II. General Regulations

Academic Misconduct

Guidelines for Penalties for Academic Misconduct

With the finding of academic misconduct, there is a mandatory penalty of Official Warning which will stay on the student’s record until graduation. In addition, one or more other penalties may be assessed. Following are guidelines used by chairs/directors and deans in determining the appropriate additional penalties. Users need to be aware that these are guidelines and that not all cases will fit neatly into the categories.

The guidelines below provide a range of penalties (minima and maxima) for the various offences identified in the Policy on Academic Misconduct as well as indicate what penalty is deemed to be the “norm” for the offence in the case of a first or second year student. It should be noted that “subsequent offence” means any subsequent offence, not only a subsequent offence in the same category.

For a course-based offence, the chair/director may assign penalties up to and including loss of grades if the offence is a first offence. If there is a previous offence on the student’s record, or if the chair/director believes a stronger penalty is merited, the case is forwarded to the dean for penalty assessment.

In cases where the dean is of the opinion that there is cause for a penalty different from those indicated in the guidelines (either higher or lower), she/he will review the penalty with the Provost and Vice-President Academic. The dean will also consult with the Provost in cases where the contemplated penalty is suspension or expulsion.

In a case where the dean is of the opinion that the finding of guilt is not supported by the evidence, the dean will review the case with the chair/director. If the chair/director and dean are unable to reach an agreement on the case, the dean will consult with the Provost before making final determinations as to the finding of guilt and any penalty to be applied in the event that dean upholds the finding of guilt.

In determining the appropriate penalty the chair/director or dean will take into consideration these guidelines, the recommendation from the instructor, the recommendation from the chair/director (in the case of a dean assigning a penalty), and any other relevant factors such as the relative weight of the assignment, the semester level of the student, the seriousness or extent of the offence (e.g. the amount of work plagiarized), any record of previous offences, and any mitigating circumstances presented by the student.

Guidelines for Penalties for Academic Misconduct in Addition to Official Warning

Offences First Offence Subsequent Offences
A. Misappropriation of Other’s Work
1. Plagiarism
Minor

Resubmission of new work

Loss of grades3

Zero on the assignment

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Major

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

2. Copying
Minor

Resubmission of new work

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Major

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

3. Unauthorized Collaboration
Minor

Resubmission of work

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Major

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

B. Misrepresentation and Fraud
1. Impersonation
Minor

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Major

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

2. Falsification
In addition to any penalty that may be applied, if a document is discovered to have been falsified, the document is null and void and the action permitted by the document is reversed.

Resubmission of work

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course4

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension/revocation of admission offer

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension/revocation of admission offer

Expulsion/Revocation

3. Withholding of documents
Minor

Official warning

Loss of grades

Resubmission of work

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course5

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer

Major

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation of degree or admission offer

4. Unauthorized Aids

Resubmission of work

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment/exam

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

C. Improper Access and Obstruction6
1. Preventing Access
Minor

Official warning

Resubmission of work

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Major

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

2. Obstruction and Interference

Loss of grades

Zero on the assignment

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

3. Improper Access

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

4. Improper Dissemination

Zero in the course (if applicable)

Suspension

Zero in the course

Loss of scholarship/bursary

Suspension

Expulsion/Revocation

3 Bolded text indicates the normal expectation for penalty for a first or second year undergraduate, or first year graduate student.

4 If the falsified document is course-related (e.g. medical note).

5 If the withheld information would have affected admission to a course.

6 These offences may also be subject to penalty under the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy.

University of Guelph
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Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1

Canada
519-824-4120