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Academic Misconduct Procedures

There is a formal process for investigating cases of academic misconduct. This process is outlined in the Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct. According to the Code of Conduct, “Any student involved in an academic misconduct process may request the assistance of a support person, who may be internal or external to the university. The support person is an inactive participant in any meeting and is available to assist the student in the process.”

If your instructor suspects that you may have engaged in academic misconduct, here’s what you can expect if this is your first offence (for information about the process for second offences, please consult the policy and procedures).

Undergraduate Students

  • The instructor will fill out a form describing their concerns and requesting a response from you. Either you or the instructor can request a meeting to discuss the incident. In a meeting or in your written response, you ask questions, request clarification, and present your case. Whether or not a meeting takes place, you will have 10 days working days to respond in writing.
  • After receiving your written response, the instructor decides whether to proceed with an official allegation. If they elect to proceed, they will fill out a form that explains the details of their concerns and how you responded to the allegation. This form then goes to the relevant administrator (department chair or the associate dean, depending on your program), who will check to see if you have any prior incidents of academic misconduct, and then decide on the penalty. You will be given a copy of the form too.
  • The relevant administrator will send you a letter explaining the penalty. You can appeal this decision by filing a petition.

Graduate Students

  • The instructor will fill out a form describing their concerns and requesting a response from you. Either you or the instructor can request a meeting to discuss the incident. In a meeting or in your written response, you ask questions, request clarification, and present your case. Whether or not a meeting takes place, you will have 10 days working days to respond in writing.
  • After receiving your written response, the instructor decides whether to proceed with an official allegation. If they elect to proceed, they will fill out a form that explains the details of their concerns and how you responded to the allegation. This form then goes to the relevant administrator (the graduate coordinator for your program), who will check to see if you have any prior incidents of academic misconduct, and then decide on the penalty. You will be given a copy of the form too.
  • The relevant administrator will send you a letter explaining the penalty. You can appeal this decision by filing a petition.

Penalties for Academic Misconduct

The severity of the penalty will depend on the type of misconduct and whether you have been disciplined for academic misconduct before. Penalties may include:

  • an official warning
  • loss of grades
  • zero on the assignment
  • zero in the course
  • a note on your transcript
  • suspension
  • expulsion