Deception and disciplinary matters
Academic education is based on trust and responsibility. Exams and other assessments of study performance aim to ensure quality in the study programmes and in the degrees that are awarded by the University. It is therefore important that the university prevents and counteracts various forms of cheating. It is important that you as a student know what counts as cheating and what the consequences can be.
What is cheating?
Cheating can be things like:
- unauthorised cooperation during a written exam
- someone other than the student writing a take-home exam
- copying texts from other students' exams
- copying from books or the internet when this is not allowed
- unauthorised use of technical aids such as mobile telephones.
If you are unsure of what applies in your examination, ask your teacher in advance about what is allowed and not allowed.
What is the consequence of cheating?
The disciplinary measure takes the form of suspension. The suspension time varies but is usually 4 or 8 weeks. The longest a student can be suspended for 6 months. Suspension is reported to CSN and can affect student finances. If you are a fee-paying student, you are not eligible for a refund.
Suspension means that the affected student may not attend lectures and other activities provided by Kristianstad University during the suspension period. Sometimes a student is affected more than during the actual suspension period when elements, such as VFU, are only offered on specific occasions.
What happens if cheating is suspected?
Staff at the University are obliged to report suspected cases of attempted cheating. The person who suspects cheating makes an initial assessment of whether the case constitutes cheating or not. If there are grounds to suspect an intention to cheat, a report is submitted to the Vice-Chancellor's office. Written material that has been submitted for assessment is attached to the report and is not marked until the case has been closed.
The University's legal adviser investigates the matter. In most cases, the matter is passed on to the disciplinary board for decision. The Vice-Chancellor has the possibility, after a presentation by the legal adviser, to issue a caution or to drop the case without sending it on to the disciplinary board.
How do I find out if I am suspected of cheating?
A student who is suspected of cheating is informed in writing of the content of the report and given an opportunity to describe his or her view of what has happened.
If the case is passed on to the disciplinary board, the student will receive a summons to attend approximately one week before the board meeting.
What happens in a meeting of the disciplinary board?
The meeting of the disciplinary board starts with the presentation of the case by the legal adviser. The student then has an opportunity to explain his or her view of what happened and to answer questions.
The student leaves the room while the disciplinary board deliberates and makes a decision on the case. When the decision is made, the student is called back in and informed of the decision.