Key Consequences

Penalties and offences under the Code

How does the penalty match the offence?

The University imposes ‘sanctions’ on those who are found to have committed an academic offence. A sanction is the penalty that can be imposed by your Chair, Dean, or the Tribunal.

Determining the appropriate sanction for an academic offence depends on many factors including but not limited to:

  • The context and seriousness of the offence
  • The number of times you have committed an academic offence
  • The point at which you admit to an offence and thereby demonstrate insight and remorse.

The range of penalties that can be imposed and those responsible are outlined below.

Resources:

See also:

Table: Key Consequences at the Divisional level

Assignments worth 10% or less of overall mark Forging or altering documents
Cheating on a test
Having someone write a test for you
Plagiarism
Same work submitted twice
Submitting a purchased essay
Who can impose sanction? Chair Dean
When? Upon admission of guilt Upon admission of guilt
No admission of guilt? Forwarded to Dean Charges laid by Provost.  Referred to Tribunal.
Possible sanction at Divisional level? Mark of zero for the piece of work.
  • Give an oral and/or written reprimand;
  • Give an oral and/or written reprimand and, if your course instructor agrees, allow the piece to be resubmitted for evaluation.
  • Assign a grade of zero or a failing grade to the piece of work;
  • Give an overall grade reduction to the course where the offence was committed;
  • Deny you the use of facilities at the University, including library and computer facilities;
  • Assign a monetary fine to cover the costs of replacing any damaged property or misused supplies that occurred as a result of the offence;
  • Assign a grade of zero or a fail to the course in which the offence occurred.
  • Suspend you from attendance in this course (or courses), a program, an academic division or unit, of from the University for a period of 12 months or less.  If you haven’t completed a course (or courses) where the offence was committed, you may be allowed to withdraw without academic penalty.
  • Have a record of the sanction imposed on the student’s academic record and transcript for as long as he/she feels is appropriate.
Second offence? Charges laid by Provost. Referred to Tribunal. Often charges laid by Provost. Referred to Tribunal.