What is academic integrity?
At Griffith University, academic integrity means acting with the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility in learning. It is important for students to act in an honest way, be responsible for their actions, and show fairness in every part of their work.
The International Centre for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as "a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. From these values flow principles of behaviour that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action" (ICAI, 2021).
Why does academic integrity matter?
Academic integrity is an extension of your own personal integrity. Producing your own work to the best of your ability means you have earned your qualification and are prepared for the opportunities and challenges you will face in the workplace.
Employers need to be assured that students who are awarded degrees have met the standards and professional requirements for the program of study. Many professions have specific professional integrity standards, vales and codes of conduct.
How can I ensure I'm studying with integrity?
The key to navigating academic success with honesty are skills you can learn and apply in your studies.
A good starting point is the Introduction to Academic Integrity module which will help you understand the principles of integrity and how this relates to your studies.
The Library has a range of self-paced tutorials, workshops, peer assisted study sessions and support, plus Referencing and Gen AI tools to maintain academic integrity with your assessments.
Useful resources
Research ethics, integrity and compliance
Ensure your research meets our stringent ethical standards, is conducted with integrity and within our biosafety standards.
Copyright matters
It is University policy to comply with copyright law. Find out more about your copyright compliance obligations.
TEQSA resources for students
TEQSA's Understanding Academic Integrity site contains useful advice to help you better understand academic integrity, including developing good academic practices and understanding Artificial Intelligence.
Policy and Procedure
Student Academic Integrity Policy
This policy sets out the principles and processes for dealing with academic misconduct and applies to students studying non-award, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs and Higher Degree Research Candidates.
Student Breaches of Academic Integrity Procedure
This procedure supports the Student Academic Integrity Policy by providing a formal framework for managing student breaches of academic integrity.
Related documents
Student Charter
The Student Charter details the partnership between the University and its students.
Assessment Procedure for Students
Details the process for submission, feedback and marking of assessment in courses.
Student Review and Appeals Policy
Outlines the framework for requesting a review and/or appeal of a decision.
Student Review and Appeals Procedure
Sets out the process for requesting a review of and/or appeal a decision of the University.
The Academic Integrity Breach Process
An assessment item has been submitted, and a potential breach of academic integrity has been identified by a tutor/convenor.
Based on the information available, your Convenor will consider whether the breach should be considered as:
- Incomplete Academic Practice—this will be addressed with you through the normal assignment feedback process
- Academic Misconduct—this will be progressed formally, as detailed in the following steps.
Seriousness of academic misconduct breach applied.
Where the breach is considered to be Academic Misconduct, depending on the seriousness of the academic misconduct breach, the Decision Maker will either be:
- Course Convenor for less serious breaches
- Dean, Learning and Teaching for more serious breaches.
For HDR candidates this will be:
- Dean (Research) for less-serious breaches
- Dean (Griffith Graduate research School) for more serious breaches.
Decision Maker emails student a written notice, detailing the identified breach of academic misconduct.
- The notice will advise whether you're required to respond in writing or meet with the Decision Maker (you can be accompanied by someone for support).
- You should provide a response to the written notice within 14 days.
- If you don't provide a response within this timeframe, the Decision Maker will reach a decision based on the information available.
Decision Maker considers response (if provided) and the evidence available.
They will then either:
- make a decision
- for less serious breaches, request the breach be deemed more serious and reassigned to the appropriate Decision Maker. You will be notified by email if the matter is referred to another decision maker.
Decision Maker emails the student a Closure Letter with their decision.
The letter will include the following:
- details of the conduct
- their findings
- reasons for their decision
- the educational or (if relevant) penalty/response/s applied
- potential serious consequences of subsequent breaches
- reference to appropriate policies and procedures
- the process to seek a review or appeal (see Step 6 )
- advice to students seeking admission to legal practitioners admission board (where appropriate).
Seeking a review and/or appeal of a breach of academic misconduct decision.
Students who have a finding of Academic Misconduct may be entitled to a review, and where provided, an appeal.
Visit Student Review and Appeals to find out what decisions can be reviewed and appealed and how to submit a review of decision form.
Frequently asked questions
Questions?
If you have questions about academic integrity speak with your Tutor, view the resources on your Learning@Griffith course site or visit the Library website.