There is no getting away from having to complete academic work when at University, and being prepared for the various deadlines you have coming up, can prove to be very useful.
But sometimes things can go wrong and stresses can occur. Receiving an accusation of committing an Academic Offence is one such stress but as an SU Advice Team we cannot recommend enough that you come and speak to us so that we can explain things and help you understand what this means, should you receive contact of this nature.
Many Academic Offences are believed not to be a deliberate attempt to cheat, but more a student not making themselves aware of referencing conventions or not proofreading their work to ensure that their work is fully referenced.
Plagiarism, collusion, and the use of AI are three of the most common accusations students are met with. You can see more information regarding the Academic Offences Procedure here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBZ21EIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--a836662d0cf46d260947bf78695085b53030324e/Assessment_Offences_and_Research_Misconduct_Procedure_2019-20.pdf
If you are accused of committing an Academic Offense, the email will come with a proforma in which you need to admit or contest the allegation. You can also submit a statement for the panel to consider, together with any evidence you have to support your position. Part of the service we can offer is to read your statement and offer comment prior to submission.
If you contest an allegation, you will be invited to a panel comprised of members of university staff and you will be asked questions about your work. Not only can a member of our team attend the meeting alongside you, but we can help prepare you for the meeting and give you an understanding of what to expect.
We have worked with lots of students going through this process and we understand how worrying it can be and want to do all that we can to reduce that worry and anxiety as much as we can, so please do get in touch if you find yourself in this position.