Scholastic Offences

If a student is suspected of cheating, plagiarism or other scholastic offences, the University will investigate and if they are satisfied that the student has committed a scholastic offence, it may impose sanctions, up to and including, expulsion from the University.

For more details about the types of scholastic offences, see the Guide on Plagiarism, Cheating and other Scholastic Offences. 

Scholastic Offences include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

  • Plagiarism - the “act or an instance of copying or stealing another’s words or ideas and attributing them as one’s own.” (Excerpted from Black’s Law Dictionary, West Group, 1999, 7th ed., p. 1170). This concept applies with equal force to all academic work.
  • Cheating on an examination or any course activity or falsifying material subject to academic evaluation.
  • Submitting false or fraudulent research, assignments, reports or credentials.
  • Impersonating a candidate at an examination or availing oneself of the results of such an impersonation.
  • Intentionally interfering in any way with any person's scholastic work.
  • Submitting for credit in any course or program of study, without the knowledge and written approval of the instructor to whom it is submitted, any academic work for which credit previously has been obtained or is being sought in another course or program of study in the University or elsewhere.
  • Aiding or abetting any such offence.

 

Procedure for Scholastic Offences (course-related):

  • If evidence of a possible scholastic offence is brought to the attention of, or discovered by, a course instructor, normally he/she meets with the student to discuss the allegation if practicable and appropriate in a given case.
  • The Associate Chair (Graduate) in student’s home department is notified if there is evidence of a scholastic offence.
  • If the Associate Chair (Graduate) agrees there is evidence to support the allegation, he/she advises the student of the allegation and the information supporting the allegation, normally within one week after the matter was forwarded to him/her.
  • The student is given a reasonable opportunity to respond and submit evidence, and a reasonable opportunity to meet with the Associate Chair before a decision is made.
  • If the Associate Chair decides that the student has committed a scholastic offence, he/she then determines the appropriate penalties in consultation with the instructor and communicate the decision to the student in writing within three weeks after the he/she advised the student of the allegation. A copy of the decision letter is also forwarded to the Vice-Provost (SGPS).
  • Student may appeal the decision of Associate Chair (Graduate) to the Vice-Provost (SGPS) within three weeks for the issuance of Associate Chair’s decision, using the appeal application.
  • The Vice-Provost may affirm, vary or overturn any decision made by the Associate Chair and may impose other penalties.
  • The Vice-Provost’s decision is communicated to the student, in writing with a copy to the Associate Chair, normally within three weeks after receiving the student’s appeal.

 

Procedure for Scholastic Offences (course-related): 

  • If evidence of a possible scholastic offence is brought to the attention of, or discovered by, a course instructor, normally he/she meets with the student to discuss the allegation if practicable and appropriate in a given case.
  • The Associate Chair (Graduate) in student’s home department is notified if there is evidence of a scholastic offence.