Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
The ACT and each of its Affiliated Colleges are committed to the highest standards of academic integrity.
As students, as part of your award, you will be required to submit assessment tasks. Assessments are used to assist in the evaluation of the development of your learning. The value of your award is based on the ACT’s commitment to academic integrity.
What?
What is Academic Integrity?
The Australian Government’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is the body that oversees higher education in Australia. TEQSA defines Academic Integrity as:
‘the expectation that teachers, students, researchers and all members of the academic community act with: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.’
Why?
Why is academic integrity important?
Academic integrity is essential to maintain the value of your award. Breaching academic integrity is also known as ‘academic misconduct’ or ‘academic dishonesty’. If you are caught cheating your studies professional bodies may refuse to register and/or accredit you.
Behaviours
What are some examples of behaviours that support academic integrity?
TEQSA lists some ways that you can support academic integrity by:
- acknowledging where the information you use comes by clearly citing or referencing the source
- sitting your own exams and submitting your own work
- accurately reporting research findings and abiding by research policies
- using information appropriately, according to copyright and privacy laws
- acting ethically or doing the ‘right thing’, even when you are facing difficulties
What are some examples of behaviours that undermine academic integrity?
TEQSA identifies the following behaviours as breaching or undermining academic integrity:
- plagiarism
- recycling or resubmitting work
- fabricating information
- collusion
- exam cheating
- contract cheating
Consequences
What are the consequences for breaching or undermining academic integrity?
TEQSA indicates that penalties can include:
- having to repeat the assessment task or unit of study
- failing the assessment task, unit of study or course
- being expelled from your institution, which may impact your student visa
- facing criminal charges
Contract Cheating
Commercial Cheating Services / Contract Cheating
In recent years across the higher education sector there has been a significant increase in emails and social media posts advertising companies or individuals who will write assignments for you if you pay them a fee.
Others may offer cash or prizes if you upload course materials or assignments to their academic file sharing websites.
Research shows contract cheating firms are commonly controlled by criminal syndicates, putting students who use these services at very real risk of blackmail or identity theft. Blackmail activities can include demands for further payment, class materials or past assessment tasks, contact details of other students, or access to provider systems (such as the Learning Management System or the student’s email account). Students who share personal information with commercial academic cheating services, such as their name and payment details, are at risk of identity theft. Students should be aware of the risk that class groups on messaging and social media platforms may be infiltrated by contract cheating services, and are reminded to not disclose any system passwords to anyone. Genuine, ethical businesses will never request this information.
To access genuine study support, or to report an approach from a contract cheating service or get assistance if, for example, you are experiencing blackmail, please contact the Student Support Officer.
These activities are ILLEGAL in Australia
Australia has banned commercial cheating services and promotion of these services to students. Laws against commercial cheating services include criminal penalties such as fines of up to $100,000 for operators. People who provide cheating services for free also face civil prosecution
Artificial Intelligence
In early 2023, the use of artificial intelligence tools (such as ChatGPT) significantly increased. Education providers will engage with these tools and their relationship to student academic integrity. ACT reminds students of the core principles of academic integrity being honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. At multiple levels of governance and leadership, ACT continues to investigate the implications of artificial intelligence and its relationship to academic integrity. For clarity for students, ACT’s policies on academic and research integrity available below outline the requirements and expectations for use and/or restrictions of artificial intelligence in assessments and research.
Advice to students about using generative Artificial Intelligence
ACT Policies
ACT’s Policies for Academic Integrity are available below:
Student Support
Student Support for Academic Integrity
If you require assistance in your studies or with your assignments, contact the Student Support personnel at your College.
TEQSA has provided some very useful resources that will help you understand the nature and importance of academic integrity, as well as the serious consequences of breaching or undermining it.
These are found in the following:
TEQSA videos:
Cheating is never the right answer: Ben’s story
Cheating is never the right answer: Lucy’s story
TEQSA links:
https://www.teqsa.gov.au/what-academic-integrity
https://www.teqsa.gov.au/protecting-academic-integrity
https://www.teqsa.gov.au/download-hub
TEQSA link on Artificial Intelligence:
https://www.teqsa.gov.au/students/artificial-intelligence-advice-students