Academic Integrity | Queen's University Faculty of Arts and Science

What is a departure from Academic Integrity?

A departure from academic integrity is any form of academic dishonesty that could result in you, or others, gaining an unearned advantage over other students. It compromises and violates the University's core values of academic integrity. If you aren’t sure whether something is acceptable or not, always ask your instructor. Here are some examples of departures from academic integrity – this is not an exhaustive list:

Departure from Academic Integrity	Examples
Departure from the Core Values of Academic Integrity In addition to the specific types of departures from academic integrity listed below, “Departure from the Core Values of Academic Integrity” encompasses a range of conduct and infractions. Any acts that deviate from the core values of academic integrity that do not fall under the specific categories listed below may be categorized under this broader heading.	In the educational context, there is, for instance, trust that students will abide by the core values of academic integrity and not violate these values or attempt to violate this trust Therefore, attempts at plagiarism, facilitation, and other departures are as much a threat to academic integrity as submitting a plagiarized paper or working with a peer to undermine integrity Honesty plays a role in exchanges with instructors and peers, especially in a professionalized setting, where authentic self-representation and truthfulness are essential
Plagiarism Plagiarism involves presenting ideas, words, or work, created by others or by technological assistance, as if they are one’s own or without proper attribution/citation. Self-plagiarism is also a departure from academic integrity. Self-plagiarism refers to the practice of submitting the same work, in whole or in part, for credit in two or more courses, or in the same course more than once without the prior written permission of the instructor. Self-plagiarism can also include presenting one’s own previously published work as though it were new.	Copying or using quotations or paraphrasing material from a print or other source, including the internet and output from artificial intelligence, without proper acknowledgement Copying another student’s work Submitting the same piece of work in more than one course without permission
Unauthorized content generation Unauthorized content generation is the production of academic work, in whole or in part, for academic credit, progression, or award, using unapproved or undeclared human or technological assistance.	Response generation from artificial intelligence including, but not limited to, text-, image-, code-, or video-generating artificial intelligence tools Submitting assignments to online forums or websites for generating solutions
Contract Cheating Contract cheating is a form of plagiarism that involves outsourcing academic work to a third-party including, but not limited to, a commercial provider, current or former student, family member or acquaintance, and submitting the work as one's own.	Purchasing a term paper or assignment to be submitted as one’s own Submitting essays or assignments that have been obtained from homework sites, essay mills, tutor sites, friends, family members or classmates
Use of unauthorized materials Use of unauthorized materials involves using or possessing unauthorized materials or obtaining unauthorized assistance in any academic examination or test, or in connection with any other form of academic work.	Using or possessing unauthorized written material or an electronic device with memory and/or web access such as a calculator, cell phone or smart watch that is not permitted during a test or examination Copying another student’s test or examination answer Receiving answers from an exam or test bank website
Deception Deception involves misrepresenting the accuracy of information, the authenticity of a document, one’s self, one’s work, or one’s relation to the University.	Creating or causing to be created and/or submitting any falsified official academic document, including a transcript Altering any official academic documents, including transcripts Creating and/or submitting any falsified medical note Altering any information on documentation provided by a third party (such as a date) Impersonating someone in a test or examination or allowing someone to impersonate you Fabricating or falsifying laboratory or research data Using another person’s credentials or representing yourself as having credentials that are not rightfully yours
Facilitation Facilitation involves enabling another student’s breach of academic integrity.	Allowing academic work to be copied by another student for submission as that student’s work Selling academic work Making information available to another student about the exam questions or possible answers during an online or take-home exam window
Unauthorized use of intellectual property Using the intellectual property of another for academic, personal, or professional advantage without the authorization of the owner.	Uploading course materials to a note-sharing website without the instructor’s permission Providing course materials to a commercial study-prep service not sanctioned by the University Distributing, publicly posting, selling or otherwise disseminating an instructor’s course materials or providing an instructor’s course materials to anyone else for distribution, posting, sale or other means of dissemination, without the instructor’s express consent
Unauthorized collaboration Unauthorized collaboration involves working with others, without the specific permission of the instructor, on academic work that will be submitted for a grade.	Working with others on in-class or take-home tests, papers, or homework assignments that are meant to be completed individually Communicating with another person during an exam or about an exam during the exam window
Failure to abide by academic rules Failing to abide by Faculty/School or University academic rules and regulations.	Failing to follow rules imposed by course instructors, or others (for example, teaching assistants, guest or substitute instructors), regarding the preparation, writing, and submission of academic work Failing to follow rules set out by instructors or the Exams Office in the writing of tests and examinations Failing to follow regulations governing ethics reviews Failing to comply with assigned remedies and sanctions resulting from a departure from academic integrity Unauthorized removal of materials from a library

Students Receiving Notice

When an instructor sees evidence in your work that suggests that a departure from academic integrity may have taken place, it is the instructor’s responsibility to investigate the situation. These are the steps that will be followed:

1. You should receive a written notice of the potential departure from academic integrity.

The first step is to bring the matter to your attention. Using a Notice of Investigation form, the instructor will inform you of the following:

the information on which the investigation is based (you should be supplied with all documents related to the investigation);
the possible sanctions as outlined in the Academic Integrity Procedures;
your right to respond to the investigation in writing, in person or via a video meeting

You may not drop the course while an investigation is under way. However, there is no mechanism on SOLUS to prevent you from doing so before the academic drop date. Therefore, the Associate Dean (Academic) has the authority to reinstate you in the course pending a decision on the investigation.

2. You should have the opportunity to respond to the Notice of Investigation

It is important that you respond to the investigation. If you don't respond, your instructor will make a decision on the available evidence, without the benefit of hearing from you. You must decide how you would like to respond and inform your instructor of your decision within 10 business days of receiving the Notice of Investigation.

You may choose to respond either by:

1) submitting a written response to the instructor, or

2) meeting with your instructor to discuss the matter.

If you prefer to respond in writing, please sign your response and send it to your instructor no later than five business days after your initial response to the Notice of Investigation. If you prefer to meet, your instructor will schedule a meeting as soon as possible.

In advance of the meeting or in preparing your written response, you should:

1) review the evidence provided by the instructor

2) collect all drafts and related materials relevant to the particular piece of work at issue

You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities and guidance on policy and procedure https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/. Also, consider talking the matter through with someone whose advice you trust and value (e.g. parents, a close relative, friend, counselor, etc.).

Take these steps into consideration when estimating the time it will take you to prepare your response, whether it is in writing, in person, or both.

Whether meeting in person or responding in writing, you need to provide the instructor with a detailed explanation of your side of the story, including how the information in question came about, and your line of thinking in preparing the work the way you did. If relevant, provide copies of earlier drafts of your work and other documentation. If you meet in person, you may also choose to prepare something in writing to leave with the instructor, along with copies of drafts and other relevant documentation.

To accompany you to the meeting, you may invite an advisor such as a friend, advocate, or legal support person of your choice. Please let the instructor know in advance if a support person will be with you at the meeting. The support person’s role is to provide emotional support, not to answer questions or advocate on your behalf. You can ask for a break in the meeting to talk to your support person in private.

In some cases, the instructor may invite the Chair of Undergraduate Studies, or other departmental delegate, to chair the meeting and provide guidance on the procedures related to departures from academic integrity.

Investigations may be resolved at this early stage.

3. A decision will be made on the case.

After considering the available evidence and your explanation, the instructor will make a decision.

If the instructor is satisfied with your explanation and determines that there are no grounds for a finding of departure from academic integrity, all documents related to the case, including any recordings of remotely proctored exams, will be destroyed and the instructor will inform you that the investigation has been dropped.
If the instructor believes that there is evidence that a departure from academic integrity has taken place, the instructor will make a finding of departure from academic integrity and will also determine an appropriate sanction or remedy. Up to this point, a record of previous departures from academic integrity is not relevant in making a finding of a departure from academic integrity.

4. The instructor will determine a remedy or sanction.

Where there is a finding of departure from academic integrity, the instructor is expected to assign an appropriate remedy or sanction that reflects the extent and severity of the departure. After the finding is made, the instructor may consult the Undergraduate Chair, Department Head or departmental delegate concerning the matter of an appropriate sanction. You can also expect the instructor to contact the Office of the Associate Dean (Academic) to determine if there have been any previous departures from academic integrity. In the case of a second finding, or multiple findings, a more severe sanction may be warranted.

The range of remedies or sanctions that the instructor can impose include:

a formal warning
a learning experience or educative remedy
requirement to rewrite or revise the assignment
the completion of new or other work
the deduction of partial or total marks on the assignment or course grade
a failing grade (down to a grade of zero) in the course. If the penalty amounts to a failure in the course, the student may NOT drop the course regardless of the drop deadlines.

Findings are categorized as Level I or Level II. Factors which would lead to a Level II finding include the following (only one factor needs apply):

a departure that involves an essential component of the course for which a failing grade would normally result in a failure in the course
an upper-year student who has taken several previous courses in the discipline (for instance, a fourth-year student in a concentration course)
previous departure(s) from academic integrity (the instructor would refer the new case to the Associate Dean (Academic)
significant and unacknowledged use of one or more sources
there is more than one type of departure involved
significant departure from expectations of professionalism or accreditation standards
direct negative effect on other students (e.g. stealing another student's academic work), the program, or the University is involved

If a finding is classified as Level I AND there is no other finding of departure from academic integrity on your record, then the finding will remain in a sealed file and only be consulted if you have a further finding of departure from academic integrity. If there are no further departures from academic integrity, the Level I finding will be destroyed on your graduation.

If a finding is classified as Level II (regardless of whether it is a first finding or a subsequent one), the finding will be held in your main file in the Office of the Associate Dean (Academic). This file will be retained for 10 years after your graduation.

This file is confidential; it is used for internal purposes such as preparing for academic advising appointments. In rare cases, some American Law Schools, Medical Schools and Police Academies will ask the Associate Dean (Academic) if an applicant has any departures from academic integrity on record. In this case, we would seek your permission to share the information before responding to the request. If you did not give permission, the Faculty Office would respond that the applicant had not given permission to share that information.

5. The instructor will inform you in writing of the decision and remedy (or sanction).

If, in the instructor's assessment, the finding warrants a sanction within the scope of those available to the instructor (Section 4 above), the instructor will inform you in writing of the following:

the details of the decision or finding of departure from academic integrity, using the Finding of Departure from Academic Integrity form
the remedy or sanctions
the right to appeal the finding and/or the penalty to the Associate Dean (Academic)
the deadline for appealing to the Associate Dean (Academic)
the availability of the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities and guidance on policy and procedure https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/.

A copy of the Finding of Departure from Academic Integrity form and all related documentation will be forwarded to the office of the Associate Dean (Academic). No documents related to the finding will be retained ny your professor or in Departmental student files. If the departure occurred in a remotely proctored exam, the video recording of the exam will be retained by the Faculty Office for as long as the rest of the documentation is retained. See the FAQs for information on how long documents and recordings will be retained.

6. In some cases, the instructor will refer the sanction associated with a finding or departure from academic integrity to the Associate Dean (Academic).

If the matter appears to warrant a sanction more serious than the instructor may impose, the instructor may refer the case to the Associate Dean (Academic) who has the authority to impose a heavier sanction than the instructor. The Associate Dean (Academic) may impose sanctions ranging from those noted above to a recommendation to Senate that the student be required to withdraw from the University for a specified period of time. If your case is referred to the Associate Dean (Academic), the instructor must advise you, in writing, of:

the details of the finding of departure from academic integrity, using the Finding of a Departure from Academic Integrity form;
the evidence on which the finding is based (you should be supplied with all documents related to the investigation);
the reason for referral
the possible penalties
the right to respond; and
the availability of the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities and guidance on policy and procedure https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/.

Instructors will retain a copy of all documents and any video recordings related to the case until the sanction referral is complete, to be able to participate in the Associate Dean's assessment of the sanction, but no records will be retained in by your professor or in Departmental student files once a decision has been made.

Academic Integrity Policies and Practices at Queen's University

Academic integrity is a concept used to support learning, teaching, research and service within Arts and Science, throughout Queen's and at a wide range of institutions across Canada and the United States. The website for the Center for Academic Integrity offers the widest range of online resources for the study and practice of academic integrity, but the following links offer some basic sources of policy and practice in the Faculty of Arts and Science and at Queen's:

Appealing an Academic Integrity Finding and/or Sanction

How to Appeal

There are two levels of appeal for matters related to academic integrity in the Faculty of Arts and Science:

The Office of the Associate Dean (Academic)

The Associate Dean (Academic) has several roles in the academic integrity process. They hear appeals of academic integrity decisions made by instructors; initiate investigations and make findings, where the departure occurs outside the context of a course; and, in certain cases, assign sanctions after an instructor has made a finding.

If an instructor has made a Finding of a Departure from Academic Integrity and assigned a sanction, the student may have the option of appealing the finding, the sanction, or both to the Associate Dean (Academic).
If the Associate Dean (Academic) makes the finding and assigns the sanction, the student may have the option of appealing the finding, the sanction, or both to the AICP.
If an instructor has made a finding but the Associate Dean (Academic) is responsible for assigning a sanction, the student cannot appeal the finding until the Associate Dean has made a decision regarding the sanction. Once the sanction has been assigned, the student may have the option of appealing both the instructor’s decision regarding the finding and the Associate Dean’s decision regarding the sanction together to the AICP. See below for how to appeal to the AICP.

To submit an appeal to the Associate Dean (Academic), a student must demonstrate that there has been either a breach of procedural fairness, or the instructor exceeded their jurisdiction. Appeal submissions that do not demonstrate one of these grounds will not be considered. Please refer to ‘Grounds to Submit an Appeal’ below for more details.

To submit an appeal to the Associate Dean, students must complete Form A and write a letter explaining their appeal, including demonstrating the grounds for the appeal.

The student has 10 business days from the date that the Finding form was emailed to them to submit an appeal to the Associate Dean (Academic).

Start Appeal to Associate Dean

The Academic Integrity and Conduct Panel (AICP)

Students may have the option of appealing to the AICP in the following circumstances:

If the Associate Dean (Academic) has made a Finding of a Departure from Academic Integrity and assigned a sanction, the student may have the option of appealing the finding, the sanction, or both.
If an instructor has made a Finding of a Departure from Academic Integrity and the Associate Dean (Academic) has made a decision regarding the sanction, the student may have the option of appealing both the instructor’s decision regarding the finding and the Associate Dean’s decision regarding the sanction together.
If a student submitted an appeal of an instructor decision to the Associate Dean and the appeal was denied or approved only in part, the student may have the option of appealing the Associate Dean's decision to the AICP.

To submit an appeal to the AICP, a student must demonstrate that there has been either been a breach of procedural fairness, or that the Instructor/Associate Dean exceeded their jurisdiction. Appeal submissions that do not demonstrate one of these grounds will not be considered. Please refer to ‘Grounds to submit an appeal’ for more details.

To submit an appeal to the AICP, students must complete Form B and write a letter explaining their appeal, including demonstrating the grounds for the appeal.

The student has 10 business days from the date of the Associate Dean (Academic) decision letter to submit an appeal to the AICP

Start Appeal to AICP

Grounds for Appeal

The grounds for submitting an appeal to either the Associate Dean (Academic) or the Academic Integrity Conduct Panel (AICP) are limited to cases in which:

The decision-maker whose decision is being appealed failed to act in accordance with the rules of procedural fairness. A breach of procedural fairness includes failing to:

permit a student to be heard by an unbiased decision-maker;
follow applicable rules, regulations, or University policy, in a way that adversely affected a student’s right to a fair process;
make a reasonable decision. A “reasonable” decision is one that is rational in that its findings are based on evidence, thought out and supported by facts and logical inferences from findings of fact. To be reasonable, the decision must contain adequate reasons for the conclusions. A decision should not be overturned if it falls within a range of possible, acceptable outcomes. If the decision is “reasonable”, the decision-maker deciding the appeal is not permitted to substitute their opinion for that of the decision-maker whose decision is under appeal.

The decision-maker whose decision is being appealed acted without, or exceeded their, jurisdiction.

Appeal submissions that do not demonstrate one of these grounds will not be considered. For more information on the ground to appeal, please see Academic Integrity Procedures 4.1

Appeals must be submitted to the Associate Dean (Academic) or AICP within 10 business days of the date the student was informed of the decision (the date either that the Notice of a Finding of a Departure from Academic Integrity, or the Associate Dean’s decision letter was sent to the student), Academic Integrity Procedures 4.3.1

Academic Integrity FAQ

Have questions about Academic integrity at Queen's University? Find out more about the process, what is expected and see the frequently asked questions relating to Academic integrity at Queen's.

Information about the Investigation Process

How does the investigation process work?

The instructor's first step is to bring the matter to your attention. Using the Notice of Investigation form letter, the instructor will inform you of the following:

the information on which the investigation is based (you should be supplied with all documents related to the investigation);
the possible sanctions (as listed in the Academic Integrity Regulation 1 of the Calendar)
the opportunity to respond to the investigation in writing or in person; and
the right to have a support person present for any response made to the investigation of departure from academic integrity (for instance, you may contact the Coordinator of Dispute Resolution Mechanisms).

What are the purposes of the investigation?

To seek the truth.
To clarify events or actions.
To provide an open and fair forum to both the instructor and the student to explain their actions.
To make the best decision based on all of the available evidence.
To respect all parties in the process.
To maintain an academic environment where all students can be successful and free to explore ideas, to build and advance knowledge and to share the ideas and knowledge that emerges from a range of intellectual pursuits.

What happens after the instructor finishes the investigation?

If the instructor is satisfied with your explanation and determines that there are no grounds for a finding of departure from academic integrity, all documents related to the case will be destroyed and the instructor will inform you that the matter has been closed using a Notice of Dismissal form.

If the instructor believes that there is evidence that a departure from academic integrity has taken place, the instructor will make a Finding and then determine an appropriate sanction or remedy. At this point, evidence of previous departures from academic integrity becomes relevant, and you can expect that the instructor will check with the office of Associate Dean (Academic) to find out if there is a previous finding of departure from academic integrity on your record.
If you have a previous finding on record, the instructor will refer the case to the Associate Dean (Academic) for sanctioning. The instructor will use the Finding form to notify you of the finding and the referral.
If there is no previous finding, the instructor will typically set a remedy or sanction themself and use the Finding form to notify you of the decision.

May I drop a course before an investigation is concluded?

You may not drop the course while an investigation is under way; however there is no mechanism on SOLUS to prevent you from doing so prior to the academic deadline. Therefore, the instructor will proceed with the investigation whether or not you drop the course. If your instructor, or the Office of the Associate Dean (Academic), becomes aware that you have dropped the course while under investigation, you will be reinstated in the course by the Faculty Office pending a decision on the case. If the investigation results in a finding of a departure from academic integrity, and it is discovered that you dropped the course, you will be reinstated at that time if the sanction would result in failure in the course.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

What is expected of me?

It is important that you participate in the investigation process!

Remember that you are always responsible for your actions
Be aware of your rights and responsibilities
Seek advice from knowledgeable people, such as the Office of the Ombudsperson https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/
Respond promptly to each request for a meeting or information
If you realize you have made a mistake, take responsibility for it. This allows the process to move to the important work of considering an appropriate remedy or sanction. Mitigating circumstances such as prompt admission of a departure from academic integrity or an expression of regret and a willingness to undertake educative remedies can be taken into account by the instructor to ensure that the penalty imposed is fair, reasonable, and proportionate to the gravity of the departure
Bring all information that you think is important to the meeting (e.g. study notes, rough drafts of papers, witness contact information, etc.)
Tell the truth. Don't complicate matters by fudging the details. Such a strategy can, and does, lead students into more serious problems
Trust the process - don't be defensive. If you aren't responsible, this will come out in the investigation. Remember the instructor who is investigating your situation is also exploring your innocence. Share everything that helps demonstrate that innocence
You don't have to accept the decision of the instructor. You have the right to appeal the finding and/or the remedy or sanction to the Associate Dean (Academic)

What are my rights as a student?

You have the right to know that you are being investigated for a departure from academic integrity, the evidence upon which the investigation is being mounted, and the academic regulations that govern academic integrity matters, including the possible sanctions or remedies
You have the right to respond fully to the investigation. You may meet with the instructor in person or online; you may prepare a written response; or you may do both
You have the right to obtain help in preparing your response
If you wish to meet with the instructor, you may be accompanied by a support person of your choice
You have the right to be considered innocent of the charges until proven responsible by clear and convincing evidence
you have the right to appeal the decision, if desired

How much time do I have to respond to the instructor?

You have 10 business days after receiving the Notice of Investigation to contact the instructor to schedule a meeting or to indicate that you will respond in writing. Do not delay contacting the instructor, even if it is to tell the instructor that you need more time to prepare your response.

When agreeing on a meeting date, you should give yourself enough time to review the evidence provided by the instructor, assemble all drafts and related materials relevant to the particular piece of work at issue, and seek advice (if desired) from an informed member of the Queen's community, such as the Office of the University Ombudsperson, or anyone whose advice you trust and value (e.g. a friend, close relative, counselor, advisor).

What happens if I do not respond to the Notice of Investigation?

The investigation process can proceed without your participation, and a decision will be reached without your input after the stated time for you to respond has elapsed. The instructor will base the decision on the the available evidence.

Can I bring a friend or representative with me to the meeting?

To assist you with this investigation meeting you may invite any advisor support person that you wish, e.g. a friend, advocatefamily member, or legal support person of your choice. If you decide to bring legal counsel, however, you must advise the instructor in advance.

Do I need legal counsel present during the investigation process?

You do not need legal counsel, but you may have representative counsel with you at the meeting(s) and/or in preparing your response. If you decide to bring legal counsel to the meeting(s), you must advise the instructor in advance.

What if I do not agree with the decision of the investigation?

If you do not agree with the instructor's decision, you may appeal the finding of departure from academic integrity and/or the sanction imposed as a result of an instructor's finding to the Associate Dean (Academic). You have 10 business days after receiving the decision to submit a written appeal and copies of the relevant documents.

Sanctions and Influencing Factors

What kind of sanctions will I be given?

Each case is treated individually; therefore, sanctions will vary from case to case. Depending on the nature of the departure, a sanction may consist of a remedy which is meant to be an educational process or it may be more severe. Where there is a finding of departure from academic integrity, the instructor is expected to assign an appropriate remedy or sanction that reflects the extent and severity of the departure, and past precedents in the Academic Unit and Faculty. The instructor may consult his or her undergraduate Chair and Department Head concerning the matter. The range of remedies or sanctions that the instructor can impose include:

a formal warning
a learning experience or educative remedy
requirement to rewrite or revise the assignment
the completion of new or other work
the deduction of partial or total marks on the assignment or course grade
a failing grade (down to a grade of zero) in the course.

If the penalty amounts to a failure in the course, the student may NOT drop the course regardless of the drop deadlines.

What factors might influence the sanction that the instructor (or the Associate Dean (Academic) sets?

Any sanction should reflect the extent and severity of the departure from academic integrity, precedents in the Academic Unit and Faculty, and take into account any aggravating or mitigating circumstances. Factors which should be considered in assigning a remedy or sanction include the following:

the extent and seriousness of the departure;
any educational measures that could be undertaken to ensure that the student understands the departure;
the value of the academic work in relation to the overall grade for the course;
the experience of the student (for example, a first-year or an upper-year student; a student experienced in the discipline or a student taking an elective course);
any mitigating and/or aggravating circumstances; and
possible direct injury to another student or to the University

There may be occasions where there may be mitigating circumstances, that is, circumstances beyond your control. Although mitigating circumstances do not exonerate or excuse from the finding of a departure from academic integrity, these factors should be taken into account to ensure that the penalty imposed is fair, reasonable, and proportionate to the gravity of the departure found. The decision must outline the evidence supporting reliance on the mitigating circumstances. The onus is on the student to produce evidence of mitigating circumstances. The sorts of mitigating circumstances that may be relevant include:

Documented evidence from an appropriate health professional of factors directly compromising the student's capacity to adhere to the standards of academic integrity at the relevant time;
Prompt admission to the alleged departure from academic integrity by the student and expression of contrition and willingness to undertake educative remedies;
Evidence that reasonable steps were not taken in the circumstances to bring the standards and expectations regarding academic integrity to the attention of the student at the relevant time.

Conversely, there could also be aggravating circumstances that should be taken into account when determining an appropriate sanction. Examples include:

Evidence of a deliberate attempt to gain advantage;
An active attempt to conceal the departure;
The student is in their upper years of study and ought to have been familiar with the expectations for academic integrity;
Conduct that intimidates others or provokes misconduct by others;
Direct harm to another student or the University

What sanctions (penalties) may an instructor impose for a finding of departure of academic integrity?

The instructor may consider a range of remedies or sanctions including:

an oral or written warning that such infractions constitute unacceptable behaviour;
a learning experience involving a rewriting or revision of the original piece of work;
the submission of a new piece of work;
the completion of other work;
the deduction of partial or total loss of marks for the assignment/exam or overall course grade;
or a failing grade (down to a grade of zero) in the course.

What sanctions (penalties) may the Associate Dean (Academic) impose for a finding of departure of academic integrity?

If there is a finding of a departure from academic integrity, a range of remedies or sanctions including, but not limited to, one or more of the following may be assessed:

an oral or written warning;
the submission of a revised or new piece of work;
partial or total loss of marks for the assignment/examination;
partial or total loss of marks for the course in which the departure of academic integrity took place;
an official written warning that the penalty for a subsequent offence could be a requirement to withdraw from the Faculty or University for a specified minimum period of time;
a recommendation for a requirement to withdraw from the University for a specified minimum period of time;
a recommendation for the revocation or rescinding of a degree.

What is the difference between a Level I and Level II finding?

Normally, a finding will be considered Level I, unless one of the following factors applies, in which case it will be characterized as Level II:

a departure that involves an essential component of the course for which a failing grade would normally result in a failure in the course
an upper-year student who has taken several previous courses in the discipline (for instance, a fourth-year student in a concentration course)
previous departure(s) from academic integrity (the instructor would refer the new case to the Associate Dean (Academic)
significant and unacknowledged use of one or more sources
there is more than one type of departure involved
significant departure from expectations of professionalism or accreditation standards
direct negative effect on other students (e.g. stealing another student's academic work), the program, or the University is involved

If a finding is classified as Level I AND there is no other finding of departure from academic integrity on your record, then the finding will remain in a sealed file and only to be consulted upon subsequent findings of departures from academic integrity.

If a finding is classified as Level II (regardless of whether it is a first finding or a subsequent one), the finding will be held in your main file in the Office of the Associate Dean (Academic).

When will I learn of the instructor's decision and remedy (or sanction)?

After considering the available evidence and your explanation, the instructor will make a decision in a timely manner. If the instructor makes a finding of departure of academic integrity, this will be sent to you with a copy to the Office of the Associate Dean (Academic).

The finding will include the following:

the decision or finding of departure from academic integrity
the remedy or sanctions
the type of departure Level I or Level II
the opportunity to appeal the finding and/or the sanction to the Associate Dean (Academic)
the deadline for appealing to the Associate Dean (Academic)
the resources available for consultation

What if I have a previous finding of departure from academic integrity on record?

If you have a previous finding on record, the instructor will refer the new finding to the Associate Dean (Academic) for sanctioning. The instructor will use the Finding form to notify you of the finding and the referral. The Associate Dean (Academic) will review the case and may set a more serious sanction than an instructor can impose.

Will this finding stay on my record?

Whether the finding remains on your record depends on the severity of the behaviour that leads to the finding and your academic experience.

A Level I finding will not be kept in your main file, but in a separate special file that will only be accessed if there is a future finding. It will be destroyed on your graduation.
Level II departures are kept on a confidential file that is consulted only for purposes of academic advising, assessment of academic progress, or review of matters related to academic integrity. In rare cases, some schools (such as American Law Schools, Medical Schools and Police Academies) request references from the Associate Dean (Academic) and the file can consulted to answer specific questions about the student's academic history. But even then, we can’t speak to those schools without your permission, so you still have control over who knows about this departure outside of Student Services staff.