This page provides resources for departmental staff investigating possible academic misconduct under the Student Academic Misconduct Procedures.
Resources
- Guidance on Investigating Academic Misconduct (PDF)
- Best Practice in an Academic Misconduct Interview (PDF)
- Template Level 1 communication to a student (DOCX)
For use in a full investigation. - Advice on assisting stressed and distressed students (PDF)
This resource may be useful if you have concerns about a student’s wellbeing.
Reporting suspected academic misconduct
Suspected instances of academic misconduct are now to be reported using the Alleged Academic Misconduct (AAM) form on the AskOtago Service Portal. Access to this form is restricted to Heads of Departments and their nominees.
If you have access, when you are logged in to the portal, click on the AAM tab (between My Approvals and My Favourites) in the blue banner at the top of the page.
Here, you will be able to create a new academic misconduct investigation, or check on the progress of one you have initiated already.
If you do not have access to this tab, please have your Head of Department (or equivalent) email academic.integrity@otago.ac.nz to confirm that they nominate you to investigate on their behalf. We will arrange for you to be given access to the form.
Sources of advice
The Head of Student Experience has central oversight of academic misconduct processes at the University. For information about any previous offending in relation to a particular student:
Email academic.integrity@otago.ac.nz
Material associated with cases (completed forms etc.) can be sent to:
Email academic.integrity@otago.ac.nz
The University defines three levels of academic misconduct:
- Level One: A first instance of academic misconduct where a student’s actions may be regarded as unintentional or naïve and contributed to by a lack of understanding of acceptable academic practice.
- Level Two: Academic misconduct where a student’s actions are perceived to be intentional and where the student could reasonably be expected to understand academic practice, or any repeat instance of academic misconduct.
- Level Three: Academic misconduct in which actions are perceived as being intentional and of an extremely serious nature including instances of falsification or fabrication of data, impersonation and/or purchasing of assessment, and instances of persistent academic misconduct.
See the Student Academic Misconduct Procedures for more details.
The Associate Deans (Academic) in each Division have delegated responsibility for investigating Level Two and Level Three academic misconduct.
For advice on the overall investigation process and precedent-based outcomes where misconduct has occurred, please, in the first instance contact:
Email academic.integrity@otago.ac.nz
Or contact the Associate Deans (Academic) listed below.
- Commerce
Associate Professor Richard Greatbanks
Email richard.greatbanks@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 8658 - Health Sciences
Professor Lois Surgenor
Email lois.surgenor@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 6733 or +64 3 479 7428 - Humanities
Professor Simone Marshall
Email ada.humanities@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 4850 - Sciences
Professor Brendan McCane
Email ada.sciences@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 8588
For advice on the Student Academic Misconduct Procedures and related policies, contact:
Mayhaka Mendis
Manager, Policy and Compliance, Academic Services
Email policycompliance@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 8993
Contact details
Tel +64 3 471 4738
Email academic.integrity@otago.ac.nz
