2003-2004
Undergraduate
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Glendon College

Breach of Academic Honesty

35. i) Definitions

Consult the definitions contained in the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty, in the University Policy and Regulations section of this Calendar. For further clarification, contact the Office of Student Programs, C105 York Hall.

ii) Procedures

See also detailed description of Senate procedures.

Note: Once the process outlined in Sections B and D has begun, a student accused of academic dishonesty may not drop or be deregistered from the course in question until a final decision is reached. Requests for transcripts made during the process will be treated in accordance with the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty. A student who is suspended and is otherwise eligible to graduate may not apply to graduate until a suspension expires or is lifted.

A. If, in the instructor's informed view, the case may be dealt with informally by the instructor and the student involved, the two parties agree on the adopted measure. In any event, a document is signed by the instructor and the student, stating the measure adopted to remedy the situation and the reasons that motivated the measure. The document is then sent to the Office of Student Programs. This record is strictly confidential and can be cited only in the case of determining penalty in the event of a subsequent offence(s) of a breach of academic honesty.

or

B. Cases in which the course director/instructor decides to proceed with an allegation of plagiarism, cheating or other form of academic dishonesty,

Step 1

He/she shall provide the Chair with a written summary of the circumstances and all evidence, i.e.:

• in cases involving cheating in an exam, the confiscated material;
• in cases involving plagiarism, the work in question, all sources/books from which student has allegedly copied.

Step 2

Once Step B.1. has begun, the student involved may not drop or be deregistered from the course in question until a final decision is reached.

Step 3

The Chair of the department will arrange to meet with the student and the course director/instructor in the presence of the associate principal, student services (or delegate) - as a neutral third party, and will for this purpose notify the student programs director who will inform the student, by registered letter, with at least seven calendar days notice, with a copy to the student's file:

a) of the date, time and place of the meeting;

b) of the reason for such a meeting;

c) that the student may be accompanied by a representative at the meeting.

Step 4

At the meeting with the student, the course director/instructor shall:

a) outline the alleged offense to the student;

b) ask student to respond to the allegation.

Step 5

a. No Breach

If following the above meeting, the Chair and course director/instructor are satisfied that there has been no breach of academic honesty, the Chair notifies the student of the decision in writing. All evidence submitted will then be destroyed and no record will be kept in the student's academic file.

or

b. Breach

If following the above meeting, the Chair and course director/instructor are of the belief that there has been a breach of academic honesty, the Chair asks the student if she/he will plead guilty or not guilty to the offense.

Step 6

Plea

a. Guilty Plea

If student pleads guilty to a breach of academic honesty:

• the Chair prepares a document to be signed by the student and the course director/instructor, in the presence of the associate principal, enrolment and student affairs (or delegate), outlining the nature of the offense, the penalty agreed upon by the student and the instructor (not to exceed failure on the assignment or in the test or exam) and the student's admission to the charge. (If the instructor seeks a more severe penalty, then a hearing before the Committee on Academic Standards, Teaching and Learning (CASTL) must be held, as indicated in 7 below.)

Note:

The following penalties may be imposed singularly or in combination (but only a, b and c may be the subject of a joint recommendation):

a) oral or written disciplinary warning or reprimand;

b) a make-up assignment or examination;

c) lower grade or failure on the assignments or examination;

d) failure in the course;

e) suspension from the University for a definite period;

f) notation on transcript;

g) withholding or rescinding a York degree, diploma or certificate.

A permanent record of the offence will be placed in the student's academic file, but this record is strictly confidential and can be cited only in the case of determining penalty in the event of a subsequent offence(s) of a breach of academic honesty.

• the Chair sends a copy of the signed document and the documents indicated in B.1. above to:

i) CASTL for review, and;

ii) the Office of Student Programs (OSP) for student's academic file. (Note: This record is for internal academic purposes only.)

In the absence of endorsement of the signed document, CASTL will call a hearing.

b. Not Guilty Plea - preparation for hearing

If student pleads not guilty to the alleged offense, or if the course director/instructor seeks a penalty which exceeds failure in assignment/test/exam, or if CASTL does not approve the joint recommendation as to penalty, then a hearing will be scheduled. The course director/instructor submits to the secretary of CASTL, a report outlining:

• the alleged offense and relevant circumstances
• the meeting with the student and its outcome
• all documents relating to the case.

The secretary of CASTL will then arrange a hearing that will take place before CASTL. The student will be notified of the hearing by registered letter and will be given at least 21 calendar days' notice of the hearing with copies to the Chair of the department, the course director/instructor, the principal and all members of CASTL. The student will also be sent a written copy of the charge, a copy of the procedures to be followed and copies of all materials submitted by the faculty member and be informed that he/she may be accompanied by a representative and may call witnesses. The student may submit a written response.

Step 7

Hearing

A hearing shall take place before CASTL to consider the charges. At that hearing the principal (or designate) shall act as presenter. The hearing shall be conducted according to the procedures mandated by the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty.

Step 8

If the student is found guilty, CASTL shall proceed to consider submissions as to the appropriate penalty.

Step 9

The secretary of CASTL shall inform the student by registered mail of the committee's decision, and, in the case of a guilty verdict, of appeal procedures; a copy will also be sent to the department concerned and to the Office of Student Programs.

A permanent record of the offence will be placed in the student's academic file. This record is for internal academic purposes only.

Step 10

Appeal Procedures

The decision of the committee may be appealed to the Senate Appeals Committee on grounds of either new evidence (i.e. evidence which could not be presented at the Faculty level) or on procedural irregularity in the Faculty's consideration of the case.