Number of plagiarism cases

Ben Rolfe made this Freedom of Information request to University of Bristol Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was refused by University of Bristol.

Dear University of Bristol,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information.
1- The number of plagiarism cases you have had since 2016, broken down by each academic year.
2- A breakdown of the number of cases in each penalty Band, outlined by section 6.4.6 of your University Assessment regulations, again by each year.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Rolfe

University of Bristol FOI mailbox, University of Bristol

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References

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2. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/s...
3. https://www.hesa.ac.uk/
4. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/tailored-datasets
5. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/foi/

SecOInformation Governance, University of Bristol

Dear Ben Rolfe, 

 

Freedom of Information Request (our reference FOI2393).

 

We refer to your Freedom of Information request dated 20/02/2023.

 

You requested the following information:

 

“…1- The number of plagiarism cases you have had since 2016, broken down
by each academic year.

2- A breakdown of the number of cases in each penalty Band, outlined by
section 6.4.6 of your University Assessment regulations, again by each
year...”

 

University’s Response

  

Further to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”) we
confirm that the information requested is held by the University of
Bristol (the “University”). However, the information is exempt by virtue
of section 12 of the Act.

 

Under the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit
and Fees) Regulations 2004, a request for information can be refused where
the total cost of locating, collating and providing you with the
information is greater than £450 (equivalent to 18 hours' work). When
calculating whether or not a request exceeds the appropriate limit it is
necessary to consider the time it is likely to take to establish if we
hold the information, locate it, retrieve and extract it.  

The requested information is not centrally recorded by the University. The
records are held in local systems, as depending on the nature of the
allegation, investigations in plagiarism occur in Schools, Faculties or at
a higher level. In order to locate, retrieve and extract this information
we would need to ask each school, faculty and higher level representatives
to review their records, to do this would exceed the appropriate
time cost limit under the Act.

 

If you narrow the scope of your request, we may be able to provide the
information free of charge because it would cost less than the appropriate
limit to do so. For example, you may be interested in a particular school
or faculty. Any reformulated request will be treated as a fresh FOI
request.

Internal Review Procedure

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, then you have a
right under Section 50 of the Act to request an internal review.  All such
requests must be sent to us within 40 days, and must clearly state our
reference number (at the top of this email) and your reason for requesting
an internal review.  We will aim to respond to your request for an
internal review within 20 working days of receipt.

 

Your request for an internal review should be sent
to [University of Bristol request email], quoting your FOI reference number.
Alternatively, you could post it to:

 

Director of Legal Services

Secretary’s Office

University of Bristol

Beacon House

Queens Road

Bristol

BS8 1QU

 

Information Commissioners Office

 

Should you remain dissatisfied with the final outcome of the internal
review then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (the
“ICO”) for an independent review.  The ICO is the Government’s Independent
Body responsible for overseeing the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the
Data Protection Act 2018 and The Environmental Information Regulations
2004.

 

Please note the ICO will only review cases that have exhausted the
University’s internal review procedure. All correspondence to the ICO must
quote the University’s reference number and your reasons for your
appeal.  The ICO’s contact details are as follows:

 

The Information Commissioners Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

More information can be found at the ICO’s website
at [1]http://www.ico.org.uk

 

Kind Regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

University of Bristol

To: SecOInformation Governance ([University of Bristol request email])
From: Ben Rolfe ([FOI #951407 email])
Title: Freedom of Information request - Number of plagiarism cases
Sent: 20/02/2023 12:04

Dear University of Bristol,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the
following information.
1- The number of plagiarism cases you have had since 2016, broken down by
each academic year.
2- A breakdown of the number of cases in each penalty Band, outlined by
section 6.4.6 of your University Assessment regulations, again by each
year.
Yours faithfully,
Ben Rolfe
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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.org.uk/

Dear SecOInformation Governance,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the
following information for the School of Humanities.
1- The number of plagiarism cases you have had since 2016, broken down by
each academic year.
2- A breakdown of the number of cases in each penalty Band, outlined by
section 6.4.6 of your University Assessment regulations, again by each
year.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Rolfe

SecOInformation Governance, University of Bristol

1 Attachment

Dear Ben Rolfe, 
Please can you confirm that your request only focuses on cases handled by
the University Academic Misconduct Panel (UAMP), as set out in section
6.4.6 of the University Assessment Regulations. 
Please forward this clarification at your earliest convenience.  Until
such time as this clarification is received, we shall put your request on
hold and the statutory time limit will not apply.
If I do not hear from you within 10 working days I shall take it that you
do not wish to pursue this request and will consider the request closed.
Kind Regards,
FOI Team
SecOInformation Governance | University of Bristol |

 

To: SecOInformation Governance
([University of Bristol request email])
From: Ben Rolfe ([FOI #951407 email])
Title: Re: Response to FOI Request - FOI2393
E-mail title: Re: Response to FOI Request - FOI2393 (Id nr.: 2005108)
Sent: 14/03/2023 09:33

Dear SecOInformation Governance,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the
following information for the School of Humanities.
1- The number of plagiarism cases you have had since 2016, broken down by
each academic year.
2- A breakdown of the number of cases in each penalty Band, outlined by
section 6.4.6 of your University Assessment regulations, again by each
year.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Rolfe

show quoted sections

Dear SecOInformation Governance,
After looking back over the University Assessment Regulations, if possible I would like cases handled by both the University Academic Misconduct Panel (UAMP) and the Faculty Academic Misconduct Panel (FAMP). If this is too much data to gather then just the data from the UAMP will be sufficient.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Rolfe

SecOInformation Governance, University of Bristol

Dear Ben Rolfe, 

 

Freedom of Information Request (our reference FOI23138).

 

We refer to your Freedom of Information request dated 14/03/2023.

 

You requested the following information:

 

“…Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the

following information for the School of Humanities.
1- The number of plagiarism cases you have had since 2016, broken down by
each academic year.
2- A breakdown of the number of cases in each penalty Band, outlined by
section 6.4.6 of your University Assessment regulations, again by each

year... 

...I would like cases handled by both the University Academic Misconduct
Panel (UAMP) and the Faculty Academic Misconduct Panel (FAMP)...”

 

University’s Response

  

Further to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”) we
confirm that the information requested is held by the University of
Bristol (the “University”). However, the information is exempt by virtue
of section 12 of the Act.

 

Under the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit
and Fees) Regulations 2004, a request for information can be refused where
the total cost of locating, collating and providing you with the
information is greater than £450 (equivalent to 18 hours' work). When
calculating whether or not a request exceeds the appropriate limit it is
necessary to consider the time it is likely to take to establish if we
hold the information, locate it, retrieve and extract it.  

The requested information is not centrally recorded by the University.
Records of the requested time period are located in various formats with
some cases having to be indivually assessed to deem if they fall within
the scope of your request. In addition, penalties have been adjusted over
the requested time period meaning each individual case would need to be
assessed. To do this would exceed the permitted time under the Act, this
acts as a refusal notice by virtue of section 12 of the Act. 

 

If you narrow the scope of your request, we may be able to provide the
information free of charge because it would cost less than the appropriate
limit to do so. For example, you may be interested in a more refined time
period. 

Internal Review Procedure

 

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, then you have a
right under Section 50 of the Act to request an internal review.  All such
requests must be sent to us within 40 days, and must clearly state our
reference number (at the top of this email) and your reason for requesting
an internal review.  We will aim to respond to your request for an
internal review within 20 working days of receipt.

 

Your request for an internal review should be sent
to [University of Bristol request email], quoting your FOI reference number.
Alternatively, you could post it to:

 

Director of Legal Services

Secretary’s Office

University of Bristol

Beacon House

Queens Road

Bristol

BS8 1QU

 

Information Commissioners Office

 

Should you remain dissatisfied with the final outcome of the internal
review then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (the
“ICO”) for an independent review.  The ICO is the Government’s Independent
Body responsible for overseeing the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the
Data Protection Act 2018 and The Environmental Information Regulations
2004.

 

Please note the ICO will only review cases that have exhausted the
University’s internal review procedure. All correspondence to the ICO must
quote the University’s reference number and your reasons for your
appeal.  The ICO’s contact details are as follows:

 

The Information Commissioners Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

More information can be found at the ICO’s website
at [1]http://www.ico.org.uk

 

Kind Regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

University of Bristol

To: SecOInformation Governance
([University of Bristol request email])
From: Ben Rolfe ([FOI #951407 email])
Title: Re: Clarification Required - FOI Request (FOI23138)
E-mail title: Re: Clarification Required - FOI Request (FOI23138)(Id nr.:
2047705)
Sent: 21/03/2023 20:16

Dear SecOInformation Governance,
After looking back over the University Assessment Regulations, if possible
I would like cases handled by both the University Academic Misconduct
Panel (UAMP) and the Faculty Academic Misconduct Panel (FAMP). If this is
too much data to gather then just the data from the UAMP will be
sufficient.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Rolfe

show quoted sections