Cheating, plagiarism and the Disciplinary Board
Cheating is a serious offence. It is important that you know the rules and follow them. If you do not, you risk being accused of cheating or even suspension.
What is cheating and plagiarism?
Cheating
Cheating is the use of unauthorised aids or other means to mislead in an examination or other assessment of study performance. Here are a few examples:
- using a cheat sheet or mobile phone in the examination room
- to cooperate on a written assignment to be completed individually
- to communicate with another student during an exam
- bringing aids other than those indicated as permitted in the exam.
Cheating includes the unauthorised use of chatbots, e.g., ChatGPT, BingChat, etc.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism can be a form of cheating. To plagiarise is to make use of texts, charts, tables or computer programmes drawn from books or the internet, and present them as your own.
The Swedish Red Cross University uses Ouriginal anti-plagiarism software to prevent plagiarism.
- Ouriginal is linked to the Canvas virtual learning environment, which means that all examination and assignment data are checked automatically.
- In Ouriginal, students' examination and assignment data are checked against the internet, published material and student material.
- If an assignment sent via Ouriginal includes content similar to that of the sources, the teacher is informed of this. An assessment is made and, if plagiarism is suspected, the examiner is contacted for assessment.
Cheating in the form of plagiarism only arises when the work is an examination or study performance to be assessed by the examiner. Drafts may constitute plagiarism, but they are not cheating.
Examples of plagiarism include:
- using other work, e.g., copying text from the internet or other sources without acknowledging the source
- collaborating without authorisation with another student (e.g., the answers/text of fellow students are identical even though the assignment is individual)
- using previous texts or other previously examined work of one’s own without indicating which parts are old
- copying another student's essay or other written work
- buying a paper online and submitting it in your own name
As a student, it is your responsibility to follow the rules that apply to summative assessment.
If you discover deficiencies in the university's IT platform and something seems wrong, e.g., regarding security or systems, please report this via servicedesk@rkh.se.
How are reports of cheating or plagiarism addressed?
- A teacher, invigilator or equivalent who suspects attempted deception during summative assessment or upon assessment of study performance must immediately inform the examiner.
- If the examiner, after speaking to the student, finds that the suspicion of deception remains, the student is asked to send a written account of the course of events to the examiner via email.
- The report is sent to the director of studies and an investigation is initiated.
- While the report against the student is being investigated, the student continues to attend classes and exams. However, the information in the report will not be corrected pending the outcome of the case.
- The vice-chancellor decides whether the case will be considered by the Disciplinary Board. In some cases, the vice-chancellor decides on the disciplinary measures to be taken.
- A student who is the subject of a disciplinary case shall be given the opportunity to attend the meeting of the Disciplinary Board.
Disciplinary Board
The Swedish Red Cross University has a disciplinary board that decides cases in which a student is suspected of cheating or plagiarism. The Board is made up of teacher and student representatives, a legally trained member, and the vice-chancellor, who also chairs the Board.
The members of the Disciplinary Board are
- Susanne Georgsson, Vice-Chancellor, Chairperson
- Cecilia Moberg, Director of Studies, reporting
- Charlotta Tegnestedt, teacher representative
- Tord Pettersson, legal counsel
- Ann-Sofie Hylvander, secretary
- Student representative, member
- Student representative, alternate
The student is invited to attend the meeting, and asked to explain what happened and why. Members of the Board can also ask questions.
Disciplinary measures
- Warning
- Suspension
- Interim suspension
If a case is referred to the Disciplinary Board, the vice-chancellor, after consultation with the statutory members, may provisionally suspend the student from the university with immediate effect. An interim suspension decision shall remain in force until the case has been considered by the Disciplinary Board, but for no longer than one month.
Warning
A warning is the least severe disciplinary measure and involves an entry in Ladok that the student has been warned. The warning note remains in place until the student graduates.
Suspension
Suspension means that the student may not participate in teaching, summative assessment, assessment of study performance or other activities within the framework of courses and study programmes at the Swedish Red Cross University.
Suspension may be for one or more periods, up to a total of six months. During suspension, the student is:
- forbidden from participating in teaching (lectures, group work, placement, etc.)
- forbidden from participating in summative assessment, regular or re-examinations
- forbidden from contacting teachers or other University staff, except study counsellors
- forbidden from accessing the premises of the Swedish Red Cross University or virtual learning environment Canvas
- not entitled to study grants
Disciplinary measures shall be taken no later than the following semester.