I have been called to a meeting with an Academic Conduct Officer (ACO), how can I prepare for this meeting?
We have advice here on how to prepare for the different types of misconduct cases.
If you're not sure what has gone wrong, read through your essay with the Turnitin report, which you will usually have been sent, and think about whether
you have referenced properly and used your own words. Think about areas where you may have forgotten to reference.
Get in touch with ASK if you are struggling to understand what might be wrong and we can work through this with you.
What will happen at the meeting?
The meeting will usually be with the ACO, the marker and a note taker. The ACO will tell you what they think the problems are with the work and give you the opportunity to have your say and ask any questions you have - this meeting is intended to help you with your academic writing, so you can ask questions if there is anything you're not sure about.
What are the possible penalties?
The penalties for academic misconduct vary depending on the type of case and the number of cases you have had in the past. The possible penalties that can be applied are in the table on the University website.
You may be given a lower penalty if you have exceptional circumstances that led to the misconduct. If you would like to raise exceptional circumstances, you can send a statement and evidence before the meeting to explain what happened and how this affected your work.
I am unhappy with the outcome of an academic misconduct case, what can I do?
In some circumstances, you may be able to appeal the decision. You will only be able to do this if you can satisfy one, or both, of the following grounds:
i) procedural irregularity in the conduct of the original investigations of the Academic Conduct Officer;
ii) extenuating circumstances, providing that these circumstances can be substantiated, and there is a valid reason why these were not made known at the time.
Information about appealing is on the Keele website.
I am on a professional course, what impact will this have on me?
If you are studying a professional course, a record of academic misconduct may have further implications. You should check your School handbook for further details if this applies to you.
What can ASK help with?
ASK can help you to prepare your case and attend the meeting with you, if necessary. We can go through the paperwork with you to help you to understand where you have gone wrong. We can signpost you to the appropriate support services to help you to improve your study skills and to make sure that you fully understand how to reference properly.
If there have been reasons why you have committed academic misconduct, either intentionally or accidentally, we can explore these and help you to put your case forward.