Help CentreMYTH: At a Stage 1 meeting, a staff member tells you that you have committed academic misconduct and you must sign the Academic Misconduct Report Form.
Only a student can admit to academic misconduct at a Stage 1. If the staff member still believes there is academic misconduct, they can refer the case to a Stage 2 panel. At Stage 2 the panel can decide whether or not you have committed academic misconduct in their outcome, but prior to a Stage 2 the staff member can only explain to you why they suspect.
MYTH: You are told the penalties are more severe at a Stage Two Academic Misconduct Formal hearing.
At both Stage 1 and Stage 2 staff follow the penalties table in the Academic Misconduct policy. The same guidelines are used in both stages. Even if a student admits to an allegation at a Stage 1 or the panel making a finding at a Stage 2 the same penalty table is considered* Please see page 15 in the Academic Misconduct Policy.
*Unless an academic misconduct meeting is held with a Professional Suitability Board, the student may be subject to additional penalties set in the Handbook of Student Regulations.
MYTH: You are told you have to sign the Academic Misconduct Report Form just because you have attended a Stage One meeting.
You should only sign this form if you are happy to admit to the allegation. Do not sign this form if you are not admitting to the allegation. If the university confirm there is no further concerns with academic misconduct you do not need to sign the form. If you are asked to sign the form, please refuse to do this. If the university raise concerns on you refusing to sign the form, please contact the Advice Team via su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk and we will assist you further.
The Advice Team are here to help you with your case. For personalised advice or to ask further questions please email su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk