Policies

Penalties
Specific exclusion rules
Student discipline

Please consult the Executive Director (Corporate Services) on +61 7 4930 9575 for approved legislation at any time, or for a full copy of Central Queensland University Statutes. University Statutes are also available from the CQU Policies website (http://policy.cqu.edu.au/).

A full list of academic policies and procedures relating to CQU students and staff can be found on the CQU Policies website (http://policy.cqu.edu.au/ ).

Responsibilities of students
It is the responsibility of students to read and understand the rules and policies relating to students. Refer to the Student Charter in CQU Policies website (http://policy.cqu.edu.au/).

Student misconduct and cheating
Student misconduct
Cheating, plagiarism or other academic misconduct is a very serious offence. Intellectual honesty demands the contribution of others be acknowledged.

The University views the process of attempting to circumvent, or circumventing assessment requirements very seriously. Consequently conduct of that sort may result in the suspension or exclusion of the student.

A full list of academic policies and procedures is available from the CQU Policies website (http://policy.cqu.edu.au/). Refer to the following policies regarding student misconduct and cheating:

• plagiarism policy
• academic misconduct - students policy

Cheating
Cheating in tests or examinations includes, but is not limited to:

• dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct such as speaking to other candidates or communicating with them under any circumstances whatsoever;
• bringing into the examination room any textbook, notebook, memorandum, other written material or mechanical or electronic device not authorised by the examination;
• writing an examination or part of it, or consulting any person or materials outside the confines of the examination room without permission to do so; and
• leaving answer papers exposed to view, or persistent attempts to read other students' examination papers.

Other academic misconduct
Other academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• tampering or attempts to tamper with examination scripts, class work, grades or class records;
• failure to abide by directions of an instructor regarding the individuality of work handed in;
• acquisition, attempted acquisition, possession or distribution of examination materials or information without the authorisation of the instructor;
• impersonation of another student in an examination or other class assignment;
• falsification or fabrication of clinical or laboratory reports; and
• non-authorised tape recording of lectures.

Complicity
Any student who voluntarily and consciously aids another student in the commission of one or more of these offences is also guilty of the offence of academic misconduct.

Penalties for academic misconduct
Downgrading of marks for an assessment item(s)
A student may have marks or grades for particular assessment item(s) downgraded for cases of plagiarism as an initial corrective procedure.

Failing grade
A student may be given a 'Fail' in either an exercise or course in which that student is found to have committed plagiarism, cheating or other misconduct. Except in circumstances in which leniency is warranted, this penalty will be applied only in conjunction with one of the other penalties mentioned in this section. In situations in which a student is enrolled in a faculty other than that in which the course is offered, this is the maximum penalty which shall be applied by the host faculty.

Disciplinary probation
When students are placed on disciplinary probation, they are entitled to proceed with a degree or other academic program, but only on the condition that if they are found guilty of a further academic offence, suspension or expulsion will be applied. A student who is placed on disciplinary probation is eligible to continue in the faculty in the normal way after the satisfactory completion of the probationary period. This penalty shall be recommended by the faculty, in which the student is enrolled at the time of the offence, with final determination being made by the Exclusions Committee.

Suspension
Suspension takes place when a student is denied enrolment at CQU for a specified period of time. This penalty shall be recommended by the faculty in which the student is enrolled at the time of the offence, with final determination being made by the Exclusions Committee. Suspension may also be applied in the case of a breach of disciplinary probation. Upon satisfactory completion of currently enrolled courses a student may be eligible for an award, however that award will not be conferred until the period of suspension has been completed.

Expulsion
Expulsion is a termination of enrolment on disciplinary grounds (not academic grounds) where, because of the serious or repeated nature of the offence, a penalty greater than suspension or exclusion is called for. It may be applied in the case of a breach of disciplinary probation. Expulsion is the strongest penalty that can be applied by the University.

Exclusion
Exclusion takes place when a student is denied enrolment within an award program and/or from the faculty for a specified period of time. This penalty shall be recommended by the faculty in which the student is enrolled at the time of the offence, with final determination being made by the Exclusions Committee. Exclusion is also applied as a result of unsatisfactory progress.

Specific exclusion rules
Faculty of Arts Health and Sciences

Chemical Science
A student enrolled in the Bachelor of Chemical Sciences will become eligible for exclusion if the student fails either CHEM11007 Introductory Concepts of Chemical Sciences or CHEM11008 Essential Principles of Chemical Sciences twice.

Health Science
A student becomes subject to exclusion if the student:

• does not successfully complete courses which constitute a specified percentage of the normal student load;
• fails to meet the requirements of a re-structured program of study.