Guidelines on Cheating and Plagiarism

QUICK GUIDE FOR TEACHERS: WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT CHEATING OR PLAGIARISM

1. When suspicions arise, the teacher should first assess the situation, discuss the matter with the student and request an explanation. If the teacher after discussing the matter concludes that the student has acted out of carelessness or ignorance without intending to deceive, it is enough that the teacher instructs the student of the correct procedure and considers the deficiencies and weaknesses of the work in the grading process.If there is reason to suspect deliberate cheating, the correct procedure is as follows:
2. After discussing the matter with the student the teacher must notify the head of department or, in a faculty with no departments or institutes, the discipline coordinator in writing (see form template 1, Written notification of an allegation of cheating to be submitted to the head of department or, in a faculty with no departments or institutes, to the discipline coordinator) of his or her allegations.
3. The head of department or, in a faculty with no departments or institutes, the discipline coordinator notifies the student in writing about the allegations and arranges an opportunity for him or her to provide an explanation (see form template 2, Request for information to be addressed to a student on the grounds of an allegation of cheating).
4. The head of department or the discipline coordinator will then organise an oral hearing, of which minutes shall be kept. Present at the hearing will be the student, a support person (if requested by the student), the teacher presenting the allegations, the head of department or, in a faculty with no departments or institutes, the discipline coordinator, as well as an administrative staff member.
5. If the student admits to cheating or the cheating is considered to be otherwise sufficiently substantiated, the student shall be deemed to have failed the whole study unit. The teacher will make the decision to fail the study unit (see form template 3, Decision on failing a student for cheating).
6. The head of department or the discipline coordinator delivers the minutes of the hearing to the dean of the faculty.
7. If the dean deems that the matter requires further investigation, he or she may organise another hearing. The dean may also report the cheating to the Rector, who may issue a written caution to the student. The Rector may also refer the matter to the University board. If the student’s negligence is serious in nature or if he or she continues cheating after receiving the written caution, the University board may suspend the student for a period of up to one year.

See form templates in ALMA https://alma.helsinki.fi/doclink/228587