Student Misconduct Policy and Procedure

Owned by Andrew Read (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 16 Aug 2022 by Ethan Green (Unlicensed)
7 min read

OVERVIEW

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Status

CURRENT

Classification*

PUBLIC

Department

ALL

Review

Mar 11, 2024

Notes

 

*See Information classification policy

PUBLIC-FACING

Student Discipline

Strategix is committed to providing a supportive and encouraging learning environment and the conduct of students is a key factor. In a breach of the Code of Conduct, Strategix’s Working Together Policy and other policies in this handbook, action will be taken in line with Strategix’s Student Misconduct Policy and Procedure.

Academic Misconduct

Any student found to be engaging in academic misconduct will be the subject of disciplinary action which may include removal (withdrawal/cancellation) from the course or being suspended (studies being put on hold – instigated by Strategix).

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion and any other conduct by which a student:

  • Seeks to gain, for themselves or any other person, any academic advantage or advancement to which they are not entitled

  • Improperly disadvantages any other student.

Cheating

‘Cheating’ is defined as obtaining, attempting to obtain or aiding another to obtain credit for work by any dishonest or deceptive means. Cheating includes: lying; copying from another’s test or examination; discussion, at any time, of answers or questions on an examination or test, unless such discussion is specifically authorised by the instructor; taking or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor; using or displaying notes, “cheat sheets” or other information devices inappropriate to the prescribed test conditions; allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent that student in any form of evaluation.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using the ideas or work of another person or persons, without giving proper credit to the source. It is not plagiarism if it is determined that the ideas were arrived at through independent reasoning or logic, or where the thought or idea is common knowledge. Acknowledgement of an original author or source must be made through appropriate references; i.e. quotation marks, footnotes, or commentary.

Examples of plagiarism include the following; the submission of works completed by another, either in part or in whole; failure to give credit for ideas, statements, facts or conclusions which rightfully belong to another; failure to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence or even a part thereof; close and lengthy paraphrasing of another’s writing without credit or originality; use of another’s project or programs, or part thereof, without giving credit.

Collusion

Collusion is an agreement between two or more parties, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage. Examples can be:

  • Assisting another student with work that should have been the work of the individual student by giving them an assignment to copy or writing an assignment together

  • Copying answers from another person.

POLICY

Student Misconduct Policy

 

Strategix is committed to providing a supportive and encouraging learning environment and the conduct of students is a key factor. Where students display inappropriate or offensive conduct, Strategix reserves the right to suspend (put on hold or delay the commencement of) a students enrolment/studies.

An enrolment may be suspended on the basis of:

Misbehavior or misconduct

The following examples indicate behaviour which constitutes student misconduct. This list is not exhaustive and is for illustrative purposes only and does not remove a student’s responsibility to act in a manner that is consistent with Strategix’ rules and regulations. Student misconduct occurs when a student:

  • Provides false documents or alters any documents at any stage

  • Harasses or intimidates another person because of; race, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual preference, disability, age, political conviction, religious belief or for any other reason

  • Misuses any facility in a manner which is illegal or which is, or will be, detrimental to the rights or property of others

  • Steals, destroys or damages a facility or property of Strategix or for which Strategix is responsible.

Students have a *right to appeal a decision by Strategix to suspend their enrolment. Whilst the appeal is in process the student is required to continue to attend as outlined in this procedure. International students will not be reported during the appeal process. Appeals are processed as per Complaints, Appeals and Consumer Protection Policy and Procedure.

*Strategix is not required to provide the opportunity for a student to make an appeal when the student’s health or wellbeing, or the wellbeing of others, is likely to be at risk. In the event of this, Strategix will keep supporting evidence on file. This may include, but is not limited to when the student:

  • Refuses to maintain approved care arrangements, if they are under 18 years of age

  • Is missing

  • Has medical concerns, severe depression or psychological issues which lead the provider to fear for the student’s wellbeing

  • Has engaged or threatens to engage in behavior that is reasonably believed to endanger the student or others

  • Is at risk of committing a criminal offence.

If a student’s enrolment is suspended the period of suspension will not be included in attendance monitoring calculations.

International Student Information

Strategix will notify the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) through PRISMS of any change to the conditions of a student’s enrolment. A suspension may affect a student’s visa. A visa may be cancelled when a suspension is due to the conduct of the student.

 

Student Misconduct Procedure:

Stage

Person Responsible

Stage

Person Responsible

1

Verbal Warning

Identifying Staff Member

2

Formal Warning

Staff Member

3

Final Warning

Staff Member, Management

4

Meeting With Student

Staff Member, Management

5

Recommendation to Remove Student

Staff Member, Management

6

Administrative Tasks

Administrative Assistant

Serious misconduct may see a student elevate to a higher stage, bypassing lower stages of the process. This will be judged on an individual basis giving merit to the weight of the misconduct.

If at any stage, in the event the student’s health or wellbeing, or the wellbeing of others, is likely to be at risk. Strategix will suspend or possibly cancel the students enrolment immediately without the opportunity for improvement or opportunity to appeal the decision. Strategix must/will keep supporting evidence on file. If a decision is made to cancel the students enrolment it is actioned as per Student Withdrawal Policy and Procedure.

1. Verbal Warning

Where a situation occurs, the student is issued with a verbal warning to:

  • Identify the misconduct to the student and explain why it is not acceptable

  • Ask the student to discontinue any disruptive behavior

  • Provide an opportunity to improve.

The misconduct is recorded in Strategix’ Student Management System against student profiles. The information recorded will outline the misconduct and what was done to rectify the situation.

2. Formal Warning

If the behaviour previously identified in the verbal warning continues and/or has not been rectified by the student, a Suspension Warning email will be issued to the student.

The Suspension Warning email:

  • Contains a brief description of the misconduct

  • Be emailed to the student and recorded on the student’s profile.

3. Final Warning

If the behaviour continues, another Suspension Warning email is sent to the student, this is the final stage of being formally warned before suspension from the course. Management are copied into the email if the student is required* to attend a meeting.

The Suspension Warning email:

  • Contains a brief description of the misconduct and explains this is the final warning

  • May contain an invitation to a meeting to discuss the behavior with management

  • Be emailed to the student and recorded on the student’s profile.

*All international Students are required to receive a meeting invitation at this stage. Domestic students may only receive a meeting request if it is determined to be relevant to the situation, this is determined on a case by case basis.

4. Meeting with student

In the event of a meeting being held, the student has the option to bring a support person. Meeting minutes are taken and uploaded to the students profile and a copy is sent to the student.

Depending upon the misconduct a decision to suspend the student may be finalised during the meeting. If this results in the decision to suspend the student, from the date of being notified of the decision, students have up to 20 working days to lodge an appeal in writing to Strategix. Full details and the process surrounding appeals are outlined in Complaints, Appeals and Consumer Protection Policy and Procedure.

If the decision to suspend is overturned and it is not imposed the student will be required to continue their course as normal.

5. Recommendation to Remove Student

If after the Final Warning and/or meeting with the student the misconduct continues, a recommendation to remove a student from a course will be sent to and verified by senior management and the misconduct will be dealt with in line with the Student Withdrawal Policy and Procedure, this may result in the students enrolment being withdrawn/cancelled.

6. Administrative Tasks

If a suspension is enforced the administrative assistant will update the students profile to reflect the change, by:

  • Updating the student status to “Suspended”

  • Adding a brief reason for the suspension and the suspension start date in the comment field below the status

  • Adding the deferral end date in the “Deferred/Suspended Until” field.

International Students

In addition, if the student is an International student the administrative assistant will:

  • Change the students Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and issue new CoE to student and agent (if/where required)

  • Update PRISMS to reflect new CoE

  • Inform student they will need to contact DIBP.

Authority

  • List here

See Funding

Regulatory Documents

  • SOS 9

  • PQS 1

List the Contract, audit evidence requirements, standards etc. and the applicable section or clause from each document

Approved By

Name here

Details / Decisions:

  • Student Code of Conduct (located in Handbooks)

  • Student Handbook

  • International Student Handbook

  • Student Agreement (included in enrolment form)

  • STG 6.008 - Working Together Policy

  • STG 1.012 - Complaints and Appeals Procedure

  • STG 3.023 - Student Withdrawal Procedure

Term/Statement

Explanation

Term/Statement

Explanation

Suspend

A provider imposed delay of the commencement/start date of the course or to put on hold a course which is in progress due to misconduct or a breach in policies etc.