With assessment and planning weeks finishing up, we thought that it would be a good time to give students some guidance on the Academic Misconduct process. Following the submission of an assignment, you may receive a letter from the University’s Academic Integrity team outlining a suspected breach within your assignment. At this point, it is understandable to feel anxious and worried. Here are the steps you can take to support you through this stressful time: 

1. Don’t panic. Suspected breaches happen regularly. Although it is a serious University process and should be taken seriously, there is a clear procedure to follow and support available if you need it. The initial email marks the start of an investigation, and you will have the opportunity to explain how the issue may have occurred. You can check out our Academic Offences Process Guide to give you a better understanding of what kind of breach you are suspected of and the process that will follow. 
2. Write your response to the allegation. This is your opportunity to present your case, whether you agree or disagree with the breach, along with any important information or context around the assignment in question. You can check out our Academic Integrity Response Guide to give you a better understanding of what to include in your response. 
3. Gather evidence to support your response. Any claims you make in your response will be strengthened by clear evidence. Examples of suitable evidence are listed in our Academic Integrity Response Guide. These should be attached to the email you send Academic Integrity with your response. 
4. Get support if you need it. Here at the SU our Advice Service can provide support at any part of this process, particularly once your response is ready to be sent. We can review a draft of your response and provide feedback before submission, if required. Email the Advice Service at suadvice@glos.ac.uk. 
5. Be organised. You are given 5 working days to submit your response to Academic Integrity, so starting early is key. Our Advice Service has one adviser who works Tuesday to Friday. While we aim to respond within three working days, there is no guarantee that your draft will be reviewed immediately. The earlier you send it to us, the more likely you are to receive feedback before the deadline.
6. Send your response to Academic Integrity within the 5 working day window. 
7. Asked to attend a meeting? For some suspected breaches, Academic Integrity may ask you to attend a meeting to discuss the matter further. This forms part of the investigation and allows the Academic Conduct Officer to seek clarity from both you and the marker. If you would like support in preparing for or attending this meeting, you can contact the Advice Service at suadvice@glos.ac.uk. As availability cannot be guaranteed, seeking support as early as possible is recommended.

Following the investigation the Academic Conduct Officer will submit their decision. You can find details of the potential outcomes in our Academic Offences Process Guide. 

At any stage of this process, or for any other issue you may be facing, you can seek advice from the SU Advice Service. Full contact details are available on the Advice page of the website here.