2-G-04 Academic Offences Page 1 of 5

FANSHAWE COLLEGE POLICY MANUAL

2. ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
SECTION G - STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES


TITLE: ACADEMIC OFFENCES

POLICY NUMBER: 2-G-04
EFFECTIVE: September 1, 2008 (April 16, 2008, CC-07-06)
APPROVAL/REVIEW MEETING: July 2, 1985 (Academic Committee), June 5, 1996
(CC-95-07); September 1, 2003 (Jan. 22, 2003:
CC-02-04 Effective Sept. 1, 2003)
NEXT REVIEW: March 2013
DEPT./DIV//COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE: Vice President, Academic
RESCINDED:


1. PURPOSE

Fanshawe College seeks to ensure an environment of academic integrity in both the learning
and evaluation processes taking place in the College. To protect this integrity and the rights
of all students, this policy and procedure has been created.

Academic integrity is expected and required of all Fanshawe's students. Students are
responsible and accountable for personally upholding that integrity. Academic offences will
not be tolerated and students found guilty of such offences will be disciplined in accordance
with this policy.

2. DEFINITIONS


3. THE POLICY

Academic offences have been variously labeled: cheating, intellectual dishonesty,
misrepresentation, fabrication, plagiarism, and falsification.

3.1. Academic offences include, but are not limited to, the following:

3.1.1. Copying from another student in a test or examination situation.
3.1.2. Copying and submitting in whole or in part the work of another in an
assignment, report, project, etc. as one's own.
3.1.3. Copying and submitting, in whole or in part, electronic files or data created
by another person without the instructor's permission.
3.1.4. Copying and submitting, in whole or in part, work created by the author to
instructors in more than one course without prior permission. This practice
is commonly referred to as double submission.
3.1.5. Using unauthorized material or aids in the preparation of an assignment or
project.
3.1.6. Possessing unauthorized material or aids in a test or examination situation.

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3.1.7. Claiming to have completed assigned tasks that were, in fact, completed by
another person.
3.1.8. Plagiarizing materials or works, in whole or in part, prepared by another
person without citing appropriate reference credit.
3.1.9. Allowing another person to take a test or examination in one's place.
3.1.10. Altering or falsifying academic records in any way or submitting false
documentation for academic purposes.
3.1.11. Improperly obtaining through theft, bribery, collusion, or otherwise any test
or examination paper prior to the date and time for writing such test or
examination.
3.1.12. Aiding or abetting anyone in an academic offence.

3.2. Procedure

3.2.1. When a student is suspected of an academic offence, the instructor,
invigilator or other individual who suspects the student of an academic
offence will, at the earliest opportunity, investigate the situation, discuss the
matter with the student and come to a decision regarding the student's guilt
or innocence.
3.2.2. In the event a decision is made under 3.2.1 that the student is guilty of an
academic offence, before determining an appropriate penalty, the course
instructor will ascertain from the Office of the Registrar whether the student
has been found guilty of any previous academic offences while enrolled at
Fanshawe College and consult the student's Program Coordinator/Academic
Manager.
3.2.3. In the event that the instructor determines this to be a first offence for the
student, the instructor will apply an appropriate penalty subject to the
limitations in section 3.4. The instructor should give due consideration to
the seriousness of the offence as well as the impact of the penalty imposed
on the student's education. The penalty should also be consistent with the
range of penalties outlined in section 3.5 of this policy.
3.2.4. In the case of a student's first offence, the instructor imposing the penalty
will fully complete the College's "Academic Offences Form", providing
copies to the student, the student's Program Academic Manager, and the
Office of the Registrar.

Where the instructor has determined that this is not the student's first offence
and has concluded the student is guilty of a further offence, the instructor
will complete the College's "Academic Offences Form," excluding the
penalty portion of the form. All copies of the form should then be forwarded
to the student's Program Academic Manager.

3.2.5. In the case of a second offence by the student, the student's Program
Academic Manager will determine the appropriate penalty for this offence
and will ensure that the penalty is more severe than the penalty imposed for
the previous offence. The Program Academic Manager will complete the
penalty section of the College's "Academic Offence Form," providing copies
to the student and the Office of the Registrar, and retaining a divisional
copy. The student will be advised on the Academic Offence Form that if
found guilty of a third offence at Fanshawe College, an automatic penalty of
expulsion from the College will result.

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3.3. Penalties

A student guilty of an academic offence will be subject to a penalty appropriate to the
nature and seriousness of the offence. A record of all such cases will be kept in the
Office of the Registrar. Second offences for the same individual will be subject to a
more serious penalty than the one previously imposed.

The following penalties may be applied:

3.3.1. Reprimand.
3.3.2. Requirement that the student repeat and re-submit the SAME OR AN
ALTERNATE assignment. In such cases, the grade or mark awarded will be
reduced or limited at the discretion of the faculty member.
3.3.3. A mark of "0" will be given for the assignment with no opportunity to
resubmit. This may result in failure of the course.
3.3.4. A failing (F) grade will be awarded in the course. This penalty will only be
imposed following consultation with the student's program coordinator, if
any. The faculty member will make the final decision.
3.3.5. Immediate suspension from the College for a period not less than the end of
the current semester in which the student is enrolled nor more than one year.
This penalty will result in automatic failing (F) grades in all courses in
which the student is registered, and no fees will be refunded for that
semester. This penalty will only be imposed by the student's Program
Academic Manager on the recommendation of the staff member involved in
investigating the incident. Failure of the Academic Manager to implement
the recommendation may be appealed by the staff member to the Academic
Managers immediate superior (See College Policy 2-G-01 Student Code of
Conduct, for further information concerning suspension).
3.3.6. Expulsion from the College, permanently recorded on the student's record
and any Statement of Academic Achievement. This penalty will result in
automatic failing (F) grades in all courses in which the student is registered
and no fees will be refunded for that semester. This penalty will only be
imposed by the student's Program Academic Manager on the
recommendation of the staff member involved in investigating the incident.
Formal communication to the student of the expulsion, on the
recommendation of the students Program Academic Manager, will be
issued by the Registrar detailing the conditions of the expulsion. Failure of
the Academic Manager to implement the recommendation may be appealed
by the staff member to the Academic Managers immediate superior (See
College Policy 2-G-01 Student Code of Conduct, and College Policy 2-A-03
Admission of Students to College Diploma and Certificate Programs, and
College Policy 2-C-06, Academic Withdrawal and Termination, for further
information concerning expulsion and readmission following expulsion).

3.4. Appropriate Penalties for Academic Offences

This section provides both direction and guidelines to those individuals (faculty and
administrators) responsible for imposing penalties for academic offences. As
outlined in this section, certain offences carry minimum penalties which must be
applied consistently throughout the College. In many instances, however, there is

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discretion in the application of a penalty, but that discretion should fall within the
limits herein proscribed. To ensure as consistent a treatment as possible,
consideration should be given to the extent to which the student was aware, or ought
to have been aware, that what he/she was doing constituted an academic offence. For
example, where students are permitted to work in groups of two or more in preparing
an assignment or project and where each individual student is required to make a
separate submission, faculty must ensure that students have been given clear direction
as to the extent submitted work by individuals may be common. In the event a
student is found to be committing an academic offence in such a situation, the penalty
should be mitigated if there is good reason to believe the student did not understand
the action as inappropriate.

The following penalty ranges for academic offences under this policy must be
followed:

No. Academic Offence
Appropriate Penalty
1. Any third offence under this policy 3.3.6
2. Aiding or abetting anyone in any
academic offence
The same penalty which
would be applied for the actual
cheating offence
3. In a test or examination situation,
copying from others or possessing
unauthorized material or aids
3.3.3 to 3.3.5
4. Submitting the work of another as
ones own, plagiarism and double
submission
3.3.1 to 3.3.4
5. Allowing another person to take a
test or examination
3.3.6
6. Altering or falsifying academic
records or submitting false
documentation.
3.3.1 to 3.3.6

7. Improperly obtaining a test or
examination
3.3.4 to 3.3.6

3.5. Student Appeals

Consistent with College Policy 2-G-02 Student Appeals of a Grade or Other
Academic Decision a student may appeal a decision that he/she is guilty of an
academic offence or the appropriateness of the applied penalty by completing the
appeal form from the Office of the Registrar for appealing grades or academic
decisions. Any such appeal must be received in the Office of the Registrar within 14
calendar days (excluding holidays as defined in the Academic Calendar) of the
student's learning of the decision or the penalty. As with grade appeals, the student
will be entitled to two levels of formal appeal. Any decision following the second
level appeal will be final.

During an appeal of interim suspension, suspension or expulsion, after discussion
with the Program Academic Manager, if there is no issue of safety to others, the
student may be allowed to continue in the course or program until any appeal has
been heard and resolved.


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3.6. Retention of Records

Documentation in a students academic offence file must be retained for a minimum
of three years from the last activity related to a specific complaint. Subject to any
College policy or legal action to the contrary after this three year period, a student
may apply to the Registrar to have all documents in possession of the College
pertaining to a Student's academic offence, contained in the Student academic offence
file removed, excepting those documents which become part of a Student's Permanent
Record that are to remain in effect.


4. REFERENCES

College Policy:

1-B-46: Respectful College Community
2-A-03: Admission of Students to College Applied Degree, Diploma, and Certificate
Programs
2-C-06: Academic Withdrawal and Termination
2-G-01: Student Code of Conduct
2-G-02: Student Appeal of a Grade or Other Academic Decision


5. APPENDICES

None