Monash University recently ranked 44th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, up thirteen places from last year. The news prompted Vice Chancellor Margaret Gardner to comment that the university has “established a world-renowned reputation” for “education of the highest international quality.”

This success, however, is built on widespread and systemic wage theft. Monash has already admitted to $8.6 million of it.

Wage theft takes many forms. For example, Monash has previously misclassified tutorials as “demonstrations,” “labs,” or “practicals” because these are paid at lower rates. Similarly, Monash, like many other universities, has underpaid casuals by dramatically underestimating the time it takes to mark assignments. Perhaps most galling of all, Monash also refuses outright to pay for some types of work necessary to teaching, including attending lectures and holding consultation hours.