VIII. Undergraduate Degree Regulations and Procedures
Academic Misconduct
Guidelines for Penalties for Academic Misconduct
With the finding of academic misconduct, there is a mandatory penalty of Official Warning which will stay on the student’s record until graduation. In addition, one or more other penalties may be assessed. Following are guidelines used by chairs/directors and deans in determining the appropriate additional penalties. Users need to be aware that these are guidelines and that not all cases will fit neatly into the categories.
The guidelines below provide a range of penalties (minima and maxima) for the various offences identified in the Policy on Academic Misconduct as well as indicate what penalty is deemed to be the “norm” for the offence in the case of a first or second year student. It should be noted that “subsequent offence” means any subsequent offence, not only a subsequent offence in the same category.
For a course-based offence, the chair/director may assign penalties up to and including loss of grades if the offence is a first offence. If there is a previous offence on the student’s record, or if the chair/director believes a stronger penalty is merited, the case is forwarded to the dean for penalty assessment.
In cases where the dean is of the opinion that there is cause for a penalty different from those indicated in the guidelines (either higher or lower), she/he will review the penalty with the Provost and Vice-President Academic. The dean will also consult with the Provost in cases where the contemplated penalty is suspension or expulsion.
In a case where the dean is of the opinion that the finding of guilt is not supported by the evidence, the dean will review the case with the chair/director. If the chair/director and dean are unable to reach an agreement on the case, the dean will consult with the Provost before making final determinations as to the finding of guilt and any penalty to be applied in the event that dean upholds the finding of guilt.
In determining the appropriate penalty the chair/director or dean will take into consideration these guidelines, the recommendation from the instructor, the recommendation from the chair/director (in the case of a dean assigning a penalty), and any other relevant factors such as the relative weight of the assignment, the semester level of the student, the seriousness or extent of the offence (e.g. the amount of work plagiarized), any record of previous offences, and any mitigating circumstances presented by the student.
Guidelines for Penalties for Academic Misconduct in Addition to Official Warning
Offences
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First Offence
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Subsequent Offences
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A. Misappropriation of Other’s Work
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1. Plagiarism |
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Minor |
Resubmission of new work
Loss of grades3
Zero on the assignment
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Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
|
Major |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
|
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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2. Copying |
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Minor |
Resubmission of new work
Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
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Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
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Major |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
|
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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3. Unauthorized Collaboration |
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Minor |
Resubmission of work
Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
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Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
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Major |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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B. Misrepresentation and Fraud
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1. Impersonation |
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Minor |
Zero on the assignment
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
|
Major |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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2. Falsification |
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In addition to any penalty that may be applied, if a document is discovered to have been falsified, the document is null and void and the action permitted by the document is reversed. |
Resubmission of work
Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
Zero in the course4
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension/revocation of admission offer
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension/revocation of admission offer
Expulsion/Revocation
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3. Withholding of documents |
|
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Minor |
Official warning
Loss of grades
Resubmission of work
Zero on the assignment
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Zero in the course5
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer
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Major |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer
|
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer
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4. Unauthorized Aids |
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Resubmission of work
Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment/exam
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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C. Improper Access and Obstruction6
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1. Preventing Access |
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Minor |
Official warning
Resubmission of work
Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
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Major |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
|
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
|
2. Obstruction and Interference |
Loss of grades
Zero on the assignment
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
|
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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3. Improper Access |
Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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4. Improper Dissemination |
Zero in the course (if applicable)
Suspension
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Zero in the course
Loss of scholarship/bursary
Suspension
Expulsion/Revocation
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3 Bolded text indicates the normal expectation for penalty for a first or second year undergraduate, or first year graduate student.
4 If the falsified document is course-related (e.g. medical note).
5 If the withheld information would have affected admission to a course.
6 These offences may also be subject to penalty under the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy.
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