VIII. ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Note: Consideration of a request to withdraw from a course or courses involved in an academic offence will not be given until the case is resolved

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

A. PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism includes:

1. quoting verbatim or almost verbatim from a source (such as copyrighted material, notes, letters, business entries, computer materials, etc.) without acknowledgment;
2. adopting someone else's line of thought, argument, arrangement, or supporting evidence (such as, for example, statistics, bibliographies, etc.) without indicating such dependence;
3. submitting someone else's work, in whatever form (film, workbook, artwork, computer materials, etc.) without acknowledgment;
4. knowingly representing as one's own work any idea of another.

NOTE: In courses which include group work, the instructor must define and warn against plagiarism in group work. Unless an act of plagiarism is identified clearly with an individual student or students, a penalty may be imposed on all members of the group.

Procedures

In the case of plagiarism, the instructor must make every reasonable effort to discuss the case with the student or group and follow one of two courses of action.

1. If the instructor is satisfied that the plagiarism was the result of a genuine misunderstanding, the instructor shall complete an academic offence incident report, and the instructor or the instructor's representative shall submit the academic offence incident report and attached information to the Registrar. Where applicable, the Registrar shall advise the appropriate Dean, and the Chair of the student's program or Department where applicable. The Registrar shall notify the student by registered letter of the regulations governing plagiarism, the possible consequences, the student's right to appeal, the right to appear before the appropriate Committee, and the procedures involved. The Registrar shall also include, with this registered letter, a copy of the academic offence incident report and attached information. While a case of genuine misunderstanding will not be considered a student's first offence, a second plea of ignorance by the student will be so considered. A student appealing the instructor's decision must do so in writing within three weeks of the date of the Registrar's notification. The student is urged to submit to the appropriate Committee a written statement regarding the case.

   In the case of plagiarism resulting from genuine misunderstanding, the instructor may permit the student to submit a genuine piece of work to be graded in place of the one plagiarized. If the student does not appeal, the time allowed for submission of work is three weeks from the date of the Registrar's letter of notification. In the case of an appeal, where the instructor's decision is upheld, the period of time allowed for submission is as determined by the appropriate Committee.

2. If, in the view of the instructor the plagiarism was deliberate, the instructor shall complete an academic offence incident report, and the instructor or the instructor's representative shall submit the academic offence incident report and attached information to the Registrar. Where applicable, the Registrar will advise the Dean, and the Chair of the student's program or department where applicable. The Registrar shall notify the student by registered letter of the regulations, the right to respond, the right to appear before the appropriate Committee, and the procedures involved. The student is urged to submit to the Committee a written statement regarding the case. A student responding to the instructor's academic offence incident report, must do so in writing within three weeks of the date of the Registrar's letter of notification. At the discretion of the Registrar, cases may be referred to the appropriate Committee for review and action. The Registrar shall inform the student by registered letter of the referral to the Committee, and the wish of the Committee that the student be present when the case is heard. The Registrar shall also include, with this registered letter, a copy of the academic offence incident report and attached information.

Penalties for Deliberate Plagiarism

In a case of deliberate plagiarism, the penalties are:

First Offence: If the student does not appeal, or if, on appeal, the Committee upholds the instructor's decision:

1. A notation will be placed on the student's transcript of academic record concerning the academic offence. The length of time the notation appears on the student's transcript of academic record is to be decided when the penalty is imposed and will depend on the severity of the offence.
2. The student may be required to submit a satisfactory and genuine piece of work to replace the one involving plagiarism. If the assignment is not resubmitted or is unsatisfactory, the student will receive a grade of F(zero) in the course. Note: If this penalty is assessed, the period of time allowed for the submission of the work will be determined by the Registrar in consultation with the faculty member making the charge, and, where appropriate, the Committee.
3. The student will receive a grade of F (zero) on the piece of work and, depending on the severity of the offence, may receive a grade of F for the course.


4. Other penalties as outlined in penalties for Other Academic Offences may be imposed.

Subsequent Offence:In cases where the Committee considers that the student has plagiarized again:

1. the student will receive a grade of F in the course and a notation of the academic offence will appear on the student's transcript of record. The length of time the notation appears on the student's transcript of academic record is to be decided when the penalty is imposed.


2. Other penalties as outlined in penalties for Other Academic Offences may be imposed.

B. OTHER ACADEMIC OFFENCES

1. Cheating on examinations, tests, assignments or reports.
2. Impersonating a candidate at an examination or test or in connection with any assignment in a course or availing oneself of the results of impersonation.
3. Obtaining, through theft, bribery, collusion, purchase or other improper manner,
   1. an examination or test paper prior to the date and time for writing the examination or test;
   2. academic materials belonging to another person, e.g. laboratory reports, assignments, papers, computer materials, datasets.
4. Falsifying or knowingly submitting false assignments or credentials, records, transcripts, or other academic documents.


5. Submitting a false health or other certificate.
6. Submitting identical or substantially similar work for one course or program of study, which has been or is being submitted for another course or program of study, without the prior express knowledge and approval of the instructors.
7. Interfering with the right of other students to pursue their studies.
8. Knowingly aiding or abetting any of the above offences.
9. Tampering with, or altering, in any deceptive way, work subsequently presented for a review of the grade awarded.

Procedures

The instructor and, where applicable, the invigilator or other appropriate person shall, where practical, discuss the matter with the student concerned.

The instructor or the instructor's representative, satisfied in their view that an academic offence has been committed shall complete an academic offence incident report, and the instructor or the instructor's representative shall submit the academic offence incident report and attached information to the Registrar. Where applicable, the Registrar shall report it to the Chair of the Department and the Dean of the Faculty concerned. Each case will be referred by the Registrar to the appropriate Committee for review and appropriate action. The Registrar shall inform the student by registered letter of the referral to the Committee, the student's right to respond and the wish of the Committee that the student be present when the case is heard. The Registrar shall also include, with this registered letter, a copy of the academic offence incident report and attached information. The student is urged to submit to the Committee a written statement regarding the case. A student responding to the decision, shall do so in writing within three weeks of the date of the Registrar's letter of notification.

Penalties

A student who is found guilty of an academic offence will have two penalties imposed:

1. Notation on the student's transcript of academic record concerning the academic offence. The length of time the notation appears on the student's transcript of academic record is to be decided when the penalty is imposed.


2. A failing grade in an examination, test or course.

   One of the following penalties may also be imposed:

3. Recommendation to the President for suspension for a specified period. The recommendation is to include the length of time the notation is to appear on the student's transcript of academic record.
4. Recommendation to the President for expulsion from the University. If the student is expelled a permanent notation will appear on the student's transcript of academic record.

C. GENERAL

1. Consideration of a request to withdraw from a course or courses involved in an academic offence will not be given until the case is resolved.
2. Students on the Fredericton Campus will submit appeals to the Senate Student Standings and Promotions Committee; on the Saint John Campus, appeals will be submitted to the Student Appeals Committee.