The Module Leader (ML) should explain to students taking their module, that plagiarism is taken seriously and, where uncovered, will be punished. Students should also be aware of the rules relating to the use of proofreaders.

Any evidence of plagiarism should be reported to the module leader. If the suspected plagiarism is not serious enough to need referral to the University's Academic Integrity Committee (take this to mean that the proposed sanction will not be more serious than awarding zero for the assignment), the following guidelines should be followed.

• The ML should find another member of staff, who has current or past responsibility for teaching the same or a similar module, and convene an Academic Conduct Panel (ACP) consisting of two academics. For coursework modules this would normally be the ML and one other academic. The panel should ask the student to meet with them to discuss the evidence.
• After discussing with the student, the ACP should decide whether the student has committed an offence and, if so, agree an appropriate penalty. They should inform the student of the decision and tell the student that they have the right to appeal to the University. They should ask the student to indicate in writing, or by email, whether they accept the penalty or whether they wish to appeal. The student's tutor and the Senior Tutor (or, if the student is from another department, the Director of Studies in that department) should be informed of the outcome.

In the case of academic misconduct (as opposed to poor academic practice), the departmental guide to penalties relates only to first offences. All later offences of suspected cheating should normally be referred to the Academic Integrity Committee, see section I10 of the University Policy. The University's regulation 11 lists the general rules governing penalties to be applied in all cases of cheating and plagiarism.

Academic Integrity^*
Avoiding Plagiarism Course
Electronic Detection
Integrity Framework^*
Penalties
Use of Proofreaders^*

Asterisks denote links to pages outside the Staff Handbook