Academic Integrity Policy
Classification: Academic
Responsible: School Managers
Executive Sponsor: Vice President, Product & Operations
Approval Authority: Robertson College Leadership Team
Date First Approved: July 25, 2021
Date Last Reviewed: November 9, 2021
Scheduled Review Date: July, 2023 or as needed
A. PURPOSE
The Academic Integrity Policy describes the high standard of academic integrity required across the Robertson College community as a foundation for effective teaching and learning.
B. SCOPE
This Policy applies to all members of the Robertson College community including applicants, students, graduates, and employees. This Policy applies to all activities in any academic environment including classes, labs, online, learning management system, library, test centers,
practicum experience, and research activities.
Students in programs that are delivered in partnership with Assiniboine Community College (ACC), will follow ACC’s Policy A-25, Student Honesty and Integrity, and the processes associated with it. Instructors in those programs will follow the processes outlined in ACC’s policy A-25
(see Appendix 2: ACC Policy A-25, Student Honesty and Integrity).
C. DEFINITIONS
| TERM | DEFINITION |
| Academic Integrity | Academic Integrity refers to adhering to the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility in the performance of all academic activities. |
| Academic Misconduct | Academic Misconduct refers to dishonest activities related to academic work. |
| Academic Work | Academic Work refers to any graded or ungraded student work that demonstrates mastery of academic outcomes such as assignments and tests. |
| Advisement | Advisement involves advising the student of the Academic Integrity Policy after a confirmed or suspected incident of academic misconduct. |
| Copyright Infringement | Copyright Infringement involves failing to comply with laws regarding copyright, trademark and licensing materials. |
| Expulsion | An expulsion is an action which permanently removes a student from attending Robertson College. |
| Fabrication of Research | Fabrication of Research involves dishonest reporting of results, using the research of others without permission or acknowledgment, or misrepresenting research and research methods used. |
| Falsifying Information | Falsifying Information involves forging, altering, or misrepresenting credentials, academic records, grades, evaluations, medical notes, letters of recommendations, etc. |
| Impersonation | Impersonation is the misrepresentation of identity by taking a test for another person, or having another person take an assessment for you. |
| Plagiarism | Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work as your own. This may include but is not limited to: submitting another individual’s work as your own, allowing another student to complete work for you, not giving credit for work done collaboratively. Plagiarism may occur in the use of images, ideas, written text, computer code, etc. |
| Procurement | Procurement involves buying, selling or assisting in the distribution of academic materials without consent of the instructor and/or Robertson College. |
| Student | A student is an individual who has applied for admission, is currently enrolled, or has previously been as a student at Robertson College. |
| Student Record | A Student Record is the information which is contained within a student’s file which may include personal information, admission, registration, academic, and disciplinary history at Robertson College. |
| Support Person | A Support Person is an individual who attends a meeting with a student. A Support Person is not entitled to speak on behalf of the student and serves in a support and observation role. |
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D. POLICY
The fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility in the performance of academic activities is integral to Robertson College’s core mission and values. All members of the Robertson College community are expected to behave in a manner that is consistent with the values of Academic Integrity.
- ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
- Â The College is committed to supporting Academic Integrity and to uphold the fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility.
- All members of the College community have a duty to uphold academic integrity and report suspected incidents of misconduct.
- All student work submitted to Robertson College may be reviewed for authenticity and originality using software tools and/or third-party services.
- FORMS OF ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
- Academic misconduct may include but is not limited to;
- cheating
- copyright infringement
- damaging the work of others
- fabrication of research
- falsifying information
- impersonation
- plagiarism
- procurement
- unauthorized collaboration
- 2.2 A lack of awareness of the Academic Integrity Policy is not an acceptable explanation for academic misconduct.
- Academic misconduct may include but is not limited to;
- ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT PROCESS
- Suspected incidents of academic misconduct will be investigated using the principles of procedural fairness.
- Individuals accused of academic misconduct have the right to:
- know the details of the allegation(s)
- have the opportunity to address the allegation(s)
- bring a Support Person to meetings
- receive a written summary of decisions of an investigation
- Confirmed incidents of academic misconduct will be subject to Sanctions and recorded in the Student Record.
- Individuals have the right to appeal academic misconduct findings through the Student Appeals process.
- SANCTIONS
- Sanctions will be applied in situations of academic misconduct in accordance with the severity and frequency of the offence.
- Sanctions may include, but are not limited to;
- advisement
- warning (written or verbal)
- behavioral contract
- resubmission of work
- academic integrity training
- failing grade for work
- failing grade for course
- expulsionÂ
- First occurrences of minor academic misconduct that appear to be without deliberate intent may be dealt with through advice or a warning.
- Expulsions must be reviewed and approved by a Vice President of Operations.
- Some forms of academic misconduct (e.g. theft and impersonation) may constitute criminal acts which are liable to criminal prosecution in addition to possible Sanction under this policy.
- CONFIDENTIALITY
- All information relating to an incident will be confidential to all involved parties.
- Information relating to an incident will be disclosed only as reasonably necessary for investigation, disposition, or as required by law.
E. RELATED LEGISLATION
None
F. PROCEDURE
All programs except ACC Programs
| ACTION | RESPONSIBILITY |
|
EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE Instructors who identify or are informed of academic misconduct emails the student in question, describes the offence that has been committed, and invites the student to a meeting to discuss the issue. The email must be sent within three days of discovering the academic misconduct. The email should highlight that the student has three days to respond to the email communication. |
Instructor |
|
MEETING The Instructor meets with the student and discusses the situation, provides an opportunity for the student to respond to the allegation, and provides information about academic integrity to the student. |
Instructor |
|
INSTRUCTOR DISCRETION After the discussion, the Instructor may request that the student retake the exam or revise and resubmit the assignment in question. Any sanctions beyond this should be recommended by the instructor to the Academic Committee on the reporting form (see next step). The instructor may also dismiss the incident if it is determined that academic misconduct was not involved. |
Instructor |
|
INCIDENT REPORTING No matter the instructor’s decision in the previous step, the instructor completes the Academic Misconduct Report Form and submits the form to |
Instructor |
|
REVIEW The School Manager brings the report to the Student Review Committee or an ad hoc review committee. The Committee reviews the report, determines appropriate sanctions, and shares the decision with the Instructor and Student. The School Manager works with the instructor and Student to ensure sanctions are upheld. |
School Manager |
|
DOCUMENTATION A copy of the Academic Misconduct Report Form is added to the Student file by the School Manager. |
School Manager |
ACC Partnership Programs
| ACTION | RESPONSIBILITY |
|
INCIDENT REPORT Instructors who notice or are informed of an alleged infraction must file an Academic Incident Report using the report form, and initiate disciplinary procedures in response to the allegations. Students who notice an infraction of the standards of academic integrity and honesty are encouraged to report the infraction either verbally or in writing to a faculty member of the college. |
Instructor
Student |
|
GATHER EVIDENCE The instructor collects evidence as appropriate; for example, photocopying the plagiarized work and creating a paper trail of all that occurs after the |
Instructor |
|
STUDENT RESPONSE The instructor provides the student an opportunity to explain the incident. The instructor explains to the student the procedures and penalties for academic dishonesty and gives the student a copy of this policy. |
Instructor & Student |
|
REVIEW AND PENALTY If the offence is level one as defined in policy A-25, the instructor will impose an appropriate penalty in keeping with the policy. If the offence is a level two or higher as defined in policy A-25, the instructor will notify the Manager, International. If the offence is a level three or four as defined in policy A-25, the Manger, International will notify the Vice President, Teaching and Learning. Procedures and penalties for each level of alleged infraction will be followed as in policy A-25. |
Instructor & Manager, International & VP, Teaching and Learning |
G. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Academic Misconduct Report Form
Academic Misconduct Reporting Procedure
H. RELATED POLICIES
Disciplinary Action Policy
Student Appeals Policy
Student Code of Conduct
I. RELATED MATERIALS
ACC Policy A-25: Student Honesty and Integrity
ACC Academic Integrity Procedure
ACC Academic Incident Report Form
Approved: July 25, 2021
Approved by: Robertson Leadership Team
Reviewed approved: November 9, 2021
Review Approved by: Robertson Leadership Team
