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<York Calendars<Undergraduate
Calendar 2001-2002<University Policies
and Regulations<Senate Policy on Academic
Honesty
Penalty Guidelines
It
is in the interest of all concerned that students who are being
penalized for a breach of academic honesty receive equitable and
consistent treatment across the University. To this end, a range
of penalties for each offence has been developed which reflects
an appropriate realm of sanctions for the variations of each offence.
The range has been developed to guide faculties in imposing penalties,
and is a reflection of the distinction and limitations of certain
Faculties' academic regulations. Senate does not expect the exact
penalty to be imposed for the same offence on each and every occasion
around the University, as it is recognized that many factors come
into play in each individual case. It is necessary, however, that
all students found to have committed a specific offence be faced
with the same penalty options in the first instance. It is not the
intention of these guidelines to restrict the authority or flexibility
of faculty committees in imposing the sanctions as listed above
in Section E; faculties will, in each case, exercise their discretion,
taking into consideration the relevant factors, as outlined below.
For the benefit of students, however, faculty committees which impose
a sanction outside of the range of penalties (but still within the
options outlined above) are encouraged to provide a thorough explanation
in their written decision as to why it was deemed warranted.
Factors
to be Considered in Imposing Penalties:
Although
similar infractions are commonly committed by students University-wide,
the circumstances surrounding each may vary to a significant degree.
The penalty imposed should reflect, reasonably, these circumstances.
Important factors to be considered by committees in imposing penalties
or reviewing penalty recommendations are:
- (i)
Extent of violation: The actions which constitute specific offenses
of academic honesty (i.e. plagiarism, cheating) vary in terms
of severity. Some instances of academic dishonesty constitute
only minor infractions while others represent the most extreme
form of violation. Penalties should correspond to the nature of
the offence.
-
(ii) Basic considerations:
- (a)
The level of the student's academic experience is important
in determining the degree to which they should be penalized.
- (b)
Extenuating circumstances which a student faced at the time
in question may help explain the action taken on their part,
and due weight should be attached to those circumstances.
- (c)
If the student admits guilt, accepts responsibility for their
action, and is amenable to educative remedies, committees
may find it justified to levy a less severe penalty.
- (iii)
Prior/multiple incidents: If the offence is a second (or subsequent)
one for the student and/or is in combination with another offence,
then a severe penalty should be considered.
Note:
penalties may be imposed singularly or in combination for any offence.
The
Range of Penalties by Offence:
Cheating
Examples
of cheating include:
- (i)
cheating on examination or test, or providing unauthorized assistance
to another
- (ii)
obtaining test or examination questions in advance
- (iii)
attempting to or purchasing an essay for submission as own work
- (iv)
submission of a single piece of work to two courses without permission
- (v)
unauthorized collaboration on assignments
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
rewrite
work subject to grade penalty
-
grade
on work, or section/question, reduced (may be down to "0")
-
final
grade in course lowered
-
retroactive
withdrawal from the course+
-
grade
of "F" in the course
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
Plagiarism
Examples
of plagiarism include:
- (i)
submission of another's work as own, in part or whole
- (ii)
paraphrasing/reproducing another's work without proper acknowledgement
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
rewrite
work subject to grade penalty
-
grade
on work, or section/question, reduced (may be down to "0")
-
final
grade in course lowered
-
retroactive
withdrawal from the course+
-
grade
of "F" in the course
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
+penalty
applicable only to students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies,
and imposed only in conjunction with a transcript notation.
Falsification
or unauthorized modification of an academic document /record
Examples
of documents/records include:
- (i)
transcripts
- (ii)
examination/test
- (iii)
letter of recommendation, or related document
- (iv)
degree
- (v)
physician's letter/form
Also
includes failure to divulge previous attendance at another post
secondary educational institution.
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
reduced
grade on work, or section/question* (may be down to "0")
-
final
grade in course lowered*
-
grade
of "F" in the course*
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
*if
specific course involved.
Impersonation
It
is a violation of academic honesty to have someone impersonate a
student in:
- (i)
a class
- (ii)
test or examination
- (iii)
connection with any other course assignment
Range
of penalties:
-
grade
of "F" in the course
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
Improper
Research Practices
Examples
include:
- (i)
dishonest reporting of investigative results either through fabrication
or falsification
- (ii)
taking or using the research results of others without permission
or acknowledgement
- (iii)
misrepresentation of research results or the methods used
- (iv)
selective reporting or omission of conflicting information or
data to support a particular notion or hypothesis
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
failure
on work (if applicable)
-
failure
in the course (if applicable)
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
-
withhold
or rescind degree, diploma or certificate
Dishonesty
in Publication
It
is a violation of academic honesty to knowingly publish information
that will mislead or deceive readers; this includes:
- (i)
falsification or fabrication of data or information
- (ii)
failure to give credit to collaborators as joint authors or the
listing as authors of others who have not contributed to the work
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
failure
on work (if applicable)
-
failure
in the course (if applicable)
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
-
withhold
or rescind degree, diploma or certificate
Premature
oral or written dissemination of information
Information,
data or other information collected with another student or faculty
member should not be submitted for publication prematurely without
permission.
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
failure
on work (if applicable)
-
failure
in the course (if applicable)
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
-
withhold
or rescind degree, diploma or certificate
Abuse
of Confidentiality
Examples
include:
- (i)
taking or releasing the confidential ideas or data of others
- (ii)
obtaining a computer password assigned to another
- (iii)
copying or modifying a data file or computer program belonging
to another
- (iv)
violating the integrity of a computer system to harass another,
damage software or hardware or evade appropriate monetary charges
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
failure
on work (if applicable)
-
failure
in the course (if applicable)
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
-
withhold
or rescind degree, diploma or certificate
Obstruction
of the Academic Activities of Another
Examples
include interference or tampering with:
- (i)
experimental data
- (ii)
human or animal subject
- (iii)
written or other creation (painting, sculpture, film)
- (iv)
a chemical used for scientific study
- (v)
any other object of study
Range
of Penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
reduced
grade on work [may be down to "0"] (if applicable)
-
failure
in the course
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
-
withhold
or rescind degree, diploma, or certificate
Aiding
or Abetting Academic Misconduct
Examples
include:
- (i)
knowingly assisting others in the preparation of work submitted
for appraisal
- (ii)
offering for sale essays or assignments
Range
of penalties:
-
written
reprimand to student
-
failure
on work (if applicable)
-
failure
in the course (if applicable)
-
suspension
-
transcript
notation
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