School of Medicine, Tsinghua University Interim Plan for Dealing with Academic Misconduct of Graduate Students

（applicable to Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Department of Biomedical Engineering 2020-12）

In order to maintain academic ethics, standardize academic behavior and promote the healthy and sustainable development of academic activities, the School of Medicine of Tsinghua University has formulated this treatment plan for graduate academic misconduct in accordance with the relevant regulations of the state and Tsinghua University and the principle of combining prevention with punishment.

1、Acceptance of academic misconduct

1. After discovering academic misconduct of graduate students, he/she should report the situation to the head of the department in written form with real name, including：

1) There are clear targets for reporting;

2) Having committed academic misconduct;

3) There are objective evidential materials or clues for investigation.

Anonymous tip-offs require clear facts, sufficient evidence and clear clues, otherwise they will not be accepted.

2. Process Flow:

1) The head of the department will set up a processing team (≥3 teachers). The members of the panel are the dean (deputy dean), the dean (member) of the Academic Committee, and the teachers (peer experts) of relevant disciplines.

2) Conduct preliminary investigation and evidence collection to determine whether there is indeed an academic misconduct; Form preliminary treatment opinions and submit them to the graduate education committee of the department for deliberation and discussion.

3) Notify the suspected student to submit a written statement and notify the suspected student's supervisor.

4) The representatives of the processing team and the teachers of the research team (2 in total) should interview the suspected student and make a written record of the interview.

3. Treatment Method：

The severity of academic misconduct shall be determined according to the specific situation. Students who commit serious acts, including plagiarism, tampering or forgery in academic dissertations or published research results, shall be given punishment of in-school suspension or above. Those who write, buy or sell dissertations on behalf of others shall be given the punishment of school expulsion.

1) Those who commit minor academic misconduct (such as plagiarism within 100 words) will be given a grade of "0" or "F" and criticized by the school and the department, which will be submitted to the party-government joint meeting of the school for approval.

2) For serious cases of academic misconduct, the preliminary handling opinions formed by the handling group shall be submitted to the party-government joint meeting of the academy for discussion, and a proposed disciplinary recommendation shall be issued; the situation should be reported to the school, and discussed by the school leadership office before making a decision. Serious cases (suspension or expulsion) shall be reported to the school affairs meeting for study and decision.

Notes：

1) During the investigation, the tutor and related interests of the suspected graduate students should withdraw. All written materials from the investigation are kept for 5 years. If the student has any objection to the result of the investigation, he may lodge a complaint.

2) For international students, students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, please consult with the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange. The disciplinary decision shall be notified to the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange and other relevant units.

3) Those who are suspected of violating laws and crimes should be reported to the school and judicial organs in time, and the school will deal with or punish them according to the effective legal documents issued by the legal authorities and the school rules and regulations. If the facts are clear and the evidence is conclusive, they may be directly dealt with or punished.

2、The scope of academic misconduct

Academic misconduct refers to any behavior contrary to academic ethics, including (but not limited to) the following:

1) Falsify or tamper with data, plagiarize others' achievements and provide false information in conducting research, reporting research results and evaluating academic achievements;

2) Signing on research results or academic papers without participating in research or creation, improper use of others' signature without permission, joint signature of fictitious collaborators, or joint completion of research by several people without indicating others' work or contribution in the research results;

3) Falsifying scientific research data, materials, literature and notes, or fabricating facts and research results

4) Providing false academic information in the process of applying for projects, achievements, awards and degrees;

5) Buying or selling a non-academic dissertation written by or for another person;

6) Retaliating against those who report serious academic misconduct.

If any of the following circumstances are included, the circumstances shall be deemed to be serious.

1) Plagiarism, tampering or forgery in dissertation or published research results;

2) Causing adverse effects;

3)Transfer or exchange of interests;

4) Retaliating against the informant;

5) Committing academic misconduct in an organized manner;

6) Repeatedly committing academic misconduct;

7) Other activities that have caused serious consequences or adverse effects.

3、Validation

If the informant or the person suspected of academic misconduct is not satisfied with the decision, he/she may submit a written application for review to the processing institution (graduate School or department).

If the student has any objection to the disciplinary action proposed by the university, he should submit a written or oral statement and defense to the competent authority (graduate School or department) within 5 working days from the date of delivery of the notification of the proposed disciplinary action; Those who object to the proposed punishment of expulsion should apply to the competent authority (graduate School or department) for holding a hearing in writing within 10 working days from the date when the notification of the proposed punishment is delivered. If the student has any objection to the school's decision on handling or punishment, he may file a written appeal to the Student Appeal Handling Committee within 10 days from the date when the effective document of the school's decision on handling or punishment is served.

The review does not affect the execution of the disposal decision. If the applicant refuses to accept the decision of the review and still files an application for the review based on the same facts and reasons, the application shall not be accepted.

4、Dismissal and cancellation of student disciplinary action

1. punishment absolveness

1）Punishments below demerit recording shall be discharged upon expiration of the term of punishment or upon graduation; Those who have an outstanding performance during the punishment period, can then apply and after the joint meeting and discussion of the party and government joint department, the competent authority of the school shall then put forward the handling opinions and report them to the school leadership office for approval. After the above procedures, he can be relieved of the punishment in advance.

2）For the punishment of detention and observation, the student can apply one month before the expiration of the period of inspection or after the expiration of the period of inspection and after the joint meeting and discussion of the party and government joint department, the competent authority of the school shall then put forward the handling opinions and report them to the school leadership office for approval. Once the procedures above are done and there is no new violation of the rules by the end of the probation period, the punished student shall be relieved of the punishment of in-school probation on the day of expiration. Those who have an outstanding performance during the punishment period can then apply and after the joint meeting and discussion of the party and government joint department, the competent authority of the school shall then put forward the handling opinions and report them to the school leadership office for approval. After the above procedures, he can be relieved of the punishment in advance.

If any student of a graduating grade is found to have violated discipline or law before leaving school after graduation, the relevant department shall suspend the school-leaving procedure and resume the school-leaving procedure after the corresponding punishment decision is made. Among them, the punishments below demerit will be canceled automatically when the formalities of leaving school are completed. The suspension period of the punishment of in-school suspension shall automatically expire until the completion of the formalities for leaving school, and the termination procedure shall be carried out following the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

2. Penalty rescinding

1）Demerit recording and punishments above that shall not be revoked in principle.

2）Students who have been given the demerit recording or below punishments, have completed the punishment period, have been sincerely repentant, and have good behavior may apply for cancellation of the punishment in writing before graduation or within 3 months before they apply for dropping out of school.

The party and government joint meeting of the department shall put forward suggestions on whether to revoke the punishment, and the competent authority of the university shall put forward suggestions on handling the punishment, and the punishment shall be revoked after the approval of the school affairs meeting.

5、Others

1. If the personnel involved in accepting, investigating and handling the reports violate the provisions on confidentiality and cause adverse effects, they shall be given sanctions or other punishments in accordance with relevant provisions.

2. All relevant materials of disciplinary action shall be kept in file.

3. Academic misconduct that cannot be explained by this plan can be dealt with or punished by referring to the relevant measures of Tsinghua University.

Attachment：

There are three main categories of academic misconduct:

1） Students who plagiarize, gate-write or buy or sell academic dissertations or published research results will be given the punishment of demerit recording or above, or expelled from school in serious cases;

2） Demerit recording and punishments for plagiarism, signature and other problems;

3） For course work (including but not limited to: doctoral qualification examination, mid-term assessment, annual report and final academic report, etc.) suspected or plagiarism, the score will be marked as "0", and the punishment will be above warning and below probation.

Cancellation of disciplinary action：

4） 1）In principle, demerit recording and above punishments are not allowed to be revoked, especially for academic misconduct or violation of learning discipline.

5） 2）Demerit and below punishments can be applied for cancellation before graduation or three months before application for quitting and leaving school.

Types of disciplinary action:

1）Warning；2）Severe Warning；3）Demerit；4）Detention；5）School Expulsion

Students who violate the law or discipline shall be dealt with or given punishment for the seriousness of the circumstances：

1）If the violation of discipline is minor and the student admits his mistake voluntarily and corrects after criticism and education, he may be exempted from disciplinary sanctions and be given written warning or public notice of criticism.

2）If the violation is minor, the student shall be given the punishment of warning or serious warning;

3） Those who violate disciplines seriously shall be given the punishment of demerit recording or in-school suspension;

4） Those who violate disciplines seriously shall be given the punishment of demerit recording or in-school suspension;