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
A. Misappropriation of Other’s Work
In the tables below (N) indicates the normal expectation for penalty for a first or second year undergraduate, or first year graduate student.
1. Plagiarism
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor |
Resubmission of new work (N) Loss of grades Zero on the assignment |
Loss of grades (N) Zero on the assignment Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Major |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |
2. Copying
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor |
Resubmission of new work (N) Loss of grades Zero on the assignment |
Loss of grades (N) Zero on the assignment Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Major |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |
3. Unauthorized Collaboration
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor |
Resubmission of work (N) Loss of grades Zero on the assignment |
Loss of grades (N) Zero on the assignment Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Major |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |
B. Misrepresentation and Fraud
1. Impersonation
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor |
(N) Zero on the assignment Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Major |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension (N) Expulsion/Revocation |
2. Falsification
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.
If the falsified document is course-related (e.g. medical note) a zero in the course is the normal expectation for penalty for a first offence.
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor and Major |
Resubmission of work Loss of grades Zero on the assignment (N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension/revocation of admission offer |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension/revocation of admission offer Expulsion/Revocation |
3. Withholding of documents
If the withheld information would have affected admission to a course then a zero in the course is the normal expectation for penalty for a minor subsequent offence.
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor |
(N) Official warning Loss of grades Resubmission of work Zero on the assignment |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer |
Major |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension (N) Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension (N) Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer |
4. Unauthorized Aids
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor and Major |
Resubmission of work Loss of grades (N) Zero on the assignment/exam |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |
C. Improper Access and Obstruction
These offences may also be subject to penalty under the Non-Academic Misconduct Policy.
1. Preventing Access
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor |
(N) Official warning Resubmission of work Loss of grades Zero on the assignment |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Major |
(N) Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |
2. Obstruction and Interference
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor and Major |
Loss of grades ObstZero on the assignment Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension (N) Expulsion/Revocation |
3. Improper Access
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor and Major |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary Suspension (N) Expulsion/Revocation |
4. Improper Dissemination
Offences | First Offence | Subsequent Offences |
---|---|---|
Minor and Major |
Zero in the course (if applicable) (N) Suspension |
Zero in the course Loss of scholarship/bursary (N) Suspension Expulsion/Revocation |