Hi Mike

My impression is that almost all of the functions you mention could, should
and are handled by Students' Union Education and Welfare Officers and their
advisers. I can't think of an HEI that does not have an E&W.

You mention the possible independence of student support services. Well,
it's a grey area whose interests we serve, but when it gets down to the wire
it's difficult realising that being an institution drone is what best
ensures a healthy bank balance (cynicism comes free).

(I have to admit the phrase that came to me reading your message was "Who
breaks a butterfly on a wheel?", but who am I to talk, since I am part of
the ever-burgeoning processes that deal in the issues you mention.)

Iain Hood
Senior Student Adviser, Learning Support
Student Support Services
APU
East Road
Cambridge
CB1 1PT

01223 363271 ex 2316
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Reddy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 1:13 PM
Subject: McKenzie's Friend and Plagiarism Procedures


> In a recent workshop at best practice on plagiarism procedures and
> prevention, there was some debate about the issues of supporting both
> staff and students during and after the process: presentation of
> evidence; pastoral and academic support after a 'conviction'; and
> appeals procedures.
>
> Several things occurred to me after the event. These are personal
> musings, not officially sanctioned by my institution or JISC, but I
> would like to gauge how different universities handle the following
> issues:
>
> 1) Is a friend or representative required, or at least encouraged, to
> support the student during a meeting to discuss allegations of
> plagiarism?
>
> 2) Is there any training or guidelines (beyond a copy of the university
> regulations) given to this support person or the student? Are these
> available on-line for external scrutiny?
>
> 3) Do any universities actually employ someone, whose duties are to
> provide advice on "the defence"?
>
> 4) Is the module leader or assignment marker asked or required to be
> present?
>
> 5) Is there any training or guidelines (beyond a copy of the university
> regulations) given to the lecturer regarding correct presentation of
> evidence? Are these available on-line for external scrutiny
>
> 6) Do any universities actually employ someone, whose duties are to
> provide advice on "the prosecution"; that is, removing the onus on
> preparing/presenting the evidence from the lecturer?
>
> 7) Are there ever independent observers or participants involved in
> deciding whether an offence has taken place, and what the correct
> penalty should be?
>
> 8) What procedures are there for students making an appeal, other than
> for the whole thing to be booted upstairs from a school/department
> level, up to an institutional level?
>
> 9) Are there procedures for staff to appeal, in cases where they feel
> the student was improperly punished or an allegation was rejected?
>
> 10) Is there any conciliation, or pastoral support for lecturer and
> student to "patch things up" when an allegation has been proven or
> accepted?
>
> Given that the meeting between student, lecturer and senior members of
> academic staff (who they may rarely have contact with!) involves an
> inherent power imbalance, and that staff may not be skilled in the
> presentation of evidence, it occurred to me that there should better
> support for both staff and students. I would be interested in
> subscribers' opinions on whether there should be:
>
> a) a prosecution service - independent of the lecturer student
> relationship, and potentially central to the university structure -
> whose job is to filter and provide evidence gathering support for
> beleaguered staff.
>
> b) A McKenzie Friend - either an independent member of academic staff,
> again possibly from a central team, or someone in student support
> services, suitably trained - to provide informed advice for students
> going through the process.
>
> McKenzie's Friend info:
>
> http://www.andrewgray.uklinux.net/legalsupport/procedures56.html
>
> http://www.answers.com/topic/mckenzie-friend
>
> http://www.fnf.org.uk/mckenfr.htm
>
> Here is an extract from http://www.spig.clara.net/misc/mck.htm
>
> "The term 'McKenzie friend' relates to the case of McKenzie v McKenzie
> - a divorce action where the judge had mistakenly debarred the "friend"
> of a litigant. The matter went to the Court of Appeal and is reported
> in [1970] 3 WLR 472, upholding the ruling of Lord Tenterden in Collier
> v Hicks [7 June 1831] that:
>
>   'Any person, whether he be a professional man or not, may attend as a
> friend of either party, may take notes, may quietly make suggestions,
> may give advice ...' "
>
> I have raised this with the Learning and Teaching Office in my
> institution, and feel hopeful that it will be considered. I would even
> consider volunteering as a McKenzie Friend for a pilot; The case at
> Kent last year, or even when academic staff are accused of plagiarism
> suggests that this could be of use nationally!
>
> It would be useful to determine whether this would be of interest to
> other institutions.
>
> Dr. Mike Reddy, JISC PAS Experts Group and Steering Committee
>
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