GMIT academics to raise issue of cheating students

Date Published: 25-Nov-2010

By Dara Bradley

Academic staff at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) are expected to express serious concerns about incidents of students’ plagiarism and how they were handled within the college, at an Academic Council meeting today.

Lecturers on the Academic Council – the second most powerful body within GMIT’s governing structure – confirmed this week that it is “highly likely” that unease about plagiarism will be discussed at the monthly meeting, which is chaired by GMIT President Marion Coy and GMIT Registrar Michael Hannon.

Today’s is the first meeting of the Academic Council since the Galway City Tribune revealed a fortnight ago that lecturers boycotted graduation ceremonies in protest at several final year students having escaped serious punishment and being allowed to graduate without repeating the tests – despite admitting to passing off someone else’s work as their own.

The decision to stay away from the graduation ceremony also related to lecturers’ concerns with two Masters students – including one who failed the final year thesis – who had their final year marks upgraded on appeal.

The Academic Council is responsible for “promoting and maintaining good academic standards and procedures in all its activities”.

“I would be shocked, given the remit of the Academic Council, if the incidents are not discussed at the meeting,” said one elected member of the Council.

Another member said that it is “highly likely” that management will be asked to explain whether or not GMIT policy was followed rigorously in the instances cited above.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.