Have you heard about contract cheating? During your time as a CQUni student, you may have heard the term used by your peers, a lecturer, or maybe you’ve been approached by a contract cheating service. Contract cheating is also known as ghostwriting or auctioning.
Contract cheating occurs when students employ or use a third party to produce their assessment for them.
While contract cheating may seem like an easy option, it’s a serious form of academic misconduct. When caught, students face penalties ranging from a failing grade for the unit, to suspension or even expulsion from CQUniversity.
Why do students engage in contract cheating?
There are a number of reasons students may feel the need to use contract cheating services, including financial worries, peer pressure, medical reasons, or a general feeling of being behind and struggling to maintain a work, life, study balance. Whatever the reason, it is never okay to use contract cheating services.
Preventing contract cheating
To combat the rise of contract cheating, CQUniversity will be blocking access to known contract cheating websites. If you try to access these sites on the CQUni network, you will receive a message to inform you the page you are trying to access has been blocked as it poses a risk to your study.
Student support is available
If you need help with your studies, don’t hesitate to contact your Unit Coordinator for advice. CQUni also offers a number of student support services including the Academic Learning Centre, GOAL, and Studiosity. Students also have access to our free student Counselling service.
As a CQUni student, it’s your responsibility to understand the rules around academic integrity and to know what constitutes academic misconduct. To find out more, visit the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure for all degree-level students at http://policy.cqu.edu.au.
I am a CQUni alumnus, who graduated back in 2010. Straight after graduating, I took a job in media, and later returned to CQUni working full-time as Student Communications Assistant. I remember all too well the panic fuelled ‘all-nighters’, getting lost on campus, confusion over systems, and the general feeling of being unsure. I'm excited to share my experiences and provide some insights into university life.
