Murdoch University is sparking controversy over its handling of an AI cheating claim against nursing student Mark McLauchlin.
The issue started in April 2025 when the university flagged McLauchlin’s workbook as “high risk for academic misconduct” due to suspected AI use, plagiarism, or collusion. The school cited low editing time, pasted text chunks, and strange formatting in his assignment metadata.
McLauchlin denies cheating, saying the odd metadata came from using Grammarly, a university-approved grammar tool with AI features turned off. 
"I’ve been open and honest, right from the very first accusation, however the AI component of Grammarly was turned off,"
McLauchlin said.
"The tool is widely advertised and encouraged by the university for students to use to help them with their studies."
Murdoch’s investigation concluded McLauchlin probably used AI on part of the assignment. Despite having no prior misconduct and completing nine course units, his workbook score was cut to 70%.
McLauchlin said he still passed the unit but is fighting the decision because Murdoch hasn’t identified any clear AI-generated text in his work.
"I guess my overall issue is that, still to date, Murdoch can’t give me a word, sentence, paragraph, phrase or a pattern of AI [in my assignment],"
McLauchlin said.
"I’ve put in so many years, hours, effort … it’s a big pill to swallow."
Murdoch declined case specifics but highlighted its academic integrity module includes AI use guidelines and stressed fairness, education, and proportionate action.
The university said:
"Where the use of generative AI in assessments is indicated, the university takes a considered and educative approach under established academic integrity processes.
Our first priority is to support students in understanding appropriate academic practices.
Where concerns arise, our processes are designed to be fair, transparent and proportionate, with education and engagement prioritised before any punitive measures are considered."
Australian universities broadly face rising AI detection challenges, with students preemptively timestamping work on Google Docs to prove authenticity.
Some educators say many students rely on AI without real understanding.
"I found students used AI to write assignments, but actually had little knowledge of the subject,"
a retired TAFE teacher said.
"The machine has done the work, [the] student has no inherent knowledge."
McLauchlin lost a latest appeal and is seeking legal advice. He aims not only to clear his name but to push for more humane university processes.
"I really believe that they’re not 100 per cent informed of the impact of what they do, and how that can have [an affect] on people,"
he said.
Murdoch said it welcomes appeals and feedback as it works on improving its procedures.
