What is an Academic Conduct Panel?

An Academic Conduct Panel (ACP) makes decisions on allegations of student academic misconduct.  An ACP has a Chair (an experienced member of academic staff) and a Secretary (an experienced member of the Student Administration team).  Neither of the panel members will have had any involvement in teaching you for or marking the assessment(s) under investigation.

The Panel meeting involves the Chair and the Secretary, who will make a decision about whether there is evidence of academic misconduct and if so, which sanction will be given.  

The following points will be considered when determining the most appropriate sanction: 

  • the evidence that you intended to gain an unfair advantage by your actions. 
  • your previous experience of academic study in a UK higher education institution, or for a UK higher education award. 
  • the extent of the misconduct in relation to the assessment in question, i.e., whether this relates to a small section or a whole assessment. 
  • mitigating circumstances, which you must present with evidence (where appropriate). 
  • any prior upheld allegations of a breach to the Code of Academic Conduct. 
  • whether you have understood the allegation and accepted responsibility for breaching the Code of Academic Conduct.

For more details on the sanctions and their implications for your study, see the Academic Conduct Regulation.

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