Cheating and disciplinary measures
As a student or doctoral student, you must adhere to the regulations governing educational activities at Örebro University. According to university regulations, cheating or disrupting activities may lead to disciplinary action, such as a warning or suspension. This information is intended for those seeking more information about these matters, disciplinary measures, and those reported for such conduct.
What is meant by cheating and plagiarism?
Plagiarism can be compared to theft. In this context, this means using someone else’s work without permission, such as texts from books or the Internet, charts, tables, or computer programs, and presenting someone else’s text or work as one’s own. Therefore, always cite sources when using someone else’s text or work. It is never permitted to submit someone else’s text or work in one’s name.
Cheating is when someone uses prohibited aid(s) or attempts to deceive during an examination or other assessment forms of study performance, as regulated by Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Higher Education Ordinance.
A disciplinary action
According to the Higher Education Ordinance, the university must investigate when a student is suspected of doing something prohibited in their studies. Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Higher Education Ordinance states that unauthorised incidents may lead to the university taking disciplinary measures. Simplified, this means cases involving suspicion of deception (“cheating cases”) or cases of disruption and harassment.
What rules apply?
Students may sometimes feel uncertain about what rules apply, for example, when completing an examining assignment or taking an exam, especially for take-home exams and other assignments such as essays, laboratory sessions and hall-based examinations. However, students are responsible for understanding and following the rules that apply on the course.
If uncertain about what applies in a specific situation, contact the course coordinator before the examination. Preferably do so in writing, for example, by email, to establish afterwards what information has been received.
Consequences
If a student, after receiving notice and a subsequent disciplinary investigation is conducted, is deemed for doing something prohibited and after that convicted, the possible consequences of a disciplinary violation are a warning or suspension. If it is not possible to investigate what occurred or if the suspected matter does not violate the rules, the case will be dismissed.
Regardless of the outcome of a disciplinary case, the disciplinary committee never decides a grade for an assignment or if it needs to be redone; that responsibility lies entirely with the examiner.
Warning
A warning decision means that the student has been convicted of a disciplinary offence, but a suspension is not deemed necessary for various reasons. A warning means that the student is allowed to continue their studies as usual.
However, the general rule is that suspension is the usual penalty for violating the rules.
Suspension
A suspension decision means that the student has been convicted of a disciplinary offence and that the conduct is of such nature, level, or scope that a warning is inadequate.
In the event of a suspension, the student may not attend classes, participate in examinations or other activities within the framework of the educational programme at the university. The student may also be prohibited from visiting the campus or other university facilities. A suspension is typically concurrent but may be divided up over two or more periods, but no more than six months.
Case dismissal
When a case is dismissed, the matter will no longer be investigated, and no additional questions will be asked from legal counsel, the vice-chancellor, or the disciplinary committee. There will be no consequences for that which the student was suspected, and the student is allowed to continue their studies.
On the other hand, the teacher/examiner decides whether an assignment is to be approved or redone.