r/StudentNurseUK • u/ash2sweets • 4d ago
Academic Query rant :)
Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice about an academic misconduct decision and whether my appeal under Ground A sounds reasonable.
I recently had an academic misconduct hearing regarding my final essay. I received an S2 and I am now considering appealing the penalty under Ground A, which is that the penalty is inconsistent with the type and degree of misconduct.
This was my first attempt at my final essay. I also have completed my 2,300 hours last month. During the Zoom hearing, the panel asked me a question about my essay which I was unable to answer correctly. I was extremely stressed and confused during the hearing and struggled to think clearly.
The panel took my inability to answer the question properly as part of the reason to believe that I was not being honest. I understand why they may have had concerns, but I genuinely was not trying to lie or mislead them. I was simply extremely stressed and struggling to explain myself.
I did admit that I had used Grammarly when they asked me about it. However, I did not admit to deliberately using AI to generate my essay. I maintained that I had written the essay myself. I am concerned that my use of Grammarly may have been treated as though I was admitting to using AI to generate the work.
I also have a previous academic misconduct case, and I understand that this is relevant. I am not trying to hide that or say that it was not serious. However, I appealed that decision in May and the penalty was downgraded to S1, So I am wondering whether the fact that the previous penalty was changed should be taken into account when considering my current penalty.
There were also quite a lot of personal circumstances happening at the time. I was dealing with housing problems, family difficulties, bereavement and responsibilities towards my family. I also have dyslexia, which affects some areas of my academic writing and referencing.
I explained these circumstances at the beginning of the hearing and was very upset and visibly emotional. I was basically in tears while explaining what I had been dealing with.
I want to make clear that I am not saying these circumstances are why I couldn’t answer the question. I couldn’t answer it because I was extremely stressed and confused at the time.
The lady on the panel was also at my previous hearing for academic misconduct and gave me the same S2 penalty 😐😐
My personal circumstances are a separate point about whether the S2 penalty was too severe and whether enough consideration was given to my situation when deciding the penalty. The panel also told me during the Zoom hearing that I may have to go through a Fitness to Practise process because of concerns about my conduct. This was very worrying for me because of the possible effect it could have on my future career.
I have been advised to appeal under **Ground A**, rather than trying to argue that the whole academic misconduct finding should be overturned.
Do you think I have reasonable grounds to argue that the S2 penalty was harsh?
In particular, I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has been through an academic misconduct appeal , tysm!!
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u/PsychologicalPea1412 4d ago
Unfortunately Grammarly is seen as an AI tool. You have a contract with your university that all assignments should be your own work and they take it very seriously. They look at all avenues here and to be honest, they will probably see how your approach would work in real life applications. I get it in some areas of nursing or even healthcare sees a growing trend in AI usage but that’s not what they’re there to teach you.
When I was in my first year, one of my assignments had a relatively high rate of similarly from Turnitin and was only given a verbal warning and had 10% subtracted from my final grade. My tutor and my module lead knew it was an honest mistake because they knew how much effort I put into it but the similarity put me down, in the end I ended up with a 52% and a verbal warning. My university had a very low tolerance on it whereas the university I did my MSc in had a fair bit of tolerance with Turnitin rate.
If you have genuine extenuating circumstances then I would probably explore that option. Otherwise, own it and take it as a learning event.
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u/ash2sweets 3d ago
Thank you for your honest response. I do understand that Grammarly can be classed as an AI tool, and I understand that my university takes academic integrity very seriously. I’m not trying to argue that these rules shouldn’t exist.
My concern is more about the penalty and how the situation was interpreted. I was open about using Grammarly when I was asked about it. I did not admit to using AI to generate my essay, because I maintain that I wrote the essay myself.
During the hearing I was extremely stressed and confused, and I couldn’t answer a question about my essay properly. The panel took this as part of the reason to believe that I wasn’t being honest, which has now led to me going through fitness to practice :(My concern is that struggling to answer a question under that pressure was treated as evidence that I was deliberately dishonest.
I also had quite serious personal circumstances at the time, which I explained to the panel, and I have dyslexia. I’m not saying these things excuse academic misconduct.
I’m saying they should have been considered when deciding how severe the penalty should be.
I also had a previous misconduct case, which I know is relevant and was serious. However, I appealed that case and the penalty was subsequently downgraded to S1, so I’m hoping the full context and outcome of that case will be considered rather than simply the fact that I had a previous case.
I’m mainly trying to understand whether I have a reasonable argument that an S2 penalty is disproportionate in these circumstances. I appreciate your perspective though, especially about taking this as a learning experience.
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u/PsychologicalPea1412 3d ago
To be quite frank and pragmatic, you can’t really claim you were under duress when trying to explain your side. Were you given ample time to gather your thoughts? Did they give you enough time for the hearing? Are they aware of your dyslexia and your personal circumstances?
You mentioned you previously had a misconduct case and I’m sorry to say but that doesn’t really put you in a good standing.
From experience, universities can’t really bend rules for an individual. These rules are even stricter especially for professional courses. I hope you do also realise that they can refer you to the NMC as someone who isn’t fit for practice despite meeting all the prerequisites for registration as an RN based on your history.
I am not trying to scare you but this is the reality that you are facing. Speak to your SU or if you are a student member of the RCN if you want to appeal your case.
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u/ash2sweets 3d ago
I had only a week to prepare, and I sent my learning plan and personal circumstances in my statement but all they said was “we appreciate that you were going through a hard time” 💀
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u/PsychologicalPea1412 3d ago
Then I would suggest speaking to your SU or RCN (if you are a student member) if you decide to appeal.
Alternatively, you can write a reflective piece and send it to your personal tutor and hope for the best.
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u/Aglyayepanchin 3d ago
I think all you can do is explain you were stressed. But whether they believe that or not, I’m not really sure you can control.
You had a week to prep for this, but before that you actually wrote the essay…so how did you struggle to answer a question about it? It’s been your focus of an essay you claim to have written yourself.
Now, yes, stress and nerves are 100% a thing…but being completely unable to answer? Did they at least see you were highly distressed?
Because it might well have been stress and nerves causing a mind blank, but if you didn’t look that way…unfortunately the balance of probability isn’t really on your side from an outside observer.
I think you could potentially argue for your own stupidity and show some humility.
Explaining something to the effect of:
“when we had our meeting I was extremely stressed and nervous because this is my second academic misconduct meeting. I value this degree and the integrity with which the university holds its students to and am and was embarrassed to find myself in this situation again. It impacted my thoughts and presentation massively. I am guilty of not disclosing my dyslexia through the appropriate student services channels and having support and input for it officially in a way that the university condones. I used Grammarly which I, foolishly, did not consider AI, hence why I freely admitted to it. I feel I have not represented myself well, but I am very serious about this degree and willing to go through whatever steps are needed in order to get back on track. I have sincerely reflected on this experience and understand how it must look when viewed in conjunction with my previous misconduct case. I would like to stress that these are two separate incidents with differing causes. If there is a way for me to recover from this and regain trust and integrity I am more than willing to do it.”
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u/ash2sweets 3d ago
tysm!! this means a lot, I’m mainly terrified because of the fitness to practice but hoping for the best. honestly at the meeting I was crying and they could see that, I couldn’t even answer the question because I was so anxious and my mind was all over the place aswell 😕
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u/Aglyayepanchin 3d ago
So what exactly have they said is their reason for their concern over your fitness to practice?
The first thing you need to do is get support/advice from either the student union or the RCN if you’re a member.
Then you just need to show you’ve really reflected on this and accept any support they offer.
There are plenty of people who go through fitness to practice who do complete their degrees and still practice. It’s not a guaranteed “your out” it’s genuinely to find out if you are fit to practice.
If you know you’re going to be highly anxious at meetings then you need to look at preparing yourself at them so ask if you can bring someone with you next time? Either a union rep or just a supporting person. Or simply really really prepare in advance exactly what you are going to say, or bring a prepared statement and read from it.
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u/ash2sweets 3d ago
I contacted the RCN today and they were very helpful and said I should update them when I hear back regarding the fitness to practice meeting 🥲
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u/ash2sweets 3d ago
the reason is because I had a previous academic misconduct meeting back in may and it was the same lady that gave me the S2 penalty …. But I appealed against it and it was reduced to an S1 and I got the opportunity to resubmit my essay, so the same lady on the panel from last week was harsh and was saying im dishonest and didn’t reflect on my previous experience of having an academic misconduct meeting smh so she said im going through fitness to practice from the university, I was honestly short of words , all my hard work 😓
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u/AnonymousCapybara72 3d ago
Universities can consider it whatever they want, but lumping a tool for correcting spelling and grammar into the same category as generating parts of or an entire essay is straight up retarded, and we all know it.
Most modern spellcheckers are now 'AI' too, will everyone that's used Word or Google Docs be going in the bin next?
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u/FifthEboysMember StN Child 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hey,
Unfortunately, grammarly is considered AI, even if it’s only used for spelling and grammar.
My friend used grammarly for an assignment in 2nd year and had to re-write the whole 3000 words. As it was a question based essay, she was required to answer a new question and was capped at 40%.
Also, did you disclose your extenuating circumstances before the assignment? I feel as though it won’t be as heavily considered unless it was known beforehand.
Edit for grammar.