Fabricating Information
Fabrication involves students falsifying information that is used as evidence to support a claim. This is fraudulent behaviour and is serious academic misconduct.
Elise works in the Academic Support Office. She is calling the medical clinic to request verification that a student’s medical certificate is genuine.
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How can I detect fabrication?
The following are some of the issues that caused staff to question the validity of a medical certificate:
- Incorrect spelling and poor grammar
- The student is referred by two or more names
- The medical clinic is not in Australia or is online
- The date is not clear
- The official stamp is missing
- The clinic appears to not have a phone number
- The medical professional’s registration number is missing
- The font of the typing is inconsistent
- The use of correction tape or white-out pens
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What steps should I take?
- Do not attempt to investigate the authenticity of the documentation provided and do not accuse the student of engaging in misconduct.
- If you are a Tutor, advise the Senior Tutor or Subject Coordinator of your suspicions about the authenticity of the supplied documentation
- Collect evidence of the suspected misconduct. This should include copies of:
- The supplied medical certificate; and
- The student’s request for an extension.
- The Senior Tutor or Subject Coordinator should contact the ABP Academic Support Office, with evidence, for advice on next steps. Please refer to this page for details and links.