Academic Support Contract Cheating: Think Twice! Have you ever been tempted to ask someone for help with an assignment that was due in 2 days? Have you felt pressured to maintain top grades and would do anything not to drop? There is no doubt many students may sometimes find themselves in these situations and many more, however, academic misconduct in whatever form is NOT the answer. Contract Cheating is one of the most serious forms of academic dishonesty. It is when someone else contributes to or completes your assignments and other academic work for you. an individual such as a private tutor, family member or friend a service such as a tutoring company, document sharing website, editing service, or an assignment writing service, also known as ’ghostwriting' It is called Contract Cheating because it involves some kind of exchange or contract between two or more people and does not always have to involve money. Serious academic consequences may include failing one or more units of study or suspension from your studies for one or more semesters. If you are an international student, you could even lose your student visa. Providing personal and financial information to contract cheating companies puts your money and your identity at risk of being stolen. Moreover, graduates will be unqualified to practise as professionals putting the public at risk. IMC takes contract cheating and misconduct very seriously and applies severe penalties under the Student Academic Integrity Policy. This may mean you fail your unit of study, or that you are suspended or expelled from the Institute. To report a concern to IMC about contract cheating, please send your concern to academic.integrity@imc.edu.au. Please provide as much detail as possible and any supporting evidence. How can IMC help you help yourself? IMC is constantly committed to providing quality education that will prepare you for success in your degree as well as your professional life in the future. In line with this approach, there are many support services and programs available to help you throughout your studies. Speak with your lecturer or tutor if you’re having difficulties with an assignment or exam. Your teachers are there to help you learn and can provide support. Don’t share assignments with friends – offer to help them with the problem they are facing and encourage them to seek support. If you experience illness or cannot meet a deadline, special consideration is available. For help developing time management and academic skills, Student Services, the English Language & Academic Skills Co-ordinator & Online Resources will support you. Academic Integrity Module AIM introduces the basics of ethical academic practice and IMC's values and expectations of correct academic conduct.. Turnitin Support Guide Turnitin is an online web-based software that is used to check the originality of assignments and the correctness of citation practices in an assignment.. IELTS Support This guide is designed to help you prepare for the IELTS test, guiding you through the required steps to ensure you have the best opportunity to succeed.. Academic English Support We provide an extensive Academic English Support Program to assist with improving your English language and academic skills, and with developing approaches to learning that will enable you to succeed in your academic study. Research Assistance We encourage those who need research help to contact us and make an appointment for assistance with navigating research. Business Tutoring For those students who are struggling, or want to get ahead and improve their grades, we offer academic business tutoring outside of class hours with our knowledgeable duty tutor. Career Planning Program The information and resources available in this guide will help you prepare your written application and plan for an interview to improve your chances of getting the job.