Important to know about cheating at the University
The Department of Biology has a common policy for how to prevent and handle cheating, and at the same time encourage independent and academic thinking among the students.
It is important for you as a student to understand not only that cheating is ”formally” wrong and may have grave consequences, but also that it prevents your own development in thinking and working in an academic way.
To ensure that you have understood the common rules you will at the start of some courses sign a statement that you have read and understood the rules. If you are in any way unsure about which rules that apply within a specific course you must discuss this with the course leader (e.g. regarding cooperation with fellow students during projects, what material you are allowed to bring to the examination plagiarism etc.).
You can read more about plagiarism here.
During written exams the following rules apply:
- You may be told where to sit in the locality.
- You are not allowed to leave the locality during the first 30/60 minutes and not arrive after the first 30/60 minutes. The course leader will decide whether the limit is 30 or 60 minutes (depending on how extensive the exam is).
- You are not allowed to have a jacket or bag at your desk.
- You are not allowed to have a cellular phone, I-pod or any other electronic devices available (should be left in jacket/bag away from your desk). It is thus not allowed to have e.g. a cellular phone in your pocket, even if the phone is turned off.
- Breaks for smoking or visits to the restroom are only allowed for one student at the time.
- If you are allowed to use a hand calculator this may be examined.
- Be prepared to show an ID.
For home exams the following rules apply:
The course leader will explain to you what is and is not allowed, e.g. regarding cooperation, how to cite and use text from other sources etc. If you are not sure about the rules ask the course leader. All exams will be handed in through Urkund, a database system designed to detect copied texts and plagiarism.
Rules for written projects, e.g. course or degree projects:
All projects larger than one week of work will be handed in through Urkund (see above). If you are not sure of that you have used citations and/or text from other sources in a correct way ask the course leader before you hand in your project.
Your responsibility as a student (according to the central rules of Lund University):
As a student you must inform yourself about the rules that apply during projects, exams etc. at the Department where you study. Please note that the rules may differ between Departments, as well as between courses within the same department.
This is what happens if cheating is suspected:
All cases of suspected cheating are reported by the Director of Studies to the Vice-Chancellor at Lund University. The Director of Studies at the Department informs the student that a report has been handed in.
The Vice-Chancellor initiates an investigation, and finally a disciplinary committee makes a decision. If a student has been considered to cheat he/she either receives a warning or is banned from all teaching activities at the University for up to six months.
Lund 2010-11-02
Jep Agrell, Director of Studies, Department of Biology
Page manager: Inger Ekström
Questions about the website: Web Group
Publisher: Department of Biology
Last modified 12 Feb 2013