Academic integrity (AI) underpins teaching and learning at U of T. Honesty and fairness are fundamental values shared by the entire University community. Intellectual honesty can only be achieved when students appropriately acknowledge sources of information and ideas, present independent work on assignments and examinations, and complete and submit group projects in accordance with the standards of their divisions.
Relevant University of Toronto Policies & Offices
- Academic Integrity at the University of Toronto
- Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters
- Key Contacts for Academic Integrity across U of T
- Academic Integrity – Office of the Dean, UTM
- Office of Academic Integrity, UTSC
- Student Academic Integrity, Faculty of Arts & Science
What is an Academic Offence?
Academic misconduct at the University of Toronto is defined by the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. Generally, academic misconduct is any behaviour, intentional or otherwise, that gives a student unearned or unfair advantage in academic work over other students. The Code identifies various offences: altering, forging or falsifying documents other than academic records; possession or use of unauthorized aids; impersonation; plagiarism; submission of work for which credit has previously been obtained; submission of work containing purported statement(s) of fact or reference(s) to concocted sources; any other misconduct to obtain academic credit or advantage; assisting another student in committing an offence.
Detecting Academic Offences
- Be aware and vigilant
- Look for unusual things
- Check students’ evidence and sources
- Evaluate students on the entire writing process by evaluating supporting work such as outlines and drafts
Guidelines for Reporting Academic Offences
After discovering an academic offence:
- Not reporting is an offence
- Report it to the CI immediately
- You may be asked to compile supporting evidence (e.g., Google searches, copies of articles or textbook or web pages)
- Log your hours
Retain the assignment & evidence:
- Do not grade the assignment or return it to the student
- Submit all relevant evidence to the CI
- If the student has questions, refer him/her to the CI
- It is the CI’s duty to report the case to Chair/Dean
Exercise caution with the student:
- Do not accuse the student of academic misconduct
- Avoid using derogatory statements and words such as ‘cheating’ or ‘plagiarism’
- Do not impose penalties or sanctions
- Do not advise the student to withdraw
Guideline for Course Instructors
As a Course Instructor, if you suspect an academic offence has taken place, follow these steps:
Step 1: Establish a time to meet with the student.
Step 2: Conduct an interview with the student in person and in private. You may invite someone else to be present, such as a TA, another faculty member, or the Department Chair.
Step 3: Explain your concerns to the student. Determine whether or not you believe an academic offence has occurred.
Step 4: If yes, provide a brief written summary of your finding and report the matter to your Department Chair/Dean.
Step 5: Depending on the value of the work, and whether or not the student has admitted to an offence, the matter may be forwarded to the Dean’s Office for resolution. You may be called upon to attend a decanal meeting and explain your findings.
Encouraging Academic Integrity in Your Classes: Preventing Academic Offences
Discuss academic integrity in your tutorial and explain why academic offences are serious. Do not assume that students know how to recognize academic offences in their own work. Frame this conversation not around sanctions and punishments but rather around building a positive culture of academic integrity.
- Make your expectations clear. Be explicit about what is and is not allowed in your tutorial and include this in your tutorial syllabus.
- Devote part of your first tutorial to discussing why AI is important to you and should be to students.
- Remind your students of some of the lesser-known academic offences. Explore offences you feel are a risk, or that students may not be prepared for, such as sharing work with friends, or re-submission of work.
- Build a community of learners in your tutorials (e.g., by learning all your students’ names) and show students that you care about their success and help them help themselves.
- Direct students to various resources: writing centres; teaching and learning services; academic skills centres; health and wellness; accessibility services; instructional videos on AI; academic integrity quiz; resources for international students; college-specific resources; etc.
- Use plagiarism detection software (to use the University’s plagiarism detection tool, you need to get permission of the Course Instructor and review the condition of use).
What if a student didn’t know they were cheating? A student may be sanctioned for having committed an offence not only if they have intentionally committed it, but also if he/she ought to have known that they were committing an offence. Ignorance of the rules does not excuse cheating.
What if a student helped someone else cheat? They have committed an offence if they helped someone else commit one. As a party to an offence, they could face the same penalties as the student suspected of cheating.
Do I have to report all academic offences? YES. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence for a case to go forward.
Can a CI ask me to resolve academic offences? NO. TAs do not have authority to make any decisions regarding the work in question. If a TA suspects plagiarism or other academic offences it is their responsibility to inform the CI before returning any work to the student. The TA should refer the student to the CI if he/she has any questions.
Can a CI ask me to investigate a case? YES, provided hours are allocated within the TA contract to perform these duties. These duties might include confirming evidence of plagiarism or writing a report about behaviour witnessed at a test or exam. The CI may also ask their TA to assist with the interview with the student.
Who is responsible for imposing sanctions on students who have committed academic offences? TAs and CI are not empowered to impose sanctions. If the CI feels that an offence has occurred, they are required to report it to their Chair or Dean who may impose a sanction.
What if a student asks me not to report an offence? TAs should never enter into bargaining. It is normal for students to be stressed when they realize they have been reported for an offence. Tell the student that you are simply following protocol. Do not make any guesses as to what the sanction will be. Advise the student to make an appointment with their registrar or faculty advisor, who can inform them about the process and their rights.
What if I catch a student cheating during an exam? Speak immediately to the CI or the exam Chief Presiding Officer (CPO) to corroborate the offence. Submit a report of the offence to the CI.
Compiled by Pam Gravestock, Director, Teaching Support & Faculty Development, Fac. A&S.
Updated by Martha Harris, Academic Integrity Officer, OSAI and Megan Burnett, Associate Director, CTSI/TATP © 2011.
Updated by Nicole Birch-Bayley, Faculty Liaison Coordinator, TATP/CTSI © 2022.