Academic Misconduct
Cheating: This includes but is not limited to dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct at tests or examinations….
Plagiarism: This includes but is not limited to the presentation or submission of the work of another person, without citation or credits, as the student’s own work.
When a member of faculty suspects that misconduct has occurred, he / she shall investigate it immediately. If satisfied that the misconduct did occur, he / she shall notify the student at once that he plans to report the incident, and he/she shall then report it immediately to the department head, or to the appropriate person in the faculty, who in turn shall notify the dean of that faculty or designate without delay. If after thorough investigation, during which the student shall be given an opportunity to explain the incident, the misconduct has been established, the academic aspects of the matter may be dealt with, and appropriate academic action taken by the department or faculty concerned.
When the misconduct consists of cheating as described above, zero credit or some other mark may be assigned by the faculty for the examination or test in which the cheating occurred.
When the misconduct consists of plagiarism as described above, zero credit or some other mark may be assigned by the faculty for the plagiarized submission.
The action thus taken shall be reported immediately to the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline by the dean of the faculty in which the misconduct occurred, together with a complete description of the evidence upon which the faculty action was based.
UBC Calendar
http://students.ubc.ca/calendar/
Academic Freedom
The members of the University enjoy certain rights and privileges essential to the fulfilment of its primary functions: instruction and the pursuit of knowledge. Central among these rights is the freedom, within the law, to pursue what seems to them as fruitful avenues of inquiry, to teach and to learn unhindered by external or non-academic constraints, to engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion. This freedom extends not only to the regular members of the University but to all who are invited to participate in its forum. Suppression of this freedom, whether by institutions of the state, the officers of the University or the actions of private individuals, would prevent the University from carrying out its primary functions. All members of the University must recognize this fundamental principle and must share responsibility for supporting, safeguarding and preserving this central freedom. Behaviour which obstructs free and full discussion, not only of ideas which are safe and accepted but of those which may be unpopular or even abhorrent, vitally threatens the integrity of the University’s forum. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated.
Review for Authenticity
All work submitted by students (including, without limitation, essays, dissertations, theses, examinations, tests, reports, presentations, problem sets, and tutorial assignments) may be reviewed by the University for authenticity and originality. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such review may include the use of software tools and third party services including Internet-based services such as TurnItIn.com. By submitting work, students consent to their work undergoing such review and being retained in a database for comparison with other work submitted by students. The results of such review may be used in any University investigation or disciplinary proceedings.
Student Discipline: Introduction
The President of the university has the right under Section 61 of the University Act to deal summarily with any matter of student discipline.
Student Discipline: Academic Misconduct
Ignorance of the appropriate standard of academic honesty is no defence to an allegation of Academic Misconduct. Academic Misconduct that is subject to penalty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs where an individual submits or presents the work of another person as his or her own. Scholarship quite properly rests upon examining and referring to the thoughts and writings of others. However, when excerpts are used in paragraphs or essays, the author must be acknowledged in the text, through footnotes, in endnotes, or in other accepted forms of academic citation. Plagiarism extends from where there is no recognition given to the author for phrases, sentences, or ideas of the author incorporated in an essay to where an entire essay is copied from an author, or composed by another person, and presented as original work. Students must ensure that when they seek assistance from a tutor or anyone else that the work they submit is actually their own. Where collaborative work is permitted by the instructor, students must ensure that they comply with the instructor’s requirements for such collaboration. Students are responsible for ensuring that any work submitted does not constitute plagiarism. Students who are in any doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism should consult their instructor before handing in any assignments.
2. Cheating. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: falsifying any material subject to academic evaluation; having in an examination any materials other than those permitted by the examiner; and using unauthorized means to complete an examination (e.g. receiving unauthorized assistance from a fellow student).
3. Submitting the same, or substantially the same, essay, presentation, or assignment more than once (whether the earlier submission was at this or another institution), unless prior approval has been obtained from the instructor(s) to whom the assignment is to be submitted.
Student Discipline: Disciplinary Measures
Disciplinary Measures which may be imposed, singly or in combination, for Academic Misconduct or Non-Academic Misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. A letter of reprimand.
2. A failing grade or mark of zero in the course in which the Academic Misconduct occurred.
3. Suspension or cancellation of any scholarships, bursaries or prizes.
4. Suspension from the University for a specified or indefinite period of time. Students will not receive credit for courses taken at another institution during a suspension.
5. Expulsion from the University.
6. A notation of discipline on the student’s record in the Student Information System, which will appear on the student’s Transcript of Academic Record.
7. Revocation of a degree or other academic credentials dishonestly or improperly obtained.
Student Discipline: Warning
The Disciplinary Measure imposed for plagiarism or cheating is normally suspension from the University.
The laying of criminal charges, or the commencement of civil proceedings, does not preclude the University from commencing disciplinary proceedings or taking Disciplinary Measures against a student who has committed Academic or Non-Academic Misconduct.
