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All student conduct breaches must be reported via the Dixon webform.
For comprehensive details on the misconduct process, see
- Statute No. 10 – Student Discipline and the Student Misconduct Rules on Curtin’s legislation website
For general advice, refer to
- Managing student conduct guide [pdf – 5.5 MB]
- Flowchart for staff actions [pdf – 974kB]
If a staff member is unsure whether a student conduct issue should be managed as a warning or as alleged misconduct, they can seek advice from the Office of the Academic Registrar.
For questions about
- Breaches related to academic work, contact SCO@curtin.edu.au
- Non-academic breaches, contact SDAO@curtin.edu.au
Reporting
Accordion
If a staff member suspects a student has engaged in misconduct, they are required to report it to the Office of the Academic Registrar through the Dixon webform.
When lodging a case, the staff member must select the category (Academic Misconduct, Academic Record Fraud, or General Misconduct) that most appropriately aligns with the allegation. If the allegation falls into multiple categories and you are unsure how to progress, please contact the Office of the Academic Registrar for clarification.
The lodgement should include:
| 1. A clear description of the allegation, which will be communicated to the student in a factual, specific, and unbiased manner | |
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The allegation must not include:
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| 2. Any relevant documents or evidence | |
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For Academic Misconduct
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For Academic Record Fraud
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For General Misconduct |
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| 3. Details of the suspected misconduct, including dates and locations (where applicable) | |
Upon lodgement, the student will receive a system-generated notification. For example, for cases of Academic Misconduct, this notification advises them that their assessment has been referred to the Student Conduct Office for review due to potential academic integrity concerns. It explains the interim implications (paused marking and no withdrawal), outlines next steps if the case progresses, and directs the student to academic integrity resources and support services while the review is underway.
Application of an administrative hold (AH) grade
For Academic Misconduct cases, once confirmation is received that the case has been lodged in Dixon, staff should apply the Administrative Hold (AH) grade in the Grade Centre. The AH grade now replaces Grade Not Submitted (GNS) for all issues related to student misconduct.
Misconduct Process
Accordion
Upon receipt of a report of suspected misconduct, an Inquiry Officer will conduct a preliminary investigation. They will prepare a report for the Authorised Officer, which:
- Describes the circumstances of the case
- May include recommendations and supporting material to help with decision-making
Once the preliminary report is received, the Authorised Officer will review the case and decide one of the following:
- Dismiss the case if there is not enough evidence to proceed
- Any processes (e.g., marking an assessment) that ceased whilst the allegation was reviewed should recommence
- Issue a Warning if the situation can be resolved informally
- Start a formal process if further investigation is needed:
- Pathway 1 for less complex matters
- Pathway 2 for more complex matters and/or where a Category 2 Penalty might apply
If a student’s case is being handled through Pathway 1, here is what they can expect:
- A student will receive written notice through their student email and Official Communication Channel that includes:
- The details of each allegation
- The proposed finding that a student has engaged in misconduct
- Any proposed Category 1 Penalty
- A student will also receive all the information and documents needed to help them respond.
- A student will have 7 days to choose one of the following:
- Accept the proposed outcome and penalty — in this situation, the case will be closed, and they will not be able to appeal.
- Reject the proposed outcome and/or penalty. The student can respond to the allegations, and the Authorised Officer will review their case further.
- If the student does not respond within the timeframe specified, the Authorised Officer will proceed with a decision.
- The Authorised Officer will then review any written response a student has submitted and decide whether to:
- Dismiss the case
- Issue a Warning
- Confirm misconduct and apply a Category 1 Penalty
- Refer the case to the Student Conduct Panel for Pathway 2
- The student will be notified in writing of the final decision.
If a student’s case is referred to Pathway 2, here is what they can expect:
Investigation
- An Inquiry Officer will be assigned to investigate the allegations and prepare a report for the Student Conduct Panel.
- During the investigation, the student will receive:
- Written notice of each allegation
- Information about possible penalties
- All documents and evidence needed to help them respond
- A deadline of 7 days to submit a written response (extensions may be granted in some cases)
- The student may also be invited to an inquiry hearing (meeting) to clarify details about their case.
- This is an opportunity to respond to the allegation in person or through a video conference. The student will be given 7 days’ notice and an information sheet. The student may bring a support person to the hearing if they choose.
- Once the investigation is complete, the Inquiry Officer will prepare a report that includes:
- A summary of the facts
- The student’s written response (if provided)
- All relevant materials
- A recommendation on possible penalties (if applicable)
- The report is then sent to the Student Conduct Panel for review.
Panel review
- The Student Conduct Panel will consider:
- The Inquiry Officer’s report
- All case documentation
- The student’s written response (if submitted)
- The Panel will decide. They may:
- Seek further information from the Inquiry Officer
- Dismiss the case if misconduct has not occurred or if there is not enough evidence to make a determination
- Issue a Warning
- Find that misconduct occurred and apply one or more penalties
- The student will receive written notice of:
- The decision and the reasons behind it
- Any penalties applied
- How to appeal the decision and/or the penalties applied under the Misconduct Rules
Who is on the Student Conduct Panel?
If a student’s case is reviewed by the Student Conduct Panel, the members will be:
- A Panel Chair, appointed by the Academic Registrar
- A Staff Member
- A Student Representative
At least two members must be present for the panel meeting to proceed — the Chair and one other member. Decisions are made by majority vote.
If a penalty is being applied, the decision-maker will look at several factors to make sure it’s fair and appropriate, including:
- The type, seriousness, and frequency of the misconduct
- Whether the student has had any previous Warnings or misconduct findings
- Any circumstances that might make the situation better or worse (called mitigating or aggravating factors)
- Any other relevant information that helps them make a fair decision
Category 1 penalties
A Category 1 Penalty may involve one or more of the following actions:
- A formal Warning (admonishment)
- An educative task (e.g., completing a module or activity to learn about academic integrity)
- Writing an apology (approved by the University) to the affected party
- Temporary suspension of rights or access, such as:
- Being excluded from certain classes (e.g., lectures, tutorials)
- Being banned from parts of the campus or education centres
- Not being allowed to join university activities
- Loss of access to university services or facilities
- Exclusion from enrolling in specific units or courses
- Revising and resubmitting their thesis (before submission or examination)
- Loss of credit for prior recognised learning in a unit
- Academic work penalties, which may include:
- Fixing and resubmitting work by a deadline. If the student doesn’t comply, they will receive a reduced or zero grade
- A cap on the maximum mark the student can receive
- Receiving a reduced mark, zero mark, or a Fail grade for an assessment
- Any other reasonable penalty approved by the Academic Registrar
Category 2 penalties
A Category 2 Penalty is more serious and may include one or more of the following:
- ANN grade (Annulment) for one or more units
- Failing their thesis
- Withdrawal of their offer of admission
- Cancellation of their enrolment in any unit(s)
- Termination of their course admission
- Expulsion from the University
- Ban on future enrolment in units or courses
- Rescinding their award (e.g., degree or certificate)
- A fine of up to $1,000
- Any other reasonable penalty approved by the Academic Registrar
Once a student’s misconduct case is finalised, any penalties (e.g., grade changes) should be processed by the University within five business days. Details of their misconduct case will be kept in the University’s records, managed by the Office of the Academic Registrar. The outcome will not appear on the student’s Academic Transcript or Award Certificate. However, some penalties, such as Annulment (ANN), course termination, or expulsion, are recorded in the University’s official records.
A student is responsible for completing the required penalty actions by the deadline given in their outcome letter.
- If the student does not complete them on time, a sanction may be placed on their enrolment. This can block access to results and future unit enrolment.
- Once the student submits proof of completion as instructed, the sanction should be removed within two business days.
For full details on penalties, refer to Statute No. 10 – Student Discipline and the Student Misconduct Rules on the Curtin legislation website.
If a student has received a finding or penalty for student misconduct, they may be able to appeal, but there are guidelines and timeframes to follow.
Appeal timeframes
- If their case was handled through Pathway 1, the student has 7 days to appeal.
- If their case went through Pathway 2, the student has 14 days to appeal.
- In some circumstances, a student may be given more time. This is decided by the Academic Registrar.
Grounds for appeal
A student can appeal if they meet one or more of the following conditions:
- Procedural fairness was not followed, such as:
- The student was not given a chance to respond
- The student was not properly notified about the case
- The process did not follow the misconduct rules
- The decision was based on a major factual error
- The student has new evidence that:
- Is relevant to the case
- Was not available or known to the student when they responded
- Could reasonably affect the outcome
- Another reason not specified above.
Not having evidence that could have been found earlier is not a valid reason to appeal. While we understand that this process may sometimes feel uncomfortable for students, it is a serious matter with potential consequences. A student is expected to be forthcoming and provide all relevant information during the initial process.
How a student can submit an appeal
A student’s appeal must:
- Clearly state which appeal grounds they are relying on
- Explain their reasons
- Include any supporting documents
- Be submitted within the required timeframe
The Office of the Academic Registrar will review their appeal to see if it meets the requirements. If so, their case will be reviewed by an appropriate Authorised Officer or the Student Conduct Appeal Panel. If it does not, or if it is unlikely to succeed, their appeal will be rejected.
Appeal hearing
A student will be offered an opportunity to meet with the Student Conduct Appeal Panel in a hearing. The Student Conduct Appeal Panel Chair oversees the hearing, ensuring a fair and orderly process. The student will be notified at least 7 days in advance of the hearing date. The student is welcome to bring a support person. However, they do not speak on behalf of the student unless the Chair gives permission. Even with a support person, the Chair may still ask the student questions directly. If the student does not attend the hearing, the Chair may decide to continue without them.
If the hearing is held by video call, the Chair will ask the student and any support persons to turn on their cameras and take steps to confirm their identities. If the student or a witness does not properly identify themselves, the Chair may ask them to leave the hearing. If anyone behaves in a way that’s disruptive or undermines the process, the Chair can ask them to leave. If the student or a witness is asked to leave, the hearing may continue without them.
The hearing will focus only on the grounds a student listed in their appeal. The student may be allowed to update their appeal during the hearing if the Panel Chair agrees.
The Panel will consider:
- The Inquiry Officer’s report and the student’s response
- All case documentation
- The appeal notice
- Any submissions from the student or the University
- Any other relevant information the Panel decides to include
Outcome
The Panel can:
- Uphold (keep) the original decision
- Vary (change) the decision or penalty (note that the Panel might decide to increase the penalty that has been applied to a student)
- Set aside (dismiss) the decision completely
The student will receive written notice of the outcome and the reasons for the decision as soon as possible. The Panel’s decision is final. There is no further internal review or appeal pathway within the University.
Who is on the Student Conduct Appeal Panel?
If a student’s case is reviewed by the Student Conduct Appeal Panel, the members will be:
- An Appeal Panel Chair, appointed by the Academic Registrar
- A Pro Vice-Chancellor (or their delegate)
- A Student Representative
At least two members must be present for the panel meeting to go ahead — the Chair and one other member. Decisions are made by majority vote.
If a student believes that their case was not handled fairly, they can file a complaint with the National Student Ombudsman (NSO). The NSO is independent from the University and does not charge any fees.
The Ombudsman will usually look at whether the University:
- Followed its own policies and procedures
- Treated a student fairly and reasonably
The Ombudsman will not make a new decision but may recommend that the University reconsider the case based on their findings.