decision, which for good reason was not available to the Student Disciplinary Committee.
  • Procedural irregularity: there is evidence that the procedures relating to a decision were not followed properly, which may have impacted on the Student Disciplinary Committee’s decision.
  • Disproportionate penalty: the penalty applied was disproportionate with regard to the circumstances of the case.

The Appeals Committee may uphold the appeal or reject the appeal. The Committee may also decide to decrease or increase a penalty or the nature of the penalty.

Details of the appeal procedure can be found int the (opens in a new window)Student Appeals Procedure.

The Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals (SECCA) unit manages the Student Discipline Procedure and operates as a point of contact for faculty and staff by providing advice regarding all student conduct matters.

Reporting breaches

Alleged breaches of the Student Code of Conduct are usually reported to the Registrar or their nominee using incident reports or referral letters from the relevant local unit or body such as School Plagiarism Committees, Assessment /Overseas Programme Managers, (in the case of alleged examination hall breaches), UCD Residences or Estate Services. In all other cases alleged incidents will normally be reported using a ​Student Misconduct Incident Report. Reports should be submitted to ​the Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals unit (SECCA) at (opens in a new window)student.conduct@ucd.ie 

 Virtual Classroom 

Q1. DOES THE UCD STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT APPLY WHEN I AM OFF CAMPUS?

The Student Code of Conduct applies to all students’ conduct whether on or off the University’s premises, including university-related activities and activities where you are representing the University (including activities with University clubs or societies). The University may also decide to investigate reported student behaviour that may adversely affect the University’s reputation, whether committed on or off campus. See Student Code of Conduct, Section 1, Standards of Good Conduct.

Q2. ARE ALL STUDENT CONDUCT ISSUES DEALT WITH UNDER THE STUDENT DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE?

Student conduct is monitored and dealt with by various university staff as necessary for the effective and efficient resolution of student conduct issues. The following staff members and university bodies have the authority to consider, make decisions and take actions relating to student conduct, within the context of relevant regulations, policies and procedures.

  • UCD School Plagiarism Committees may consider and make decisions regarding allegations of plagiarism, in accordance with the Plagiarism Policy.
  • UCD Residences may consider, make decisions and take actions against students found to be in breach of the License to Reside.
  • UCD Library may consider, make decisions and take actions against students who are found to be in breach of Library Regulations.
  • Assessment, UCD Registry may issue warning letters for minor breaches of examination regulations.
  • The Athletic Union Council (AUC), Student Societies Council and the Students’ Union are responsible for regulating the discipline of their members through their constitutions and related procedures.

Section 3.3 of the (opens in a new window)Student Discipline Procedure states that the University encourages that minor student conduct issues to be resolved at the level closest to the relevant parties. Where this is not possible or appropriate, and a student’s behaviour is considered to have breached the Student Code of Conduct, or if an alleged breach of any of the above constitutions, codes, rules or agreements is of such gravity or urgency, the matter may be referred, without decision, to be dealt with under the Student Discipline Procedure.

Q3. DO I HAVE TO ATTEND A STUDENT CONDUCT MEETING?

It is important that you attend meetings about your student conduct case. This provides you with the opportunity to discuss the situation and present any information you may have relating to the incident. Your responses will be taken into consideration by the Registrar (or nominee) when deciding on an appropriate outcome.

Student Conduct Meetings are usually held face-to-face. If you are not resident in Ireland the Student Conduct Meeting may be facilitated with video or telephone call or you may be asked to submit a written response to the allegation.

Failure to respond to the request to attend a student conduct meeting will constitute a breach of the Student Code of Conduct and may result in the matter being referred directly to a Student Disciplinary Committee for adjudication. 

Q4: CAN I BRING SOMEONE TO THE STUDENT DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE HEARING?

Yes, it is recommended that you ask someone to accompany you to the hearing, such as a Student Adviser, an SU Officer, a friend or relative. Student Advisers are very experienced at attending such meetings.  You will be required to speak for yourself, the role of the person accompanying you is to provide support.

Q5. HOW WILL DECISIONS ABOUT MY CASE BE COMMUNICATED?

  • Student Conduct Meeting - Decisions will be made based on all the information available, including your response to the allegation and the nature and seriousness of the matter. The outcome will be communicated to you in writing. 
  • Student Disciplinary Committee - The decision of the Student Disciplinary Committee will normally be communicated to you at the end of the meeting and will be issued by email after the meeting and within five working days. 

Q6. CAN I REVIEW THE EVIDENCE AGAINST ME BEFORE MY HEARING?

Yes, all documentation that will be submitted to the Student Disciplinary Committee relating to your case will also be circulated to you by email in advance of the hearing.

Q7. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES IF I BREACH THE UCD STUDENT CODE? 

If you are found to have breached the Student Code of Conduct a penalty will be applied from the options below. The penalty selected will depend on the nature of the breach and related circumstances. Penalties may be applied in combination:

  • a written reprimand
  • a fine not exceeding €1000
  • reduction of a component assessment grade or module grade up to and including the application of No Grade (NM) for the module
  • exclusion from sittings of examinations for a specified period
  • withhold ​of any academic award, scholarship or prize ​including on a permanent basis​
  • require the reparation of any damage or loss caused, either to the University or to any of its members of staff or students or members of the public
  • suspension from accessing specific University facilities
  • permanent exclusion from accessing specific University facilities
  • suspension from a UCD Residence
  • permanent expulsion from a UCD Residence
  • suspension from the University for a specified period, or until such time as any requirements laid down by the Committee such as payment of a fine or the restitution of damage or loss are fulfilled
  • permanent expulsion from the University

In addition to the penalties above, a student may be required to complete an activity / action intended to satisfy the University that a student understands the consequences of their actions. Committee may in exceptional cases, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, decide not to impose any penalty. 

Q8. WILL MY DISCIPLINARY BREACH END UP ON MY TRANSCRIPT?

No, the breach and any related penalty will not be detailed on your transcript as a disciplinary matter.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Academic Integrity is a fundamental principle that underpins all academic activity. Students should value honesty in their scholarship.  Working independently, expressing original ideas, and appropriately acknowledging the ideas of others are important skills that will benefit students beyond their time in UCD.  

Students are expected to:

  • attend lectures and engage in all other learning activities of their programme
  • abide by the Examination Regulations, the (opens in a new window)Student Plagiarism Policy and any other academic conduct policies that the University may establish to ensure a fair and equitable assessment system for all students
  • ensure that their work that they present for assessment is their own and that the use of work and / or ideas of others is acknowledged using a recognised referencing system. For information on referencing, citation and how to avoid plagiarism see the (opens in a new window)UCD Library Guidelines.

Suspected instances of student plagiarism in a module assessment should be reviewed within the School(s) and a determination made as to whether the matter may be addressed at School(s) level or whether a referral to the University Discipline Procedure is required.

Referral forms / templates 

School Plagiarism Committees may wish to establish referral forms or templates for reports to collet necessary information on suspected incidents of plagiarism from Module Coordinators. Establishing such a form / template will help to ensure that the Comittee receives information in a clear and consistent manner. See an example of a form used by the Collegeof Business:

Student Misconduct Incident Report Form 

Where School Plagiarism Committees decide to refer suspected cases of plagiarism to be dealt with under the Student Discipline Procedure, the Student Misconduct Incident Report form should be used. 

Resources

Information available to students regarding academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism is available from:

1. HOW ARE STUDENTS INFORMED ABOUT PLAGIARISM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY?Heads of School are responsible for ensuring that appropriate and timely arrangements are in place to promote academic integrity and advise students of plagiarism (UCD Student Plagiarism Policy, section 5.2.1). Schools may wish to avail of the resources that are available from the Library with regard to academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism: (opens in a new window)https://libguides.ucd.ie/academicintegrity Also see Student Guide to the Student Plagiarism Policy.

2. WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY’S PROCESS FOE DEALING WITH SUSPECTED CASES OF PLAGIARISM?
The UCD Student Plagiarism Policy sets out the University’s process for dealing with suspected cases of plagiarism, see sections 7-9 of the policy summarised in the Process Map for School Investigation Procedure.

3. WHAT IS THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM PROTOCOL?
The School Plagiarism Protocol provides additional information on how the School will apply UCD Student Plagiarism Policy. It may include the following information: School name, name of the School Plagiarism Adviser (if appointed), Chair and member(s) of the School Plagiarism Committee; information about the referencing / citation system(s) in use in the School and any other information that clarifies the procedural steps that will be taken for dealing with suspected cases of plagiarism. The Head of School is responsible for the development and periodic review of the School Plagiarism Protocol (section 5.2.1).

4. WHAT IS THE UCD PLAGIARISM TARIFF?
The UCD Plagiarism Tariff is adapted from the (opens in a new window)AMBeR Tariff model. Its purpose is to provide guidance to those responsible for decision-making and application of penalties in relation to suspect cases of plagiarism.

While the tariff is primarily designed to be used for deciding penalties in cases of plagiarism identified in assessments that are graded, an additional tariff table has been included in the proposed UCD tariff to take account of a) research degree theses, b) PhD Stage Transfer Assessments, or c) final PhD dissertation submission or d) pass/fail assessments, because they do not receive a graded outcome. The UCD Plagiarism Tariff is available as an appendix to the (opens in a new window)UCD Student Plagiarism Policy

5. WHAT IS THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE? 
School Plagiarism Committees is established by Heads of School and are responsible for reviewing allegations of plagiarism submitted by Module Coordinators. The committee will review all information submitted, meet with students and make determinations as to whether plagiarism has taken place. Where plagiarism has taken place the committee may decide to impose a penalty against the student. In certain circumstances the committee may decide to refer a case to be dealt with under the Student Discipline Procedure without decision.   

6. HOW MANY MEMBERS CAN SIT ON SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEES?
The UCD Student Plagiarism Policy states that School Plagiarism Committees will comprise of three voting members, a chair and a maximum of two additional academic staff. Schools may choose to have an additional member of staff present to take notes at meetings. If Schools do not wish to create a three-person standing committee, they may choose to form a larger panel of staff from which a three-person committees can be convened.

7. CAN THE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE ACT AS THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM ADVISER?
Yes, the Chair of the School Plagiarism Committee can also be the School Plagiarism Adviser. The Student Plagiarism Policy does not prevent this. The role of School Plagiarism Adviser is optional, and each School decides whether there is benefit in having such a role. If the School decides to have such a role, the Head of School will need to nominate the School Plagiarism Adviser (section 5.2.2).

8. ARE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE MEETING?
Students should be encouraged to attend the meeting with the School Plagiarism Committee as it provides the opportunity for members to hear from the student in relation to the alleged plagiarism and for the committee to impress upon students the importance of academic integrity.

9. WHAT IF THE STUDENT DOESN’T RESPOND OR REQUESTS THAT THE TIME OF THE MEETING BE CHANGED?
Students should make every effort to attend meetings scheduled by the School Plagiarism Committee. If they request a change of appointment because they have a class, for example, reasonable efforts should be made to reschedule. However, if a student fails to engage with the committee the meeting may proceed in the student’s absence (section 7.3.2).

10. CAN THE SCHOOL APPLY TIMELINES TO ENSURE ALLEGATIONS CAN BE DEALT WITH EFFICIENTLY?
Yes, the school can establish timelines for the effective management of suspected cases of plagiarism, e.g., set a timeline for students to respond to school communications. Such timelines are usually established in ‘working days’ and where applied should be reflected in the school plagiarism protocols.

11. CAN STUDENTS BE ACCOMPANIED TO THE MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE?
Yes, students may be accompanied to the meetings with the School Plagiarism Committee by a support person such as their Student Adviser or Student’s Union sabbatical officer. Where students are accompanied, they should be prepared to speak for themselves at meetings. The role of the accompanying person is to provide support.

12. WHAT IF THE STUDENT PRESENTS MITIGATING FACTORS?
Following the School Plagiarism Committee’s decision that plagiarism has occurred they may consider any mitigating factors presented, that may have impacted on the student’s actions. The committee may decide to adjust the penalty to appropriately, as the UCD Plagiarism Tariff is not designed to deal with mitigating factors. There is a separate, formal University procedure for the consideration of extenuating circumstances. If a student raises matters that may fall under the scope of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy the student should be encouraged to consider making an application. Late applications may be considered under exceptional circumstances (7.3.3).

13. WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE OUTCOME LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE’S TO THE STUDENT?
The School Plagiarism Committee should notify the student of their decision via the student’s UCD email address. Where the committee finds that plagiarism has occurred, the communication should refer to the mechanism for appeal under specified grounds, see the Student Appeal Procedure. The communication should also advise that the incident will be recorded on the Plagiarism Record System. Please note, this does not apply in cases where a committee has determined that a case should be referred to the Student Discipline Procedure. Please see question and response below.

14. HOW ARE SUSPECTED CASES OF PLAGIARISM REFERRED TO THE STUDENT DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE? 
For cases where the School Plagiarism Committee determines that a case should be referred to the Student Discipline Procedure, the referral will be made without decision and the student should be advised that they will be contacted directly by Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals in due course. As cases that are referred are done so without decision the student may not submit an appeal. Students may avail of the appeal process once decisions have been made under the Student Discipline Procedure. To refer a case, please complete an incident report form and any submit with any related material to student.conduct@ucd.ie Forms are available in the ‘information for Staff’ section of the Student Conduct website.

15. WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE OUTCOMES IF A STUDENT PLAGIARISES IN A RESIT ASSESSMENT?
Under the Academic Regulations students are permitted one opportunity to resit a failed assessment, which is graded as pass/fail. If a student plagiarises in a resit attempt the School Plagiarism Committee should consider all of the circumstances of the case to determine whether a fail should be applied to the assessment, as capping or grade reduction is not possible in the context of pass/fail grading.

16. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SUSPECTED PLAGIARISM HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH IN TIME FOR THE GRADE APPROVAL PROCESS (GAP)?
Most cases will have been dealt with in advance of GAP, where an assessment is under review and the matter has not been resolved in advance of the GAP, an NM may be applied to the relevant component assessment. Where a grade is subsequently changed following a decision by a School Plagiarism Committee or taken under the Student Discipline Procedure, the Module Coordinator will be required to submit an exceptional change of grade request for approval by Academic Council Committee on Examinations (ACCE). See (opens in a new window)Exceptional Grade Change System User’s Guide. 

17. WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY’S PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM?
The revised Student Plagiarism Policy, effective from September 2020, introduced a centralised University Plagiarism Record System. It is developed in InfoHub and includes information relating to plagiarism incidents approved by School Plagiarism Committees or referred without decision to the UCD Student Discipline Procedure.

The system consists of two services:

  • Reporting and Recording of Plagiarism Incidents tool – allows members of School Plagiarism Committees to check whether a plagiarism incident was previously recorded for a particular student and/or to record details of plagiarism incidents that have been referred to Committees. Details will only be recorded if a decision is made that plagiarism has occurred.
  • Plagiarism Incidents Reporting tool – allows users to generate plagiarism incident reports. 

18. WHO CAN BE GRANTED ACCESS TO THE PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM?
Access to the system is limited to faculty and staff with responsibility for applying the policy, administering the student discipline procedure and maintaining the system.

Two individuals per School (nominated by the Heads of Schools) can be granted access to the system and this normally includes:
• the Chair of School Plagiarism Committee
• a member of School staff (typically a senior Administrator such a School Manager) responsible for implementing the policy i.e., identifying previous incidents of plagiarism by students and entering outcomes by a School Plagiarism Committee.

The Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals team (SECCA) is responsible for maintaining the system and coordinating the user access. You can contact the team at student.conduct@ucd.ie

19. HOW CAN I ACCESS AND NAVIGATE THE PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM?
Access to the Plagiarism Record System can be granted by a member of SECCA team upon receipt of a request from your Head of School. Such requests should be submitted to student.conduct@ucd.ie You will be notified via email when you get access to the system and you will also receive a copy of the Plagiarism Record System – Staff Guide which outlines step by step how to access and navigate the system.

20. WHAT INFORMATION IS RECORDED ON THE PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM?
Where a School Plagiarism Committee finds that plagiarism has occurred, the details of cases will be recorded on the system by a nominated member of staff in School. The system will prompt the user to enter the following information: student name and ID number, module code, module title, plagiarism category, assessment type and the decision of the School Plagiarism Committee.

21. ARE INCIDENTS DEALT WITH DIRECTLY BY MODULE COORDINATORS RECORDED ON THE PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM?
No, only cases where the School Plagiarism Committee has found plagiarism to have taken place are recorded.
Where a case is referred to the Student Discipline Procedure and it is determined that plagiarism has occurred, the School will receive notification of the outcome and Student Engagement, Conduct, Capacity and Appeals Office will update the Plagiarism Record System.

22. HOW WILL THE INFORMATION RECORDED ON THE PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM BE USED?
Information recorded on the system will be used to inform decision-making of School Plagiarism Committee i.e., where a Committee receives an allegation of plagiarism it will be able to check the system to determine whether there have been any previous recorded incidents of plagiarism against the student, even if this occurred in another School. Once a Committee has determined that plagiarism had taken place, previous incidents can be taken into consideration when deciding on an appropriate penalty. Under the new UCD Plagiarism Tariff, which provides guidance on penalties, one of the factors that is considered by the Committee is whether the student has previously plagiarised in other assessments.

It important to note that the Plagiarism Record System is for internal use only. Information relating to plagiarism incidents by student will not be recorded on the student’s general record (in Banner) and will not appear in transcripts.

Q1. WHAT IS PLAGIARISM?
Plagiarism means using the work of others without acknowledging the original source. This includes presenting the ideas, theories, concepts, methodologies or data from the work of another person (including other students, friends, family, or purchasing work from a third party) without acknowledgement and appropriate citation. Plagiarism can occur in any form of work you may be asked to do at University, this includes essays, projects, digital work, music, language assessments, images and video recordings. A full definition of plagiarism can be found in the(opens in a new window) UCD Student Plagiarism Policy. Pleas also refer to the Student Guide on Plagiarism and the (opens in a new window)UCD Library resources on academic integrity which provide helpful and practical assistance for understanding what plagiarism is and how you can avoid it. 

Q2. WHY PLAGIARISM SHOULD BE AVOIDED?
The (opens in a new window)UCD Student Code of Conduct states that academic integrity is a fundamental principle underpinning all academic activity at UCD. It is important that you uphold your own academic integrity and that of the University. Studying at university provides an opportunity to develop your critical thinking skills, engage with academic knowledge and demonstrate the extent of your reading. Plagiarising the work of others undermines your own learning experience and devalues the hard work of others. Incidents of plagiarism may be subject to action under the University’s Student Discipline Procedure. 

Q3. WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID PLAGIARISM?
The UCD Library provides some helpful resources on academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. Below are the Library’s top 5 tips:

  • Acknowledge all sources. If using information from others, indicate where it came from in your text and reference using a citation style.
  • Record where all quotes or new ideas come from when making notes in preparation for assignments.
    • Paraphrase correctly; express the information of others in your own words, along with an in-text citation and reference.
  • Quote correctly; when directly quoting from a text include appropriate quotation marks or indentation. Include a reference at the end. (See your (opens in a new window)School’s Style Guide for details)
  • Check your School’s preferred (opens in a new window)citation style. Keep the style guide to hand when writing assignments so you can include in-text citations and references in the correct format.

Please visit the (opens in a new window)UCD Library resources on academic integrity for plagiarism tutorials and further guidance.

Q4. WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM?
Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to:

  • Failing to cite and acknowledge sources properly.
  • Making minor changes to text or paraphrasing from sources like the internet, journals and books, and presenting this as your own words.
  • Working collaboratively with other students but presenting the work as solely your own (type of collusion).
  • Presenting work for an assignment which has also been submitted (in part or whole) for another assignment at UCD or another institution. This is known as ‘self-plagiarism’.
  • Buying assignments from companies such as ‘essay mills’ is never permitted and is a serious breach of the University’s Student Plagiarism Policy and the Student Code of Conduct.

Q5. WHAT IS PARAPHRASING?
Paraphrasing is writing the thoughts and ideas of others in your own words. Copying, pasting and making minor edits to the text is not an acceptable form of paraphrasing. All paraphrased information included in your work must be cited. You must include a full reference in your reference list to the source of your paraphrased information. Some citation styles also require a page number for the paraphrased information to be included as part of the in-text citation.

See below for an example of unacceptable and acceptable paraphrasing:
The following ORIGINAL text has been taken from the book The Google Story.
“Not since Gutenberg invented the modern printing press more than 500 years ago, making books and scientific tomes affordable and widely available to the masses, has any new invention empowered individuals, and transformed access to information, as profoundly as Google.”
From: Vise, David A. (2005) The Google Story. Macmillan: London

Unacceptable paraphrasing of above text - plagiarism
The most important invention that has affected access to information since Gutenberg invented the modern printing press and made books affordable and widely available, is Google, an invention that has empowered individuals and transformed access to information around the world.

This passage is considered plagiarism because:

  • The writer does not cite the author as the source of the ideas
  • The passage is too close to the original text
  • Only a few phrases or words have been changed
    If one or more of the above criteria are included in any piece of work, it is considered plagiarism.

Acceptable paraphrasing of above text - not plagiarism
It has been stated that Google has revolutionised the information world by providing access to information through the internet. Vise notes that Google is the most radical information development since Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. (Vise, 2005, p.1)

This is acceptable paraphrasing because:

  • The author of the text has been cited correctly
  • The writer has used their own words
  • The writer gives credit for the ideas in the passage

Q6. WHAT IS ‘COLLUSION’ IN THE CONTEXT OF ONLINE EXAMINATIONS? 
Collusion in the context of an online examination is seeking the assistance of others, or offering to assist others, during a period in which the examination is taking place. You should not contact others through any means to discuss examination questions, answers or topics. This includes the period where you may have finished your exam early, but others may be continuing. The work submitted must be entirely your own.

Q7. WHAT IS THE UCD STUDENT PLAGIARISM POLICY?
In addition to the definition of plagiarism, the (opens in a new window)UCD Student Plagiarism Policy guides academic staff on their roles and responsibilities regarding student plagiarism and provides a framework for dealing with suspected instances of plagiarism. It is important that you familiarise yourself with this policy. Schools will also provide you with their plagiarism protocols. 

Q8. HOW IS PLAGIARISM DETECTED?
The University uses sophisticated plagiarism detection software, in addition, often examiners will also be able to detect plagiarism through observing changes in writing styles or the variation in the quality of particular portions of an assignment. Poor and incorrect citation will also be easily noted by examiners.

Q9. WHAT HAPPENS IF PLAGIARISM IS SUSPECTED? 
Module Coordinators will take account of the context and nature of each case, and may take any of the following actions:

  • Discuss directly with the student to determine the facts of the case.
  • Provide, or arrange that the student receives one-to-one advice about academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism.
  • Refer the student to the UCD Library or the Writing Centre for guidance on good writing practices and avoiding plagiarism. The grade awarded for the assessment may reflect your poor academic practice.
  • Refer the case to the School Plagiarism Committee as an alleged case of plagiarism. Where cases are referred, the Module Coordinator will provide the School Plagiarism Committee with a short report outlining the grounds of suspicion, a copy of the piece of work and any supporting evidence.

Q10. DO I HAVE TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE? 
If you have been invited to a meeting with the School Plagiarism Committee you are strongly advised to attend as it will provide you with an important opportunity to understand why your work is under review and respond to the committee’s queries in relation to how you approached your work. If you wish, you can be accompanied to meetings by someone to support you, such as your Student Adviser or an SU Sabbatical Officer. The role of this person is to accompany you. The committee will want to hear from you directly.

If you do not respond to the committee’s communications or choose not to attend a meeting the committee may proceed based on documentation, which may include your written submission where the school has invited you to do so.

Q11.  WILL PLAGIARISM APPEAR ON MY STUDENT RECORD?
Plagiarism is a breach of the Student Code of Conduct and records of students who have been found to have plagiarised by a School Plagiarism Committee or through the University level Student Discipline Procedure will be maintained in the University, but it will not appear on your general student record or your transcript. Records will be held in accordance with the (opens in a new window)Student Engagement Conduct Complaints and Appeals unit’s record retention schedule.

 Q12. WHY ARE PLAGIARISM INCIDENTS RECORDED ON A PLAGIARISM RECORD SYSTEM? 
The University Plagiarism Record System records cases of plagiarism by students to allow the application of the policy and to inform decision-making of the School Plagiarism Committees i.e., where a committee receives an allegation of plagiarism it will be able to check the system to determine whether there have been any previous recorded incidents of plagiarism against the student, even if this occurred in another School. Once the committee agreed that plagiarism had taken place, previous incidents can be taken into consideration when deciding on an appropriate penalty. Access to the central Plagiarism Record System is restricted to nominated staff members in each School.

Q13. CAN I APPEAL A DECISION OF THE SCHOOL PLAGIARISM COMMITTEE? 
There are certain circumstances where appeals are permitted, known as ‘grounds for appeal’:

  • procedural irregularity: there is evidence that procedures relating to the decision were not followed properly, which may have impacted the decision.
  • new evidence: information relevant to the decision, which for good reason was not available to the School Plagiarism Committee.
  • disproportionate outcome or penalty: it should be noted that Schools are entitled to make decisions in accordance with the policy, in appealing on this ground students must demonstrate how the penalty applied is disproportionately severe in relation to the circumstances of their case.

Students cannot appeal simply because they are unhappy with the decision of the committee. Appeals must be submitted to the University Student Appeals Committee within 10 working days from the date of issue of the decision of the School Plagiarism Committee. Further details found in the Student Appeals webpage. 

Q14. WHAT DECISIONS CAN THE STUDENT APPEALS COMMITTEE MAKE?
A Student Appeals Committee will decide to either:

  • uphold the appeal and make a decision different to the School Plagiarism Committee;
  • not uphold the appeal and confirm that the decision of the School Plagiarism is correct.
    Where the Student Appeals Committee is considering an appeal against a penalty imposed, they may decrease or increase a penalty or vary the nature of the penalty.

Each programme has a dedicated Student Adviser who can offer support, information and advice.

Access contact details and information on a range of student issues. 

UCD Chaplains are available for support, guidance and advice.  

The SU Sabbatical Officers are available to offer assistance and support to students.

Student Counselling Service is provided by professionally qualified psychologists and counsellors.

Ms Sharon Clinton / Ms Emer O'Brien 
Student Conduct Administration
Student Engagement, Conduct, Complaints and Appeals Office
L112, James Joyce Library Building
Email: (opens in a new window)student.conduct@ucd.ie
Tel: +353 (01) 716 7131 
Tel: +353 (01) 716 7068 

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