The College is in the process of creating and procuring supporting resources for the policy.

Transcription

1 Full revision of the Academic honesty and plagiarism policy Why is the Academic honesty and plagiarism policy undergoing a revision? College education policies are routinely reviewed to consider feedback and ensure currency. Feedback received since implementation in 2008 and research into best practice conducted during the scoping phase indicate that the Academic honesty and plagiarism policy s scope should be broadened to encompass all types of academic misconduct. As such, the policy is undergoing a full revision as per the education policy development process. How is the policy being revised? A Development Working Group (DWG) chaired by Prof Malcolm Battin, and comprising of Fellows from Australia and New Zealand was convened. DWG meetings were held in May and August 2015 resulting in the development of the Academic integrity in training policy and process. The new documents apply to a broader range of academic misconduct, including but not limited to, obtaining unfair advantage, distribution of restricted material, collaboration in an individual assignment, falsification, plagiarism and misrepresentation. Key features of the new policy and process Academic integrity in training policy Applies to RACP Division, Faculty, Chapter trainees and candidates participating in RACP selection and assessment processes. Academic integrity process College members are expected to adhere to the process in cases of suspected academic misconduct. Defines: academic integrity, academic misconduct and RACP training programs the principles that underpin academic integrity: the roles and responsibilities of Trainees, Supervisors and training program directors, College committees and College staff The process when: identifying a suspected case of academic misconduct gathering and considering information relevant to the alleged incident committee decision Support resources The College is in the process of creating and procuring supporting resources for the policy. These include: a decision making aid for committees when dealing with academic misconduct plagiarism detecting software assessment cover sheets Communication and implementation This policy has been assessed as having a moderate to high impact, necessitating a communication period of 6-12 months. A communication and implementation plan will be developed, which will include appropriate transitional arrangements to ensure that there is no disadvantage to trainees. Have your say on the development of the policy and process Consultation is open until 23 November 2015 after which a Peer Review Working Group will be convened to review the consultation feedback and recommend final draft revised policies for College approval. Please provide feedback either in writing to Policy@racp.edu.au or via the online survey: 1

2 Academic Integrity in Training Policy Name Department Approved By Approval Date Academic Integrity in Training Services College Effective Date Review Date Policy Status: Version 2 <<All education policies should be reviewed every 3 years unless otherwise indicated>> 1. Purpose and Scope The purpose of this policy is to set out what academic integrity means in the context of RACP training. The policy defines the principles that underpin the RACP approach to academic integrity and the roles and responsibilities of the relevant parties. This policy applies to RACP Division, Faculty and Chapter trainees and candidates participating in RACP selection and assessment processes. 2. Definitions 2.1 Academic Integrity Adherence to the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility during the course of all training program activities Academic Misconduct Academic misconduct is a breach of academic integrity. This includes, but is not limited to, obtaining unfair advantage, distribution of restricted material, collaboration in an individual assignment, falsification, plagiarism and misrepresentation. 2.3 RACP Training Program Refers to any of the education programs of the RACP s Divisions, Faculties and Chapters. Academic integrity is required and expected in all training program activities, including but not limited to applications to training programs, examinations, learning experiences, assessment tasks and processes, admission to membership of the College, and reporting or recording of any information to the College. 1 International Centre for Academic Integrity RACP Policy: Academic Integrity (Effective <DD Month YYYY>) Page 1 of 3

3 3. Principles of Academic Integrity The International Centre for Academic Integrity has determined key principles of academic integrity. The College has adapted these principles to guide its trainees in their academic endeavours (education and research activities) and to help cultivate a culture of integrity Honesty The College is committed to scholarly enterprise and advancing knowledge through honesty in learning, teaching and research. The College expects its trainees to act honestly in their academic work, including assessments and research, and in their academic interactions with members of the College, including supervisors and assessors Trust The College recognises the importance of cultivating an academic community based on mutual trust. The College relies upon a climate of trust to engender collaboration, to share ideas freely, and to ensure that members of the College and those outside the College community can trust in the value and meaning of the College s training, research, and the qualifications it issues. College membership and society trust the College as an education provider to guard the integrity of the medical profession by ensuring its trainees conduct themselves with academic integrity in their training. The College in turn trusts its trainees to act honestly in their academic endeavours Fairness The College provides clear and transparent standards, procedures, and assessment mechanisms to promote equality of opportunity and support fairness in the treatment and interaction between its members. The College s policies and procedures adhere to the principles of procedural fairness, and support the presumption of innocence. The College will provide consistent and just responses to breaches of academic integrity Respect To be respected as an education institution, the College must uphold high standards of ethical conduct in learning, teaching and research. The College relies on a climate of mutual respect to advance knowledge and learning. Respect for the College involves avoiding unfair academic advantages and recognising others work. Personal respect comes from an active commitment to learning and honest engagement in the educational program Responsibility Trainees of the College accept the responsibility to individually and collectively uphold the principles of academic integrity. Trainees are expected to familiarise themselves with College policy and expectations, and uphold the standards of academic integrity in accordance with these expectations. This includes supporting practices that promote academic integrity, preventing academic misconduct where possible, and reporting discovered incidents of academic misconduct to the College. The College in turn has an obligation to respond to reported incidents of academic misconduct, and to apply its policies and procedures consistently and in accordance with procedural fairness. RACP Policy: Academic Integrity (Effective <DD Month YYYY>) Page 2 of 3

4 4. Roles and Responsibilities 4.1. Trainees Trainees are expected to comply with the principles of this policy. Trainees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of academic reports in their possession. It is the responsibility of each trainee to declare that they have complied with the Policy on the appropriate College documentation Supervisors and Training Program Directors Supervisors and Training Program Directors have a responsibility to uphold the College s standards of academic integrity and are required to bring all suspected cases of academic misconduct to the attention of Services/College staff College s The role of College s is to review alleged incidents of academic misconduct, to conduct appropriate investigation of alleged incidents and to determine the outcome for those found to have engaged in academic misconduct College Support Staff Suspected academic misconduct is reported to College Staff, who are responsible for contacting the appropriate College and supporting the administration of the process. 5. Monitoring and Evaluation This policy will be monitored and evaluated by Trainee Programs / Policy Unit of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 6. Related Policies and Other Documents a) Reconsideration, Review and Appeals Process By-Law b) Progression through Training Policy c) Trainee in Difficulty Support Policy 7. Acknowledgements In addition to the numerous Fellows, trainees, and working groups who developed the draft version of this policy, the RACP would like to acknowledge and thank those who participated in the consultation process as well as members of the Development Working Group and Peer Review Working Group. Revision History Version Date Author Approved by Sections Modified 1 Jan 2010 Expert Advisory Group, Assessment College 2 College New Policy All Details of Amendments N/A Full revision RACP Policy: Academic Integrity (Effective <DD Month YYYY>) Page 3 of 3

5 Academic Integrity in Training Process Process Name Department Approved By Approval Date Academic Integrity Process Services College Effective Date Review Date Policy Status: Version 2 <<All education policies should be reviewed every 3 years unless otherwise indicated>> 1. Purpose and Scope of the Process 1.1 College Members are required to adhere to the Academic Integrity in Training Process as soon as a case of suspected academic misconduct is identified. 1.2 The RACP Academic Integrity Policy requires that all trainees (Division, Faculty and Chapter) are aware of their responsibilities in relation to academic integrity, and that all cases of alleged academic misconduct are dealt with consistently, openly, justly and fairly using an appropriate process. 2. Identifying a Suspected Case of Academic Misconduct 2.1 Suspected or alleged cases of academic misconduct may be brought to the attention of the RACP through a variety of sources including Fellows, supervisors, assessors, examiners, trainee peers, College committees, College staff or members of the public. 2.2 Regardless of how a suspected case of academic misconduct is identified the person reporting the alleged misconduct is required to provide to the College a confidential written account of the incident. 2.3 Details of the alleged misconduct will be reported to the relevant College body or its delegate(s) which may vary depending on the nature and severity of the alleged academic misconduct. 3. Gathering and Considering Information Relevant to the Alleged Incident 3.1 The College body or its delegate(s) will review the report of alleged academic misconduct. 3.2 The trainee will be notified in writing of the allegation of academic misconduct. RACP Policy: Academic Integrity (Effective <DD Month YYYY>) Page 1 of 3

6 3.3 The trainee will be invited to respond to the allegation in writing and provide any relevant additional information. 3.4 The trainee will be allowed at minimum 14 days to respond in writing to the allegation. 3.5 The College body or its delegate(s) will convene to review the report of alleged academic misconduct together with any additional information, the trainee s training record, the trainee s response to the allegation and any additional information provided by the trainee. 3.6 The College body or its delegate(s) may seek additional information from the individual(s) who reported the allegation of misconduct, from the trainee, or from other relevant sources of information. 3.7 If the alleged misconduct occurs during an examination the College may withhold the result pending the decision of the relevant College body. 3.8 The College body or its delegate(s) will consider the information available including any aggravating and mitigating factors which have been identified including: - The nature of the offence - The character of the trainee - General deterrence 4. Decision 4.1. Following consideration of the information available, the College body or its delegate(s) will make a decision which will be communicated to the trainee as soon as possible or within four weeks of its meeting Where the College body or its delegate(s) determines that the trainee has engaged in academic misconduct this will be recorded in trainee s College training file. Depending on the nature and severity of the case the decision may be communicated to other medical registration authorities The College body or its delegate(s) may determine one or more of a range of actions and penalties appropriate for the nature and severity of the misconduct including but not limited to: a) No further action or penalty b) Reprimand or warning (oral or written) c) Referral to the Trainees in Difficulty Support Pathway d) Counselling and/or ethics training e) Resubmission of the assignment f) Reduction of the assessment grade g) Non-certification of training period h) Suspension or exclusion from training program for a certain period of time i) Discontinuation from training program. RACP Policy: Academic Integrity (Effective <DD Month YYYY>) Page 2 of 3

7 5. Appeals Rights of appeal and procedures on appeal are to be found in the College By-Law: Reconsideration, Review and Appeals Process. 6. Related Policies and Other Documents a) Academic Integrity in Training Policy b) Reconsideration, Review and Appeals Process By-Law c) Progression through Training Policy d) Trainee in Difficulty Support Policy 7. Acknowledgements In addition to the numerous Fellows, trainees, and working groups who developed the draft version of this policy, the RACP would like to acknowledge and thank those who participated in the consultation process as well as members of the Development Working Group and Peer Review Working Group. Revision History Version Date Author Approved by Sections Modified 1 Jan 2010 Expert Advisory Group, Assessment College 2 College New Policy All Details of Amendments N/A Full revision RACP Policy: Academic Integrity (Effective <DD Month YYYY>) Page 3 of 3