FAQs

What exactly is academic integrity?

Academic integrity involves honest and ethical practice in an academic setting.

What is academic misconduct?

Academic misconduct is any action or attempted action which contravenes academic integrity and which may result in an unfair advantage or disadvantage for any member of the academic community or wider society.

How do I know if an action is considered to be academic misconduct?

Does the action result in an unfair advantage or disadvantage for you or your fellow students? If so, the action involves academic misconduct. QA220 Academic Integrity Policy describes actions which are considered to be academic misconduct.

What happens if I have been suspected of academic misconduct?

In simple terms, your work will be assessed to determine whether it is more likely than not that academic misconduct has taken place. An outcome will be decided and communicated to you after your work has been assessed. Each case is different, however, and the circumstances of the suspected academic misconduct will determine who investigates the case and how. The process is outlined in detail in QA220 Academic Integrity Policy. 

What is a Courageous Conversation?

If you are suspected of intentional academic misconduct, and have not had a previous breach of academic integrity, you will be invited to participate in a Courageous Conversation with the Academic Integrity Advisor in your discipline or school. The Courageous Conversation is an open discussion before any formal investigation takes place. You are encouraged to share full details of any misconduct at this stage. If you do so, the more serious outcomes for the suspected category of breach will not apply, in return for your honesty and integrity, and no formal investigation will take place.

Can I bring someone with me to a Courageous Conversation or other academic integrity meeting?

Yes. You may choose to bring another student or a Students’ Union representative as a support person, but you cannot bring a staff member or any person unconnected with the university. The support person may not participate in the interview or speak on your behalf. Their University of Galway email address and phone number must be provided in advance to the relevant interviewer. An interviewer may also choose to invite a staff member to attend a meeting as a non-participating observer.

Who is the Academic Integrity Advisor for my discipline or school?

You can find out via the Academic Integrity Advisor List.

What if I did not intend to breach academic integrity?

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to know and adhere to QA220 Academic Integrity Policy. You will be held responsible for your actions and will face a resulting outcome, regardless of intent.

But I did not understand what plagiarism means or what was expected of me.

In limited circumstances, your instructor can determine if inadvertent misconduct has taken place. They will decide on a suitable outcome and recommend training that will help you to avoid a similar breach in future. If you are unsure about plagiarism or what is expected of you in an assignment, speak to your instructor.

What exactly is plagiarism?

Plagiarism occurs when someone presents words, ideas, or work products that are taken from other sources as their own, without proper acknowledgement of the source.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: copying another’s work verbatim without clear acknowledgement; close paraphrasing of another’s work, including by changing a few words, without clear acknowledgement; presenting another’s ideas or concepts as your own without clear acknowledgement.

If you are unsure about plagiarism, speak to your instructor.

Does a high Turnitin similarity score mean that my assignment will be suspected of plagiarism?

It is important to understand that Turnitin does not check student assignments for plagiarism. Rather, its similarity score is a measure of the degree to which your assignment matches against other documents in the Turnitin database and on the internet. On its own, a Turnitin similarity score does not indicate the presence or absence of plagiarism, so the common practice of trying to reduce the similarity score is redundant. The score may provide guidance for instructors, however, that they should look more closely at the list of matches to see whether plagiarism is present in your assignment.  If the matching material is cited and referenced correctly, then plagiarism is not present.

For additional advice, see Turnitin’s resource on Interpreting the Similarity Score.

Are there resources that can help me to learn how to cite sources of information correctly?

Different disciplines will have different styles, conventions, and expectations about how to cite sources correctly, though the fundamental methods of citation are the same. Consult your Course Handbook, Head of Year, and/or Programme Director for specific guidance for your discipline. The Academic Writing Centre and James Hardiman Library also offer resources and services on this and other aspects of academic writing.

Can I use generative AI tools like ChaptGPT for my assignment?

You should not present the output of generative AI tools as your own work in any assignment: QA220 Academic Integrity Policy identifies this as misconduct.

In some circumstances, your instructor may permit a limited use of generative AI tools for certain aspects of preparing for your assignment, as long as you do not present generated outputs as your own work. If you are unsure about what is and is not permitted in a given assignment, speak to your instructor.

I know I did something wrong, but I was under pressure and stressed when I was completing my assignment so I took a short cut.

There are some common reasons why students cheat: poor time management, stress and overload, fear of failure, a desire to help friends, or a perception that everyone cheats. Ultimately, though, you are responsible for the work that you submit as your own and none of these factors is acceptable as an excuse for cheating.

If you are experiencing difficulties that are impacting your work, you should seek assistance before submitting an assignment; mitigating circumstances cannot be considered during the investigation of a suspected case of academic misconduct. Speak to your instructor, or contact Student Services, your Student Advisor, the Students’ Union, or the Global Galway if you require assistance. Visit the Resources section for a full list of support services.

What are the outcomes for a confirmed case of academic misconduct?

These depend on a number of factors: the type of misconduct, the level of the student, previous breaches of academic integrity, and intention to hide the breach. QA220 Appendix 1: Outcomes for Student Breach of Academic Integrity details the possible points assigned to these categories and the possible outcomes that can result for the student.

What happens after a confirmed case of academic misconduct?

When a case has been closed, the person making the decision will write to you with details of the decision, the outcome, and any further steps that you must take. These might include undertaking academic integrity training, or specific instructions for resubmitting an assignment.

When a student has been found to have engaged in inadvertent misconduct or intentional academic misconduct, their name and details of the case are entered on the Academic Misconduct Register. The register is managed by the Academic Integrity Office and access is restricted to authorised people only.

How long does it take to investigate a suspected case?

Each suspected case of academic misconduct is different and more complex cases can take longer to investigate. Every person involved in the academic integrity process should aim to complete each step in as timely a manner as possible. Full and prompt cooperation from the student who is suspect of misconduct will help to speed up the process.

Can I appeal an academic misconduct decision?

Yes. The precise process for investigating the appeal depends on the nature of the decision being appealed. Details of these separate processes are described in the Appeals information information sheet.

You may submit at most one appeal for a case and the decision of the appeal is final.

If further information about the misconduct is found during the appeal process, it is possible that a different (and potentially more serious) outcome can be determined.

What should I do if I see other students cheating?

Academic misconduct affects the entire university community. A student who gains an advantage on their assignment by cheating disadvantages other students on the course. If a member of the university community becomes aware of potential academic misconduct, they should feel empowered to contact the relevant instructor, Academic Integrity Advisor, or Academic Integrity Officer. This information will be treated in confidence and the university will do its best to ensure that there are no negative consequences for the person who brings this information forward.

What should I do if I suspect a student has breached academic integrity?

First, you should decide whether you believe this was a case of inadvertent misconduct or a case of intentional academic misconduct. If you think inadvertent misconduct has taken place, you may deal with the case according to the terms of QA220 Academic Integrity Policy. Suspected cases of intentional academic misconduct should be referred to the Academic Integrity Advisor in your discipline or school.

Who is the Academic Integrity Advisor for my discipline or school?

You can find out via the Academic Integrity Advisor List.

What is the process for investigating a suspected breach of academic integrity?

The process for investigating a suspected breach of academic integrity, whether inadvertent or intentional, is outlined in details in QA220 Academic Integrity Policy. An Academic Integrity Policy Flowchart is also available, but the policy is the authoritative source for the process.

Are there recommended email templates for corresponding with students about academic misconduct?

The Academic Integrity Policy Flowchart‌ contains links to recommended email templates for corresponding with students at different stages of the process.

Should I report a student for plagiarism if they have a high Turnitin similarity score?

It is important to understand that Turnitin does not check student assignments for plagiarism. Rather, its similarity score is a measure of the degree to which a student assignment matches against other documents in the Turnitin database and on the internet. On its own, a Turnitin similarity score does not indicate the presence or absence of plagiarism, so the common practice of trying to reduce the similarity score is redundant. The score may provide guidance for instructors, however, that they should look more closely at the list of matches to see whether plagiarism is present in a student assignment. If the matching material is cited and referenced correctly, then plagiarism is not present.

For additional advice, see our guidance on Interpreting the Similarity Score.

What is the university policy on students using generative artificial intelligence in their assignments?

Students should not present the output of generative AI tools as their own work in any assignment: QA220 Academic Integrity Policy identifies this as misconduct.

In some circumstances, an instructor may permit a limited use of generative AI tools for certain aspects of preparing for an assignment, as long as the student does not present generated outputs as their own work. If this is the case, make sure to communicate clearly with students (preferably in person and in writing) about what is and what is not permissible in their use of generative AI. You should also consider requiring students to submit a statement with their assignment, describing the precise nature, extent, and purpose of their use of generative AI.

The National Academic Integrity Network, NAIN, has published a helpful set of Guidelines for Educators on Generative Artificial Intelligence.

Should I use an AI detector to check students’ work for content generated by artificial intelligence?

At present, University of Galway does not authorise or advocate the use of so-called AI Detectors to check students’ work for the presence of generative AI content, as they have been shown to not be effective at present. You should never upload student work to third-party AI detection software, as this may constitute an improper use of personal data and/or intellectual property.

What breaches of academic integrity can I deal with myself?

Instructors can deal with suspected cases of inadvertent misconduct in student assignments. If you suspect a case of intentional academic misconduct, you should refer the case to the Academic Integrity Advisor in your discipline or school.

If my student has a case of inadvertent misconduct, what should I do?

You may hold a conversation with the student to confirm that the misconduct was inadvertent and to advise them on best practice for their future assignments. To close the case, you should notify the student via email that you have decided on one of the recommended outcomes from the Academic Integrity Policy, that they must complete academic integrity training, and that study skills training is also recommended. This recommended email template provides further details of the required and recommended training.

Following this, you should communicate the outcome of the case by email to the Academic Integrity Advisor in your discipline or school, including the details required by QA220 Academic Integrity Policy, for entry on the Academic Misconduct Register.

When should I refer a case of suspected academic misconduct to an Academic Integrity Advisor?

If you suspect an intentional case of academic misconduct, you should refer it to the Academic Integrity Advisor in your discipline or school.

Will I learn the outcome of a case after I have referred it to an Academic Integrity Advisor?

Instructors will be included on correspondence outlining the outcome of all suspected cases of academic misconduct.

Can a student appeal the outcome of an academic misconduct investigation?

Yes. The precise process for investigating the appeal depends on the nature of the decision
being appealed. Details of these separate processes are described in this Appeals information information sheet.

A student may submit at most one appeal for a case and the decision of the appeal is final.

If further information about the misconduct is found during the appeal process, it is possible that a different (and potentially more serious) outcome can be determined.