Statute No. 4 -- Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates

(approved 03/08/1981, amended 01/08/2003 and 07/09/2004)

1. The titles of degrees and other academic distinctions of the University to be awarded after examination shall be prescribed by regulation.

2. The conditions under which a degree, or diploma or certificate may be awarded to any person after examination shall be as prescribed by regulation.

3. Regulations may be made under this Statute providing for the surrender or revocation of a degree or a diploma as a condition of the award of a further degree or a diploma.

4. Where a person has complied with all the conditions for the award of a degree, diploma or certificate but had died before the award has been conferred, the degree, or diploma or certificate may be conferred posthumously.

5. Any degree which may be awarded after examination, and the degrees of Doctor of the University (DUniv), Doctor of Laws (LLD) and Doctor of Letters (DLitt), may be awarded to any person honoris causa.

6. All degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded before this Statute provided for them shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and are hereby confirmed.

7. (1) The University may revoke any degree, diploma or certificate, and may amend any grade in a unit of study, awarded to a person who has been found guilty of misconduct.

(2) For the purpose of this Statute, 'misconduct' means dishonesty in assessment, including plagiarism, unauthorised collusion or falsification of research results.

(3) Where it is alleged that a person awarded a degree, diploma or certificate by the University committed misconduct whilst a student of the University, the General Counsel may charge the student with misconduct and refer the charge to the Board of Discipline. Any such reference to the Board must be made within 12 months of the date of the award of the qualification, except that there shall be no time limit where the alleged misconduct occurred:

whilst the person was enrolled for a doctoral or research masters degree, or

as part of a thesis submitted for a bachelor honours degree or a coursework masters degree.

(4) The constitution, powers and proceedings of the Board of Discipline shall be in accordance with sections 6 and 7 of Statute No. 23 (Student Discipline), as if those provisions were included in this Statute. S.6.1 and 6.3 shall not apply. Any reference in that Statute to "the student" shall be read as a reference to the person alleged to have committed the misconduct.

(5) The burden of proving an allegation of misconduct rests with the University. The standard of proof is the balance of probabilities.

(6) If the Board of Discipline considers that the allegation of misconduct is trivial, it may decline to hear and determine it. The allegation is then dismissed.

(7) If the Board finds the misconduct proved under this Statute, the Board may either:

fail the person in the unit(s) to which the misconduct relates and revoke the degree, diploma or certificate awarded to that person; or

if the Board is of the opinion that the act of misconduct is trivial, or otherwise in exceptional circumstances, it may decline to record a finding of misconduct and/or to impose a penalty.

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The information contained on this page was correct as at 05/08/2008, but is subject to amendment without notice.

Document author: General Counsel
Document creation: 5 December 1996
Expiry date: NA
HTML last modified: 5 August 2008
Modified by: Samantha Summerton, Corporate & Senate Administrator, Office of Legal & Governance
Authorised by:Jeremy Rigg, General Counsel, Office of Legal & Governance
Disclaimer & Copyright Notice © 1996-2004 Murdoch University
URL: http://www.murdoch.edu.au /admin/legsln/statutes/statute04.html

Legislation

		Statute No. 4 -- Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates

1.	The titles of degrees and other academic distinctions of the University to be awarded after examination shall be prescribed by regulation.
2.	The conditions under which a degree, or diploma or certificate may be awarded to any person after examination shall be as prescribed by regulation.
3.	Regulations may be made under this Statute providing for the surrender or revocation of a degree or a diploma as a condition of the award of a further degree or a diploma.
4.	Where a person has complied with all the conditions for the award of a degree, diploma or certificate but had died before the award has been conferred, the degree, or diploma or certificate may be conferred posthumously.
5.	Any degree which may be awarded after examination, and the degrees of Doctor of the University (DUniv), Doctor of Laws (LLD) and Doctor of Letters (DLitt), may be awarded to any person honoris causa.
6.	All degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded before this Statute provided for them shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and are hereby confirmed.
7.	(1)	The University may revoke any degree, diploma or certificate, and may amend any grade in a unit of study, awarded to a person who has been found guilty of misconduct.
	(2)	For the purpose of this Statute, 'misconduct' means dishonesty in assessment, including plagiarism, unauthorised collusion or falsification of research results.
	(3)	Where it is alleged that a person awarded a degree, diploma or certificate by the University committed misconduct whilst a student of the University, the General Counsel may charge the student with misconduct and refer the charge to the Board of Discipline. Any such reference to the Board must be made within 12 months of the date of the award of the qualification, except that there shall be no time limit where the alleged misconduct occurred: whilst the person was enrolled for a doctoral or research masters degree, or as part of a thesis submitted for a bachelor honours degree or a coursework masters degree.
	(4)	The constitution, powers and proceedings of the Board of Discipline shall be in accordance with sections 6 and 7 of Statute No. 23 (Student Discipline), as if those provisions were included in this Statute. S.6.1 and 6.3 shall not apply. Any reference in that Statute to "the student" shall be read as a reference to the person alleged to have committed the misconduct.
	(5)	The burden of proving an allegation of misconduct rests with the University. The standard of proof is the balance of probabilities.
	(6)	If the Board of Discipline considers that the allegation of misconduct is trivial, it may decline to hear and determine it. The allegation is then dismissed.
	(7)	If the Board finds the misconduct proved under this Statute, the Board may either: fail the person in the unit(s) to which the misconduct relates and revoke the degree, diploma or certificate awarded to that person; or if the Board is of the opinion that the act of misconduct is trivial, or otherwise in exceptional circumstances, it may decline to record a finding of misconduct and/or to impose a penalty.