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Cheating and disciplinary measures

As a student or doctoral student, you must adhere to the regulations governing educational activities at Örebro University. According to university regulations, cheating or disrupting activities may lead to disciplinary action, such as a warning or suspension. This information is intended for those seeking more information about these matters, disciplinary measures, and those reported for such conduct.

What is meant by cheating and plagiarism?

Plagiarism can be compared to theft. In this context, this means using someone else’s work without permission, such as texts from books or the Internet, charts, tables, or computer programs, and presenting someone else’s text or work as one’s own. Therefore, always cite sources when using someone else’s text or work. It is never permitted to submit someone else’s text or work in one’s name.

Cheating is when someone uses prohibited aid(s) or attempts to deceive during an examination or other assessment forms of study performance, as regulated by Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

A disciplinary action

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, the university must investigate when a student is suspected of doing something prohibited in their studies. Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Higher Education Ordinance states that unauthorised incidents may lead to the university taking disciplinary measures. Simplified, this means cases involving suspicion of deception (“cheating cases”) or cases of disruption and harassment.

What rules apply?

Students may sometimes feel uncertain about what rules apply, for example, when completing an examining assignment or taking an exam, especially for take-home exams and other assignments such as essays, laboratory sessions and on-campus examinations. However, students are responsible for understanding and following the rules that apply on the course.

If uncertain about what applies in a specific situation, contact the course coordinator before the examination. Preferably do so in writing, for example, by email, to establish afterwards what information has been received.

Consequences

If a student, after receiving notice and a subsequent disciplinary investigation is conducted, is deemed for doing something prohibited and after that convicted, the possible consequences of a disciplinary violation are a warning or suspension. If it is not possible to investigate what occurred or if the suspected matter does not violate the rules, the case will be dismissed.

Regardless of the outcome of a disciplinary case, the disciplinary committee never decides a grade for an assignment or if it needs to be redone; that responsibility lies entirely with the examiner.

Warning

A warning decision means that the student has been convicted of a disciplinary offence, but a suspension is not deemed necessary for various reasons. A warning means that the student is allowed to continue their studies as usual.

However, the general rule is that suspension is the usual penalty for violating the rules.

Suspension

A suspension decision means that the student has been convicted of a disciplinary offence and that the conduct is of such nature, level, or scope that a warning is inadequate.

In the event of a suspension, the student may not attend classes, participate in examinations or other activities within the framework of the educational programme at the university. The student may also be prohibited from visiting the campus or other university facilities. A suspension is typically concurrent but may be divided up over two or more periods, but no more than six months.

Case dismissal

When a case is dismissed, the matter will no longer be investigated, and no additional questions will be asked from legal counsel, the vice-chancellor, or the disciplinary committee. There will be no consequences for that which the student was suspected, and the student is allowed to continue their studies.

On the other hand, the teacher/examiner decides whether an assignment is to be approved or redone.

Questions and answers

A report on suspicion of doing something prohibited is taken very seriously, and the consequences for the individual student can be significant. When a report is submitted, the university’s legal counsel reviews all the specifics and checks that all formal components are included, such as study guides, assignment instructions, sources of suspected plagiarism, etc. If material is missing, it is requested from the complainant. Any witnesses and others who may provide relevant information are contacted

When the report is complete, it is sent to the student for a response, providing the student with the opportunity to tell their version regarding the case, preferably in writing. The complainant will usually read the student’s response before the disciplinary committee meeting hearing the case.

Before the disciplinary investigation has been completed, either via a decision of dismissal or a decision on disciplinary action, the student is like any other student and may participate in classes, assessments of study performance, and other examinations as usual.

If the report has been made due to suspicion of an attempt to deceive during an examination, and it is unclear whether a student’s performance is approved or not, the teacher may postpone their grade decision.

The disciplinary committee consists of the vice-chancellor, a legally qualified member (legal counsel) who must be or has been a full judge, a teacher representative at the university, and two student members. The committee has quo set when at least three members are present, including the chair and the legally qualified member.

The written material collected during the investigation phase is sent in advance to all disciplinary committee members. The committee gathers a few moments before the meeting to briefly review the available material and decide if any questions remain concerning it.

Since it is advantageous for the disciplinary investigation that the person suspected of wrongdoing attends the meeting, the student is always called to participate in person. That way, they may provide their view in the case, what has occurred and answer any questions from the disciplinary committee. Attendance is the student’s right, however not compulsory. If the student participates, they should expect the meeting to take about 20–30 minutes.

The student and the complainant enter the room. After all attendees are introduced, the teacher speaks briefly to explain why they have reported the student. Next, the committee and the student may ask the complainant questions.

It is now the student’s turn to supplement their previous written response if any. The committee will have the opportunity to ask the student any questions.

After all questions are answered, the disciplinary committee will meet in private to deliberate the written investigation, the information that emerged and then decides the case. As mentioned earlier, the disciplinary actions available are warning or suspension. Otherwise, the case will be dismissed if the disciplinary investigation does not make progress or decides the student did not break any rules.

The student will receive information about the decision immediately after the meeting and deliberation if the student has participated in person. The vice-chancellor or the keeper of the minutes provides information about the decision and the grounds for it. If the student has not attended, information will be provided by phone, letter, or email.

While suspended, a student may not participate in classes, assessments of study performance, or other activities within the framework of the educational programme of the university, or any supervision, examinations, etc. No contact with teachers for advice and support in studies or to submit laboratory work, essays, practical assignments, etc. Accounts to student forums and blackboard will be stopped during the suspension.

A student may register for an exam after the suspension period, even if registration for the exam is during the current suspension. It is permitted to contact the course administrator for help with this. A student may also enrol in courses that start after the suspension period and register for new courses during the suspension period.

Internally, the university informs those affected by a suspension: reporting teachers and the student’s schools. Externally, the university informs CSN since the right to study assistance ceases during a suspension period.

Documents establishing a disciplinary case are generally public documents and can be requested from, for example, the media or employers.

A student returning from suspension may seek study guidance as usual. However, the student is not entitled to any extra examinations, extra supervision, or similar privileges.

Disciplinary consequences are intended to be considerable, and even a shorter suspension period can have far-reaching implications for the student’s planning and advancement.

A suspension or warning decision may be appealed to the general administrative court. The appeal must be in writing and written to the Administrative Court in Karlstad, Box 568, 651 12 Karlstad, but submitted to Örebro University, Office for Academic Policy, in Örebro.

The appeal reference looks like this:

A disciplinary decision can be appealed to the Administrative Court in Karlstad.

If you wish to appeal a decision, you must do so in writing. The appeal must be submitted or sent to Örebro University, Records Office, 701 82 Örebro – but addressed to the Administrative Court in Karlstad.

In the appeal, you must specify what decision you are appealing, specifying the decision’s case number, how you wish the decision to be changed and what circumstances are raised in support of the change request.

An appeal must have been received by Örebro University no later than three weeks after the student received the decision from the university.

The rules for disciplinary measures and appeals are stated in Chapters 10 and 12 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

The Discrimination Act defines the basis on which harassment can be investigated as a disciplinary matter. The Administrative Procedure Act includes the right to an interpreter, translation, and the university’s obligation to explain what happens so that the student understands. The Freedom of the Press Act defines an official document and regulates the right to access public official documents.

Campus Health Centre

The Campus Health Centre Student is run by Feelgood and works with health promotion efforts. Campus Health provides health advice and support from nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, and behaviourists. Students can receive support and help with health problems that may arise during their studies.

Campus Health Centre works preventively and with health problems that can arise during your studies – physically and mentally.
Campus Health Centre provides advice and support if you need to talk about smoking, snuff, or alcohol habits.
Campus Health can provide guidance on how your way of life affects your health in connection with the study situation.

If you have questions, thoughts or problems concerning your study situation or health, you are welcome to the Campus Health Centre. All our staff is bound by professional secrecy. All counselling contacts are free of charge.

Email:
Phone: 019-603 6105

Örebro Student Union

The student and doctoral student representative (ombud) are available for all members and students at Örebro University. The representative works with consultation and support in student legal issues, which may include everything from what you can do if your exam results arrive too late to help in the dialogue with the university if you feel discriminated against or treated unfairly. The student and doctoral student representative can also provide support during the process of a disciplinary investigation.

All undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students at Örebro University can contact the Örebro Student Union’s student and doctoral student union representatives for help and support, free of charge.

Student representative/Doctoral student representative

Email:

Phone: +46 (0)709-399921

University priest
Email:

Phone: 019-15 47 13, 076-772 03 34

Pastor
Email:

Phone: 070-696 79 18

University deacon
Email:

Phone: 019-15 47 01, text 076-772 03 24