What is academic misconduct?
Academic misconduct involves much more than just copying someone else's work or cheating on an exam. The Student Code of Academic Conduct defines and describes the process by which charges may be laid and the possible penalties. The following actions could result in a charge of academic misconduct:
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Improperly referencing sources (including the internet);
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Using academic work (eg. an essay) in more than one course without the advance permission of both professors;
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Talking about an exam during a fire alarm evacuation in the middle of writing the exam;
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Withholding information from Ryerson about other post-secondary studies;
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Tampering with or altering another student's academic work;
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Allowing another student to copy your academic work (essay, exam or assignment);
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Fabricating research results; or
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Hiding, destroying or defacing library books so other students are unable to use them.
The University places a very high value on academic integrity. According to university policy, if a faculty member suspects academic dishonesty, they have a responsibility to investigate. Students also may feel cheated by classmates who earn their grades dishonestly.
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What does Ryerson do to prevent academic dishonesty?
Many measures are in place at the University to curb academic dishonesty:
- Some department handouts and many course outlines make reference to cheating or plagiarism. Faculty can often tell that an essay has been plagiarized, even if they are unsure of the exact source of pirated passages. Some faculty at Ryerson use electronic plagiarism detection methods, such as Turnitin.com, to determine whether or not a piece of written work is original and/or whether it has been properly referenced;
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How will I know if someone suspects I've cheated?
You must be notified of the suspicion of academic misconduct as soon as possible in a confidential and appropriate manner. Your official Ryerson email account is used most often, but occasionally a professor may speak to you after class in a confidential setting.
What is a "Facilitated Discussion"? Will I have a chance to tell the instructor my side of the story?
If an instructor suspects academic misconduct you will be asked to attend a meeting with either:
(a) the professor alone;
(b) with the professor and a mutually agreed upon third party; or (c) the professor and an Academic Integrity Officer (AIO), called a "Facilitated Discussion". Students or professors can request a Facilitated Discussion.
You may consult with the RSU advocate, the Ombuds Office, the Academic Integity Office or your Program Director or Chair prior to attending the meeting.
The meeting should normally held within five (5) working days of receiving notice of the suspicion of academic misconduct. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you must promptly notify the instructor or the AIO so another meeting can be scheduled. Otherwise, the instructor will make a decision about whether or not to charge you with Academic Misconduct without the benefit of your input.
During this initial meeting, the instructor must explain why she/he has a suspicion of academic misconduct and provide you with evidence to demonstrate why he or she is suspicious. He/she may make comments which you find upsetting or hurtful because of the nature of the discussion. The discussion should be respectful and civil. It is important to listen carefully to the professor's point of view and note and any errors or misunderstandings you believe have occurred. Writing down a few notes might help to keep you focused, and less stressed.
You should then be given the opportunity to explain yourself and present any notes or documents you have brought with you to explain or clarify your understanding of what happened. You may be asked to submit rough notes and earlier drafts for the working question, or to write an account of an event. If you realize that there is a document or additional information which may help to further explain or clarify your understanding, but which you did not bring with you to the meeting, let the professor and/or AIO know immediately, so that you can make arrangements to get this information to the professor before he/she makes a decision.
During this meeting, a summary of your and your professor's explanations will be recorded on a Summary of Discussion Form. If you do not agree with the content of the summary, you should note the disagreement on the back of the Summary of Discussion form, and provide what you believe is an accurate description of what was stated at the meeting.
During a Facilitated Discussion, you and the professor may come to an agreement about whether there was academic misconduct and the appropriate penalty. You have five (5) days after the meeting to recind admission of misconduct and/or acceptance of a penalty greater than the minimum by contacting the AIO. An appeal can only be filed if there has been a formal recission, and must be filed within ten (10) working days of the recission.
If you and the professor do NOT come to an agreement about whether there was academic misconduct and/or the appropriate penalty, the instructor can decide to charge the student and assign a penalty. You can choose to appeal that decision within ten (10) working days of the Facilitated Discussion.
If you have met with the professor alone or with a mutually agreed upon third party, the professor has five (5) days to come to a decision and to recommend a penalty. You will receive the professor's decision in writing.
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What should I do if an instructor decides to charge me with academic misconduct? What forms do I need?
Under the Student Code of Academic Conduct you have the right to appeal a charge of academic misconduct and/or the recommended penalty. If the person investigating the allegations against you seems unwilling to hear your side, you can appeal. The burden of proof is on the University.
To appeal the decision of an instructor to charge you with misconduct, you must appeal charges of Academic Misconduct or the penalties to the Academic Integrity Council. If you decide to appeal, you must initiate your appeal within ten (10) working days of the original decision from the instructor. A panel will be formed and a hearing held. The Academic Integrity Council Form is used for the first level of appeal and the Senate Appeals Committee Form is used for the second level of appeal (under the heading "Code of Conduct Forms and Instructions").
If there is an automatic hearing as a result of a recommendation of Disciplinary Suspension, Withdrawal or Expulsion from the University or if a second Disciplinary Notice (DN) results in Disciplinary Suspension, the appropriate form would be the Academic Integrity Council Automatic Appeal form.
If an Automatic Hearing of the Senate Appeals Committee has been scheduled because the Faculty Appeals Committee or Director of Student Services has recommended Disciplinary Withdrawal from the program or Expulsion from the University, the appropriate form would be the Senate Appeals Committee Automatic Hearing form.
GOOD REASONS FOR CONSIDERING AN APPEAL:
- you are not guilty
- the penalty seems too severe for the action involved
- there is relevant information which the decision-maker does not have
- you will regret it later if you do not appeal now.
POOR REASONS FOR CONSIDERING AN APPEAL:
- you disagree with the relevant university policy
- you know other students who did what you did and who weren't caught
- friends or family members think you should appeal
- although you did what is claimed, you're not really "that kind of person".
REASONS YOU MAY NOT WANT TO APPEAL:
- you did what is claimed (i.e. you are guilty)
- the penalty seems fair or reasonable
- you want to put the matter behind you
- the evidence against you is reasonably persuasive
- you know you should have known better, read the rules, and been more careful (i.e. ignorance of the rules is not an excuse).
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What are the possible penalties for academic misconduct?
Various factors may influence decision makers when determining penalties for academic dishonesty or other offences:
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Was the offence planned or the result of an impulse?
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Has the student been honest and cooperative during the investigative process?
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Is this a first offence? Has the studen been found guilty of a similar offence?
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Were other students compromised? Was the University compromised?
If an instructor concludes that you are guilty of academic misconduct the student, the departmental Chair and the Registrar will be notified.
If you are charged with academic misconduct the minimum penalty that can be assigned is grade of zero (0) on the assignment, exam or other work and a "DN" (Disciplinary Notice) on your academic record and official transcript. The instructor may also require that you participate in an Academic Integrity seminar. All penalties imposed for academic misconduct are recorded on a student's academic record and transcript.
For a second offence, you would normally receive, at minimum, a Disciplinary Suspension (DS) . Disciplinary Withdrawal or Expulsion are more severe possible academic consequences. Other consequences are defined in the policy and include revocation of certificates, diplomas and degrees and the notification of other authorities.
You may be told that the sanction or penalty being imposed is very light, and that you are lucky not to be suspended or expelled. These penalties are normally reserved for repeat offenders and very serious forms of academic misconduct.
A DN or a DS will be removed from your file when you graduate, or:
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after eight (8) years if you do not graduate if you are a full-time undergraduate student;
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after four (4) years for graduate students;
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or after fourteen (14) years for part-time undergraduate students
whichever comes first. If you graduate from another university, you may write to the Registrar's Office to request that the notation be removed. Students who receive a DN in the first half of their program may be eligible to request that the DN be removed prior to graduation. Consult the policy.
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What do I do if I know or suspect someone of cheating or other Academic Misconduct?
Anyone who suspects someone else of committing an offence has several choices:
- talk about your suspicions with the other person
- report your suspicions to the instructor/chair/dean
- remain uninvolved
Before deciding to remain uninvolved, consider who will benefit from your lack of action. If you feel an obligation to try to make your university a fairer and more honest place, try to find a way to get involved.
"Students who cheat, cheat other students most of all."
If you decide to talk to someone you suspect of academic dishonesty or some other offence, make sure you are familiar with the relevant policy. Then consider the evidence you have that a violation has taken or will take place. Be clear about your own motives and goals. Try putting yourself in the position of the other person: if you were about to make the mistake of submitting a plagiarized piece of work, would you rather your buddy called you on it and stopped you - or would you prefer to be caught by the prof and failed in the course?
Reporting a suspicion:
There are two ways to make such a report:
(1) By giving the instructor, chair or dean a tip. When you give a tip, you need not disclose your identity. You are merely advising that you suspect a violation took place (or will probably take place). It is up to the instructor, chair or dean to either prevent the offence or to investigate and gather the evidence needed to charge the offenders. You do not have to become a witness. A tip can be written, phoned or given in person.
Sometimes a tip will not be useful because the instructor is unable to find any evidence in support of the claims made. From the university's point of view it is always preferable to have a witness willing to state what they have seen or heard.
(2) By giving evidence. If you can act as a witness and if charges are laid against those under suspicion, you will be called to a formal hearing. The evidence presented at this hearing will be tested against a "balance of probabilities" This means the committee will weight the evidence provided according to the test of what a reasonable, impartial person would find probably happened.
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How do I avoid cheating and plagiarism?
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Tell the truth.
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Read forms carefully. Ask if you are not sure of something, such as whether to mention your incomplete year of study at another institution.
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Respect the rules, including the specific rules for a given course, lab, project, test or assignment.
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Disclose all the relevant details of your situation when asking advice, and ask before doing anything you are unsure about.
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Consider the possible consequences of your actions. Could someone be hurt or inconvenienced? What harm or damage might result? Are you prepared to pay the cost?
- More information and FAQs about plagiarism are available from the Ryerson Academic Integrity Office website and Turnitin.com.
...In tests and exams
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Bring your Ryerson Photo ID to all exams but don't take any notes, books or other items into a test or exam except those expressly authorized.
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Arrive on time and and do not sit near friends.
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Do not gaze around the room when writing a test or exam and try to shield your answer sheet so that others cannot see it.
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Do not communicate with any other student during a test or exam: communicate only with the instructor or proctor.
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Hand in all papers required.
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If you hear of anyone obtaining information about a test or exam in advance, tell the instructor.
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If exam procedures seem inadequate to you, let the instructor know what your concerns are. Report any unusual or suspicious behaviour to the exam proctor or instructor.
...In essays, reports and other assignments
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Do not submit the same work on more than one occasion in two or more courses course without prior written permission from each professor involved.
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Only work with other students and/or collaborate with others on assignments if you are permitted to do so.
- Only cite sources in your bibliography that you have used for the assignment in question.
- Do not lend your work to other students unless you feel certain they will use it honestly. If someone else uses your work improperly, you may be found guilty of academic misconduct as well.
- Keep copies of all assignments, essays, and reports you hand in to be graded. Keep rough copies and notes until your final grade is received. Notes and rough copies can help to demonstrate that your work is your own.
- When in doubt about any practice, ask your instructor or your department for clarification. You can also contact the Academic Integrity Officer. Do not rely on friends, relatives or other students for information about what is acceptable practice in a course or at the university and/or what constitutes academic misconduct.
- When material you read impresses you, be particularly careful. If you use your own words, acknowledge these sources of information, ideas and inspiration by citing them. Use quotation marks and cite sources whenever you use the direct words of another, even phrases only one or two words in length. Think of 4 A's: Always Acknowledge All sources Appropriately.
Our thanks to Frances Bauer and Anita Pouliot in the Ombuds Office at the University of Western Ontario for permission to use their guide entitled "Cheating, Plagiarism and Other Scholastic Offences".
What if I didn't know what I did was wrong?
It is your responsibility to know the rules! Some cheating, plagiarism or other wrongdoing are due to student ignorance of rules and obligations. It is very important for students to find out what is expected of them and therefore reduce the potential for inadvertant wrongdoing. In addition to reviewing the Student Code of Academic Conduct, you may want to take a look at the information for students about plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic misconduct on the Academic Integrity Office website.
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